Roadtest: Pure Zen Flotation

Posted on 6 April, 2017

We as a team have done some pretty odd things in the name of health and beauty.

We’ve had tiny needles inserted into our face and body, stood in a chamber and endured temperatures of -140 degrees celsius… we’ve even had our colons irrigated (yep – that happened).

Climbing into a pod full of salty water and lying naked for an hour enclosed in total darkness might just be one of the weirdest – and also one of the best.

Flotation therapy is one of those things I’ve always wanted to try. I’m a big fan of Epsom salt baths, so I was already well aware of the benefits of the water itself. You see, the magnesium from the salt is absorbed transdermally (through the skin) and can help relieve muscle soreness, help you sleep, and can help clear up skin issues.

The flotation tanks at Pure Zen, however, kick my sweet little bath’s butt, with a whopping 500 kilos of Epsom salt and 600 litres of water. The salt content is so high that your body becomes incredibly buoyant.

I’d also heard people discuss the psychedelic side of flotation tanks. Also called ‘sensory deprivation’ tanks, it’s said that by depriving you most of your senses, you enter a meditative-like state. Some people say it enhances their creative thinking, others report hallucinations.Safe to say, I was intrigued.

When it comes to the benefits of flotation therapy, the writing is literally on the wall outside Pure Zen. We are talking pain relief, increased recovery time/assistance with rehabilitation, total relaxation, stress relief, enhanced creativity, improved focus, assist with depression and anxiety… the list goes on. I suffer from anxiety and as it turns out, I woke up on the day of my float feeling anxious. By the time my appointment rolled around, the thought of lying quietly in the dark (albeit wet, salty and naked) sounded pretty delightful.

I walked into the studio in Dundas Court and immediately felt a relaxed vibe. I was greeted by Dave and Stacey, who showed me to my treatment room and patiently explained the whole process to me. I was really impressed at how the space is kitted out: each room has its own shower with a giant rainfall shower head, amenities like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, silicone earplugs, a disposable bamboo comb, a robe, and, of course, a towel and face washer for you use. There’s also a ‘makeup room’ which has Dyson hairdryers, micellar water and cotton pads for you to remove your makeup, moisturiser, earbuds…basically everything you need to get yourself out from the tank and prepared to once again face the world.

Once I was alone, I put in my silicone earplugs and had a shower. Take your time putting in your earplugs – I haphazardly put mine in and now have the unusual (though not dangerous) sensation of salt water in my ear. Before entering the pod, it’s important to wash your body and shampoo your hair so you’re nice and clean. Once you slip into the pod, you can close the lid and push a button to turn off the multi-coloured lights within the pod. Music plays for the first five or 10 minutes, and then you’re left in total silence.

Although I found myself moving around the tank for the first few minutes, I settled into a relaxed state pretty quickly. I certainly didn’t go into a psychedelic trance, but my mind did wander off and before I knew it I’d fallen into a little microsleep. Apparently, this is quite common and isn’t dangerous – the only concern is you might get some saltwater in your eyes. I woke with a bit of a start and spent the rest of the hour in an incredibly relaxed, dream-like state.

I’m actually a little claustrophobic but I didn’t struggle at all inside the tank. It helps that there’s an emergency button inside to call for help, and you are free to open the tank at any point. It actually feels a bit like you’re floating in space. You can’t feel the edges of your tank unless you reach out for them, so it feels really expansive and your body begins to feel weightless.

I was a little disappointed when the music came back on, signalling I had five minutes left in the tank. I felt like I could have easily stayed there for an hour more. The good thing is that you’re given plenty of time to emerge from your cocoon of relaxation and back to reality. I showered, dress and dried my hair in the bathroom. There’s even a lush little room where you can make yourself tea, coffee or have a drink of cold water to wake yourself up. There’s certainly no sense of urgency and you get the impression you’re welcome to stay as long as you please.

I felt just as relaxed from my session in the float tank as I do after a massage. As an introvert, I loved the ‘aloneness’ of the tank – you don’t have to worry about interacting with another human or doing anything right. That might sound terribly antisocial, but in a world where we’re always ‘on’, it’s refreshing to be able to switch off from the world and just ‘be’.

Would I go back again? In a heartbeat. At $85 per session, weekly visits are a little bit out of my price range. However, it’s definitely a worthwhile investment for anyone feeling overwhelmed. The feeling of zen has stayed with me all day, and I’m already excited for my next visit.

the essentials

What: Pure Zen Flotation
Where: Unit 2, 10-12 Dundas Court, Phillip
How much: Single Float Sessions are $85 or Triple Float Packages are available for $200
Website: www.flotationcanberra.com.au

The author received her treatment courtesy of Pure Zen Flotation for review purposes. Her opinions remain her own.