It was my first time floating, so I was able to try it at a discounted rate. I will be getting a membership based upon my experience
That was the basic review, here's the supporting evidence.
With three discordant disabilities, I am constantly searching for ways to give myself my best chance at being able to function normally. After repeatedly finding references to sensory deprivation chambers in my research, I decided to try it. That is how I found Bala Float Center. (Yay Google!)
Comparing prices and layouts of other float companies yielded findings that Bala Float Center is not only competitively priced but also customer oriented.
While sensory deprivation pods are deemed effective, they remind me of tanning salons and not the tranquil experience I would prefer. Once again, Bala exceeds expectations by providing full suites. They have two identical float rooms. Each room has a changing/dry area with a beautiful wood floor and a large tiled shower area with bronze finishes. A wide glass door connects to the shower; inside is the sensory deprivation chamber. A sloping roof adds to the chamber's intimate and inviting ambience.
The float room has an intercom that can connect you to the front desk. (I assume it's for emergencies?) Next to the intercoms is a knob to turn the music on and off. (I chose off although the music was very soothing.) The final button on the wall was to control the soft lights in the chamber. You can vary the color or turn them off completely. (I chose off completely.) There are also some truly thoughtful amenities in the float chamber: a spray bottle with regular water in case salt gets in your eyes, a towel to dry your face off, and an optional pillow (a flexible ring that supports your neck and therefore your head).
The Float
I was super nervous for my first float, but an employee, Holly, helped calm my nerves by greeting me by name when I entered Bala Float Center and giving me a brief tour.
Once in my private suite, I disrobed, showered, and opened the glass door for the tank. Soft lights, which make the water glow and ripple across the walls, are very inviting. I believe the air and room were the same temperature to bolster the floating experience.
As soon as my first foot entered the water, I understood why it's called floating. If water can be thick, it was thick. The salt permeates the air as well as the water of the chamber, creating a cocoon of solitude that is all yours for either 60 or 90 minutes.
I spent a lot of time fidgeting, like where to put my head or my hands, but I was able to squelch the urge to move on several occasions. When I stopped moving and breathed into letting my mind and body become calm, the experience went from soothing to releasing, revitalizing, and restoring.
Having three disabilities and being a primary caregiver for a parent is stressful. I also have a tear in my shoulder and my neck vertebrae is arching the wrong way. This added up to me being pretty uncomfortable floating at first because my neck and shoulders were so tight. I might have shed a tear, but it would've gone unnoticed lol. Eventually, I was able to coax my muscles to let go and it was blissful. If I had known, I would've measured my shoulder height before I went in because they feel about an inch lower after my float. The tension headache that I didn't know I had before my float has also eased up.
I went in for a quiet place to calm my mind and found it was better than any of the research I had done described.
If you like to relax, unwind, ease tension, practice mindfulness, meditate, nap, or just breathe: check out Bala Float Center, and get your float on today!! read more
