Not really. A thirty minute orientation is included with your first float session. However, avoiding caffeine and alcohol for a day before you float might help you to relax and have a better experience. If you shave you might want to postpone doing so if possible. Shaving two to three hours before using the tank may make recently shaved skin sting fairly intensely for a short time.

We supply you with everything you need, including shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion, ear plugs and towels. If you wear contact lenses we suggest removing them as we can not guarantee that the salt water will not damage them. We do supply a contact case and solution to use while you are in the tank if have forgotten your own. The vanity in the float room has many amenities such as Q-tips, lotions, etc. If you feel we have missed something please let us know.

Only if you consider feeling kind of zen and mellow for a while to be a side effect.

You don’t have to "do” anything. Our Orientation covers tips and tricks for that first float. Floating is usually a passive experience, so the less you "do” the deeper you will relax. The first session is a little tricky but it becomes easier the more you float. Once you learn to relax, usually within about, ten minutes you are on the edge of sleep, in a dreamy but conscious state where time doesn’t seem to exist. Most people just lay back and enjoy just letting go and flowing with wherever the experience takes them.

However, if you choose to you can use your time to "actively” direct the experience in the tank. For example: Prepare for an important meeting, exam or presentation by going through it in your head. If you have a regimen where you meditate, pray, do breathing exercises, or anything to help you relax to go to sleep, you may want to take a few moments to do that before you float or at the beginning of your session. Our recommendation is that you do your first few floats just concentrating on relaxing and doing "nothing.” It is said that you can do accelerated learning in the tank, so if you are trying to learn something, like a new language, we can stream that into the tank. That is the only time I suggest playing any kind of sound into the tank. You will not have the same experience or "go” to the same place with any kind of "sound” as you will in complete silence. Therefore, silence is recommended.

We don’t know what it will be like for you personally. The most common affects reported are that you may experience profound calmness and relaxation, deep concentration and creativity. We like to avoid saying too much right before you use the tank. The power of suggestion may influence how you benefit from the session. You want to maximize the experience that is awaiting you. Not only will your float be different for you than it is for anyone else, you could find it may be different each time you float, depending on what is going on in your life.

Some people may have a more difficult time relaxing than others. For those with meditation experience it is easier to achieve total relaxation. Don’t expect to relax fully right away. Others become stressed because they think they are taking too long to relax. It takes at least twenty minutes for all of your muscles to relax simultaneously. That is why your second float is free. The experience feels more familiar to you so you tend to relax more quickly on subsequent floats. Most people need three float sessions relatively close together before they can really let go. After that you start feeling like a floating "pro”.

Not usually. When you float you are in complete control of getting in and out of the tank. Once people realize that the water is not even as deep as your bathtub and it really isn’t confining, you can sit up and move around. You can enter or exit whenever you desire. The door has no latches, is very light weight and can be pushed open with just a finger or two. To achieve your best results in the tank you should be as relaxed as possible. We make every effort to help you reach that state. If, in fact, you truly are claustrophobic and still want to learn to float, talk to us about it. We have helped several people through their claustrophobia. Even a girl who couldn’t ride elevators was surprised to enjoy her first full hour in the tank. If you try but must exit tank within upto 15-20 minutes you will not be charged for the session. You have nothing to lose by giving it a try. And much to gain if you can work it out.

Yes. Four things make your float so hygienic. First, is the high concentration of the Epsom salt that kills viruses and bacteria. Second, the water in the float tank is completely filtered and sanitized after every float session. Third, we use Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide instead of chlorine, and the fourth reason is that there is an Ultra Violet purification system hooked up to the filtering process. It is one of the best ways to purify the water before the next floater enters the tank.

NOTE:  Our filtration and sterilization system was custom built for Soothing Solutions to meet our standards. The brand name of our filter is Hayward, one of the best in the business. This filter is 2 micron, 24 sq ft, 4500 gph, which is 6x’s more than required. We also use all natural green recyclable filter cartridges. The Jebco Ultra Violet filter sterilizes 6000 gallons of water per hour, 10x’s more than required.

It is typically run 15 minutes between floats which cycles the water 30x’s. The water is also filtered for an hour at the beginning and end of each day.