Heart of the Week: Just Float

This past week, I had the special treat of getting to visit Pasadena’s Just Float, a gorgeous spa with float tank rooms. Each visitor gets their own private room, which has an extra-large, enclosed tub of epsom-salt water that’s kept at 93.5 degrees.

After being shown to my room and showering, I stepped into the tub, which was lit and glowed a soothing blue color. Once I got used to the water and was comfortable floating (I played around by holding my hands up, then holding them under my body in the water), I touched a button on the side of the tub, letting the room know I was ready.

Calming music started to play, and the lights dimmed so that the room was fully black and I couldn’t see anything. At some point, the music faded away and there was nothing to stir my senses, just a feeling of weightlessness and my own thoughts.

The initial moments of being in silence, darkness, and water felt strange and disorienting, so I would find my "home base” every once in awhile by searching for the knobs and my towel.

However, as I began to relax, it became a magical, safe, womb space where I entered a dream-like circle of fading into sleep, then meditation, and then back to sleep. As I made circles within my consciousness, I would occasionally hear music or a baby calling for me (sounds that didn’t exist) while my head and ears were underwater.

I “woke up" at one point after my longest mediation, and the parts of my body above water were crusty from the salt drying. I realized a bunch of time had passed (I spent about 70 minutes out of 90 minutes in the tank!) and felt a slight chill, so I knew I was ready to go.

For 10-15 minutes afterwards, I felt tingly in my entire body, as well as refreshed.

More than anything, I felt gratitude for the time being spent alone, where I felt soooo far away from everything. It was the first time in a long time that I had an entire 75 minutes to myself without interruptions, horns, or dogs barking—just a beautiful silence.

Have you tried floating before? How was your experience? Share them with me on Facebook with #myphilosophie!