Exactly what to expect during your first flotation therapy appointment at Hope Floats
Get ready for the most relaxing hour of your life, if you can relax.
The goal of floating is to to let yourself fully relax every single muscle in your body, and let your mind drift off to a meditative or quiet state.
Sometimes it takes two or three appointments for people to let their guard down, and allow their bodies to fully relax while their minds drift off into a meditative state.
It may help to know what you're walking into, so you can mentally prepare for your flotation appointment.
It’s important to note that there is not a “correct way” to float.
Any and every way you use the private flotation room during your flotation therapy appointment is the right way to use it.
We're here to share what to expect, what we recommend, and the feedback we’ve heard.
Disclaimer: This is a detailed summary of what to expect during your first flotation therapy appointment. If you’re looking for a more general overview, we made something for you, too.
Booking an Appointment
We have an online booking system that allows you to easily make appointments regardless of the time of day. When we are open (8 am-8 pm every day), you are welcome to call us.
We can answer any questions you may have about the appointment and make special arrangements, if necessary.
Since we have 4 flotation tanks, we usually have same-day appointments available.
Arriving for your appointment
On the day of, limit caffeine intake and eat a light meal 2-3 hours before your appointment.
Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early.
Parking
There is metered parking available on Middleton Lane, in the Whitney Apartments, and behind the Hope Floats building.
The Bethesda Metro Station is only a 4-minute walk to Hope Floats. This is a great option if you would like to avoid parking in downtown Bethesda.
Enter our healing oasis, and we’ll meet you at the front desk.
You’ll stroll past a water feature, and brochures about our services, then enter the lobby.
If we’re talking with another client when you arrive, you’re welcome to take a seat on our comfy couch and explore the books and reading materials we have. This space is open for you to relax after your float as well.
If it’s your first time, we’ll ask you to sign a waiver. You’ll get an email with the waiver when you book an appointment, so you can read over it beforehand. You can sign it virtually or when you come in.
Then, we’ll introduce you to the space, showing you to your private flotation room for the next 60 or 90 minutes.
Each of our four private flotation rooms is equipped with:
a flotation tank,
a shower,
towels,
comfy robes,
and all the toiletries you need to shower before and after your float (keep reading!)
You won’t need a swimsuit, and you may want to loosely tie your hair back.
Most people float in their birthday suits, and we encourage it. Anything you wear into the tank may be a distraction, which can hinder the goal of floating: a break from sensory stimuli.
You’ll be in a private room, and even those who say they don’t like being naked, say they can relax once they are in the tank.
We want the same for you, regardless of what you choose to wear (or not wear).
On that note, if you have long hair, you may want to loosely tie it back before you enter the tank. Some say that, when they float, their hair touches their shoulders or back, causing sensory stimulation and, therefore, a distraction.
You can wear a swim cap or bathing cap but, it’s unlikely to keep your hair completely dry.
That’s okay, though, because the Epsom salt in flotation tanks is very good for your skin and hair.
Source: www.pittsburghfloat.com/
What is a flotation tank?
Our flotation tanks are about 10 feet long, 4 feet tall, and 4 feet wide.
Flotation tanks are designed to be light and soundproof, reducing external stimulation.
Each tank has 10-12 inches of salt water inside, in which 1,000 pounds of medical-grade Epsom salt is dissolved. This creates a higher salt density than the Dead Sea.
The water is warmed to the temperature of the skin, and you can open or close the door any time throughout your appointment.
Can two people float at the same time?
Floating is a deeply personal experience, meant to reduce stimulation. We allow one person to each flotation tank at a time.
We have four flotation rooms, so your friends or loved ones can float at the same time as you, in their own private space.
You are welcome to bring a caregiver, parent, or the like into the room with you while you float if you'd like, but only one person can enter the tank at a time.
What if I’m claustrophobic?
Claustrophobia is the fear of being confined in an enclosed space and usually stems from a perceived lack of control. With flotation therapy, you are in control of your entire experience.
You can leave the door open, close it, or open it any time you’d like to.
Saltwater safety precautions
Saltwater stings open cuts, eyes, and noses. We don’t recommend floating if you’ve gotten a new tattoo in the past 4 to 6. weeks. We provide Vaseline to apply to any small knicks you want to protect from the salt water before floating.
We always keep a moistened towelette outside of each of our flotation tanks for you to use in the event you get salt water in your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Your ears will be underwater, so you’ll want to wear earplugs to keep the saltwater out of your ears.
A series of relaxing events: How to Float
Preparing to float
First, you’ll put in earplugs, because it’s easier to do (and they will fit better) when inserted into your dry ears.
Then, you’ll take a lukewarm shower, using the provided soap and shampoo, to rinse off any dust or chemicals from your skin and hair. We ask that you don’t use conditioner until after your float.
The pre-float shower is an added precaution to maintain cleanliness in the tank, although we have stellar water-cleansing technologies to clean the tank between each session.
