I thought it'd be appropriate to review my first sensory deprivation experience for my first review of 2017! Spoiler alert: it was blissful. The facility is clean and welcoming. Smells a tiny bit swimming pool-y which I expected. And I appreciated the hair/make-up room to blow dry my hair and get done-up after floating. The owners are really nice; Brooks did an awesome job quickly explaining how we can acclimate to the tank and have an effective floating experience. The water in the tank is shallow, full of epsom salts, and warmed to normal skin temperature (I think he said around 95 degrees). And yes, it is pitch black once you close the tank door. Although you don't have to, I opted to use the provided ear plugs. It definitely made the sensory deprivation experience even more... depriving lol. I could barely hear myself splashing in the water or even breathing. When I first closed the tank door and laid back, I panicked. I felt like I was slowly spinning in the tank and got worried I wouldn't be able to find the door. I'm only 5'3 and still too tall to do a full spin - so don't worry - the tank door will always be in front of you (or behind, depending on how you go in). Initially, I couldn't get comfortable either. I felt like my head was so heavy and wouldn't float. I put my arms above my head and my hands under my neck/head for support and gradually let my hands float to the side and I was fine. I found that putting my arms up rather than at my sides was much more relaxing. The floating experience was sooo unreal. I knew I was awake at most periods during the 90 minutes (I'd purposely move my feet or push my arm against the tank to make sure) but it truly felt like I was sleeping!! Just floating and not having any pressure on my body made me feel as if I didn't even have a body. I still had thoughts going through my head but I was in total blissful relaxation. After the 90 minutes, my body felt like I had just gotten a therapeutic massage and my mind was so clear. It was amazing. An ambient light and chiming music lets you know that the 90 minutes is over. Purchasing and booking the float online was a breeze. I can see myself replacing a yearly massage with a float instead. So glad I tried this! read more