I've always been interested in sensory deprivation, and bought a discounted package on Groupon. There were 1st floor rennovations happening in the building on the day of my visit (they are located on the 2nd floor) and the elevator was being repaired, so I had to walk up an only slightly scary concrete stairwell to actually find it. However once I entered, it was a completely different environment. The desk attendant was very welcoming and explained the process to me. He sent legal papers to my phone for me to sign digitally and left me to relax in a small waiting area with soothing "spa" music and invited me to help myself to tea or water while he got my room ready. The waiting area is nice, but nowhere as posh as many spas I've been to and I couldn't really relax since it was between the main door and front desk/phone.
I was a little intimidated by the pods, so had booked a wave room instead. There are multiple rooms, joined by a long hallway. They ask you to remove your shoes and leave them outside your door. When you enter, it is basically a one room changing/shower area, with a door leading to what could be described as a shallow enclosed pool that goes from wall to wall. There is a spot to leave your clothes and they ask you to shower before entering. Body wash, shampoo and conditioner are provided in a dispenser on the wall (I could tell they were Aveeda rosemary/mint hair products) and earplugs and makeup wipes are provided, along with towels and wash cloths. Definitely use the ear plugs while you shower and I recommend setting the shower to luke warm, so your body can start to acclimate to the environment and lack of stimulation.
When you enter the chamber, it seems very warm and muggy, but that is because it is set to be body temperature. The air and water are almost the same temp. Your body will be much more bouyant than normal, due to the salt. The salt may sting in delicate areas when you first enter, but that goes away after a couple of minutes. Take care not to touch your eyes. There is a very minimal neck support float to use, to keep your face out of the water during your float.
The tank has lights that can be left on or off, or adjusted to whichever color you prefer. There is more soothing "spa" music playing and the volume can also be adjusted on this. I set my light to red because it seemed the darkest and most soothing, and turned the music very low before leaning back on the neck pillow and starting the process. After a few minutes, I was able to switch off the sound and the light.
So I would say the first third of my time in the chamber was spent trying to stop my mind racing. Everything from worrying about how long I'd been there to which way was I facing and if I should be doing something differently kept plaguing me, along with just random thoughts from my day that kept jumping in. My breath sounded incredibly loud and I could even hear my heart beating. I tried to stay as still as a statue and hold my limbs in what I thought was the ideal position and keep my eyes shut.
Then something changed. It was like I sort of entered a state where time, space, sound, vision -- none of those things mattered. I realized I didn't have to be still or leave my eyes closed -- I couldn't see anyway and couldn't remember if they were open or closed. It didn't matter because there was nothing there but a void. If I moved it was ok and enhanced the feeling of floating and weightlessness. I could still hear my breath, but it was like that was my cue that I still existed.
I had heard that some people experience auditory and visual hallucinations -- I wouldn't call what I felt and saw as full-on hallucinations, but almost like after shocks of an overactive mind. I saw flashes of color and some lights the same as when you close your eyes. I heard sound, but it was a hum that kept cadence with my breath and I imagined that it was the sound of my blood flowing. The sensation was conflicting -- one of no longer being tied to my physical body and yet the consciousness that my physical body was part of my spiritual existence, too.
After a while, music cued me that it was time to leave and I showered and dressed in silence. There is a separate bathroom with a hair dryer, makeup mirror, hamper for your towels and whatever else you may need. No one told me about this but I saw it as I was leaving. Exiting back out into the world is a sensation that still stays with me -- the sounds and colors and the light all seem a step removed from reality and the calmness inside stays with you.
I recommend planning a place to sit, preferably outside, and meditate a bit before jumping back into life. You'll need a transition period.
I will definitely be back. My Groupon package included a salt room session that I need to rebook and I am very curious to see how the next visit will go. Although a great experience, I'm deducting a star due to construction and stairs, and lack of a separate lounge/waiting area. read more