We advise a lukewarm shower, so the float tank doesn’t feel cold when you first climb in.
We have all of the essential supplies available for you to use, like body wash, shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, lotion, q-tips, etc. but you may want to bring the products you can’t live without.
After your shower, you’ll make your way toward the flotation tank.
Lay back, and your face will naturally float above the saltwater line.
Let the saltwater embrace you
When you climb into the tank, you’ll lay back and it’s impossible to do anything but float.
You’ll notice fresh air entering the far end of the tank, from our air filtration and circulation system. You may want to lay with your head toward the back of the tank, so the fresh air passes above your face.
Some, especially first-time floaters, will lie with their heads closest to the door, for easy access to open or close the door as they wish throughout their float.
Again, whichever way you use the tank is the right way to use the tank.
What's it like inside a flotation tank?
The saltwater inside the tank is heated to 93-94 degrees, which is the average temperature of the outer layer of the skin.
Because of this, some report the sensation of not feeling their skin, as if their body blends into the saltwater solution.
This can be incredibly comforting for those with skin irritations, or those who are sensitive to sensory sensations.
The goal is to reduce all forms of stimulation.
Float therapy is also known as R.E.S.T. (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) because the tanks are light-proof and soundproof, and the water is heated to body temperature.
While it’s impossible to remove all stimulation, the goal of floating is to reduce exposure to as many sights, smells, sounds, feelings, and tastes as possible.
Ready to float?
Open the door, and climb inside. For your first float, we encourage you to leave the door open for 10 minutes or so, while you get acquainted with the space inside.
Try tilting your head back, arching your back more or less, and finding the most comfortable position for you. You can put your hands at your side, above your head, or even cross them over your chest. Whatever is most comfortable for you is the correct way to float.
In this unique zero-gravity environment, we encourage you to try to let go of all the tension that you feel in your body.
When every single muscle in your body is relaxed, you will find your natural posture and balance. This gives your body a break from the weight of gravity, easing pain in the muscles and joints.
You’ll hear our underwater speakers
When you first climb into the tank and lay back so your ears are under the water, you’ll hear our underwater speakers.
We’ve programmed our underwater speakers to play meditative music for the first ten minutes of your float, then they will play Tibetan chimes for the last ten minutes of your float.
The meditative music is designed to help you relax into your float session, then the Tibetan chimes let you know when it’s almost time to exit the tank.
We have many different options for meditative music, and, if you’d like, we can set your tank up to play music throughout your floating experience. We find this is especially helpful for first-time floaters, as the quiet can sometimes be hard to bear.
We hope all of our guests at Hope Floats feel comfortable asking for the accommodations they need, like music playing throughout their float, so we can help you achieve the most relaxing state possible for you. Everyone is different and we celebrate that.
Let your mind float into a dream
Regardless of experience with meditating, many people say they enter a state of deep mental relaxation while they float.
You know the feeling, right before you fall asleep, or right after you wake up? It is often a brief moment when the brain produces theta waves, signaling a deep sense of relaxation. Theta waves are very common while you are in the flotation tank. The more often you float, the longer the Theta wave state will last inside the tank.
While floating, many people tell us that they see blobs of different shapes and colors, sometimes categorized as hallucinations. If you are uncomfortable with your eyes closed, it may help to keep your eyes open and focus on one point in the tank.
The saltwater creates a zero-gravity environment that can sometimes disorient you while you are floating in the dark, or with your eyes closed. If you experience any feelings of vertigo, dizziness, or discomfort, placing your hand on the side of the tank may help you to feel more grounded.
You are always welcome to open the door or leave the tank early if you feel that is what you need to do.
What if I fall asleep in the float tank?
While you float, it’s okay if you fall asleep. Once you’re in the tank, you’ll notice it is very difficult to roll over due to the high buoyancy of the water. If you do fall asleep and roll over, you will immediately wake up as soon as saltwater gets in your eyes, nose, or mouth. It stings.
Post-Float
The Epsom salt in the tank has natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation properties, that make your skin and hair feel clean and shiny. That, plus feeling very relaxed, is what we call our “post-float glow” and yes, it is noteworthy.
As you exit the tank, you’ll notice a residue from the salt on your hair and skin.
After your float, you’ll take a shower to rinse off all the salt. This time, of course, you can use conditioner!
If you have a sauna session, a deep-tissue massage, or any other appointments scheduled for after your float, you can slip into one of our plush robes and continue your day at the wellness spa.
We have a blow dry bar equipped with hair dryers and a mirror with excellent lighting for you to style your hair, do your skincare routine, and/or put on makeup after your float.
Once you get dressed and say goodbye to your private healing oasis, we will anxiously await at the front desk to hear about your experience.
You’re more than welcome to relax in our lobby and make yourself a warm cup of tea while you bask in your post-float glow.
Still have questions? You’re welcome to call our spa or DM us on social media.
We also have a plethora of information on the following pages:
Frequently Asked Questions about Float Therapy
The History of Flotation Therapy