Floating opens a serene gateway to stillness and rejuvenation. At Altered States Wellness, we offer thoughtfully designed float therapy sessions that gently guide you into calm waters—physically and mentally. Here’s everything you need to know before stepping into your first float experience, helping you feel confident, ready, and informed.
What to Expect Before You Float
Your first session begins long before you step into the tank. A few simple preparations set the stage for greater ease:
Float centers typically invite guests to arrive between 10 and 15 minutes early to complete any intake forms and review guidelines. These forms often confirm that you're in good health, not under the influence of alcohol or heavy medication, and free from open wounds. This process ensures proper care and safety.
A trained staff member will walk through session etiquette—covering showering, what to leave behind, and how to settle in once you're inside. Offering clarity upfront helps ease any anxiety and aligns expectations.
If you’re curious, you might ask questions about how the float tank is maintained. Many facilities—including ours—employ advanced filtration systems, UV sterilization, and meticulous hygiene protocols that refresh the water after each session using standard pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salt.
Dress Comfortably, But Wear Swimwear
Float therapy encourages relaxation, so what you choose to wear should feel natural and anxiety-free.
While float tanks are sanitized and the water chemically balanced, many people feel more comfortable wearing a swimsuit. Whatever you select, it’s best to choose well-fitting items that won’t float or shift. Fit also fosters tranquility; tight or loose garments can distract once you settle in.
Tips for what to wear:
- Go with what feels familiar—two-piece suits let you shower more comfortably and avoid full-body skin tension.
- Bring a cozy cover-up or robe for transitioning between areas, especially if there’s an indoor/outdoor lounge or sitting space.
Practice Self-Care in the Hours Leading Up
Float experiences deepen when your nervous system is gently prepared beforehand.
Avoid caffeine and stimulants. For at least 2–3 hours before your session, consider skipping coffee, energy drinks, or sugary treats that spike adrenaline. This helps your body ease into a softer, more relaxed state.
Stay hydrated, but don’t overdo it. A balanced level of hydration supports your body’s salt regulation and relaxation. Have a glass of water before you arrive—but skip heavy meals immediately beforehand. A light snack, like fruit or yogurt, is ideal.
Ditch screen time. Think of your float as a kind of digital fast. Spending the last hour or so before floating away from phones, tablets, or computers helps settle the mind, invite calm, and signal that you’re stepping out of day-to-day noise.
Mentally Prepare Your Intentions
Floating tends to mirror the mindset you bring in. A little intentional preparation supports a richer, more fulfilling experience.
Consider setting gentle goals. Want to release lingering stress? Tap into creative ideas? Just rest without an agenda? Whatever you choose, recognize that floating supports your own process—not pushing.
A simple exercise before you go: observe your breath for one minute. Notice whether it’s shallow, deep, agitated, or steady. Bring that awareness into the float, using breath as your anchor if thoughts begin to wander.
Shower First, Shower Second
A brief shower both before and after floating is essential, for comfort and clarity.
Before floating: use the shower to rinse off oils, fragrances, and residual lotions. Keep water warm but not hot to preserve the salt balance in the tank. Some centers also give ear plugs—they help prevent salt water from entering and encourage focus by muffling ocean-like ambient sound.
After floating: another gentle shower helps you feel grounded again. As the salt layer washes away, use warm water and avoid scrubbing hard. Notice how your skin feels after the session—it may be softer or more hydrated than before.
Entering the Tank: Slowly Does It
Stepping into your session is a delicate transition. Be kind to your body and mind.
Float rooms are dim or softly lit. Walk in slowly, brush any hair from your face, and settle onto the surface of the water. You’ll feel buoyant, peaceful, and supported as you lean back. If your face drops too low, you can support your head with a folded towel or inflatable pillow—just ask your host before you begin.
Shift your body to find balance. The weightlessness of the Epsom salt solution feels like floating on air—let sensation take over. Once you settle, close the lid or door and invite awareness to deepen with each breath.
When the Mind Wanders, Come Back to Your Breath
Even without external stimulation, thoughts will drift—and that’s perfectly normal.
Treat any surprise or emotion that surfaces as you would a small visitor. Observe it without judgment. Then gently return focus to the rhythm of your breath hitting water at your nostrils, or to the quiet thrum of nerves soothing themselves in buoyant stillness.
If the dark feels intense, leave a tiny gap in the lid one hand-width wide to let in a sliver of light. This helps some clients ease into the experience without overstimulation.
Float tanks can evoke emotional release—some clients cry, laugh, feel incredibly calm or alert, and all of that is fine. Every journey is unique; float therapy simply provides the space to explore it.
When the Session Ends: Easing Back
Unlike intense experiences that jolt you back to reality, float therapy invites a soft landing.
The tank’s lid opens quietly. Breathe a few deep intentional breaths, wiggle your fingers and toes, stretch your arms gently overhead. Sit slowly at the edge; allow your feet to reconnect to the floor.
Take your time returning to full awareness. Step out when you feel ready, slip on your robe, and rinse off in the shower.
Let the Fog Fade—Journal or Sip Water
After floating, the mind can linger between clarity and gentle dreaminess. A little time helps that transition.
Stay seated or recline for a few minutes outside the tank. Notice how your breath, heart rate, and mood feel different. Sip mineral-rich water or herbal tea to ease and rehydrate your body.
Jot a note or two. Even if nothing profound appears, recording a word or short phrase can support insights that bubble up later. Some guests find floating sparks creativity—or just brings fresh, calm focus.
How Often to Float, Especially at First
Your first session is only an introduction to the possibilities.
To settle into a flow, consider floating every week or every other week for the first month. Regular sessions help your nervous system begin to release stress more effortlessly, deepening your sense of peace with each visit.
After that, many people shift into a maintenance pattern—monthly floats, or sessions based on stress load, creative needs, or intense work periods.
Common Concerns and Friendly Advice
“What if I feel claustrophobic?”
Leave the lid cracked, or float with the lights on at low brightness. Making the space feel open helps put those fears at ease.
“I can’t stop thinking.”
Your mind is built to think. Floating isn’t about erasing thought; it’s about building awareness and choice. Gently bringing attention back to breath or sensation is part of the practice.
“I fell asleep in the tank—did I waste time?”
Some sleep is a welcome rest. It means your nervous system needed that quiet downtime. You’re still benefiting—even drifting into light sleep resets the system.
“My skin is dry or tingles.”
That’s normal after floating in salt water. A gentle lotion or warm shower soon brings you back to soft, comfortable skin without irritation.
Bring Gratitude Into Your Day
The aftermath of floating often leaves a sense of gratitude—a reminder of rest woven into the routine.
You might notice: a fresh lens to approach a problem, an unexpected spark of creativity, or a quieter evening as household demands continue. Those are real signs of rest taking root—even if softly.
Final Thoughts Before Your First Float
First-time float clients often say the experience surprised them—not just the sense of weightlessness, but how deeply calm they felt, even afterward. Preparing thoughtfully invites that ease to begin before you settle into the tank.
Picture this day as your own retreat: shower steps, breathing moments, turning away from screens, appreciating stillness. Walk in with calm curiosity. Come out with a refreshed mind and rested body. Let your first float peel back the layers, nothing forced—just time held for you.
Enjoy every moment.
