I tried sauna float for the first time—as someone with claustrophobia I was pleasantly surprised

Posted on 4 May, 2023

“Is the water cold?”

That probably shouldn’t have been the first question out of my mouth, but as I stood in my bikini staring at the almost spaceship-like white pod that took up most of the room—the water inside it turning an iridescent red—it’s all I could think of.

After all, not just five minutes before I had been luxuriously lying in an infrared sauna, letting my body absorb the detoxifying light as I soaked up the heat like a lizard. So, you can understand why the idea of suddenly being cold wasn’t appealing in the slightest.

“Not at all,” answers Yanping Yu, laughing a little.

“The water is the same temperature as your body, so it should feel really nice.”

Relaxation, health, and wellness—that’s the motto of Sauna Float ACT, a stunning studio located on the foreshore of Lake Ginninderra and where I’m currently eyeing off their salt flotation tank, debating if I’ll step in.

The studio overlooking Lake Ginninderra.

At this point—if I’m completely honest—my colleague’s comment that “it’s like floating in a coffin” is echoing in my mind. Not a great way to introduce the concept to someone with claustrophobia.

But I’m here and I want to try it. It’s supposed to be amazing for anxiety and stress relief—and besides, I hadn’t had my morning coffee as per the instructions on the website, so I might as well see the full experience through.

Opened by Yanping in August 2022 after she discovered the benefits of infrared sauna and salt flotation herself, Sauna Float ACT offers both these services—as well as massages—to help locals relax and recharge.

“I was following a professor from Harvard University; his name David Sinclair and I watched a lot of videos of him. He introduced the infrared sauna in his video and said it’s something everyone should do. It’s good for longevity, anti-aging, good for the skin, and good for the hair,” she says.

“It’s good for destressing, relaxing, and easing muscle and joint pain.”

Sold. Starting my morning off in the cosy sauna (something I’ve never done before) I quickly can see why Yanping said it helps you sweat out toxins. Using infrared light to heat the body directly (instead of heating the air), the concept behind the sauna is the heat penetrates deeply into your joints, muscles, and tissues to increase oxygen flow and circulation during the 45-minute session.

Heaven AKA the cosy sauna.

As someone who loves the heat—and is often called ‘sunflower’ by my partner because without a doubt, if there’s a patch of sun, I’m in it to warm up—it’s heaven.

But you don’t need to hear about me having a good time sweating.

Once the session is over, Yanping leads me back through the light and plant-filled entry to her two flotation rooms, where the white pods dominate the space. In the corner, a shower complete with body wash, shampoo, and conditioner awaits.

Telling me all about how salt floats are great for improving sleep quality, pain relief, and sports recovery—some notable Sauna Float ACT clients include Brumbies and Raiders players—and are fantastic for your skin, she runs me through the process which starts with a shower to rinse off any oil, products, or makeup.

“You stay inside for an hour, and you can choose to be naked or choose to wear a swimsuit. The water is full of magnesium salt so you can float effortlessly, it’s like there’s no gravity and at a certain stage you don’t even feel the water,” she says.

“Oh really?” is all I answer, my mind too wired—too busy thinking about writing this story and my caffeine craving—to fully believe her.

“I recommend that even if people hate it, they should do it once a month!”

This I’m less sold on. But when I put in my ear plugs, step into the water, and sit down, I’m pleasantly surprised. The water is perfectly warm, and it’s almost impossible to sit on the bottom of the pod, my legs automatically floating up thanks to the magnesium.

Closing the door and turning off the lights, Yanping leaves me for my hour-long session.

Instead of waiting, I decide to bite the bullet and close the pod lid straight away. And with the coloured lights in the water reflecting against the roof, and music echoing around me, it’s actually quite beautiful—and a lot more spacious than it looks.

Facing my fears.

Slowly I start to relax—I’ve always been a water baby so in that sense I’m in my element—but I still struggle to turn off my mind. So, I take it a step further, turn off the pod lights and let the darkness envelop me.

For a moment my breathing speeds up, but I remember I can open the lid. I briefly panic again when the music stops and it’s utterly still and dark.

I now understand why the salt float is described as “floating through space”. It’s not a comforting thought.

Trying to slow my breathing, I try to focus on the sensation of floating—still struggling all the while to quieten the thoughts racing through my head.

“How long has it been? 10 minutes? I’m not sure I can last an hour…”

“I’m sure some people fall asleep in here, but I don’t think I will.”

20 minutes later the echo of a very loud and aggressive snore startles me awake. Five minutes after that, the same thing happens again.

When I finally emerge from the pod—showering afterward to rinse the salt water from my hair and body—and enter the relaxation lounge, my body slow and my eyes struggling to open fully, Yanping asks me how I feel.

The stunning relaxation lounge.

“I fell asleep,” I answer honestly. “I feel very relaxed.”

“How about your muscles? Do you feel reborn?”

I think about it. That morning I’d done a Pilates session with weights so normally I’d be a bit tight in the muscles I’d targeted, but they felt loose, like I’d stretched them out. I hadn’t felt that good in a long time.

“I feel great!”

Open seven days a week, Sauna Float ACT is perfect for anyone who might be feeling the toll of stress—including public servants, and parents (just a reminder that Mother’s Day is quickly approaching…hint, hint).

And apart from a slight case of post-snore embarrassment, I’d honestly do it again. And maybe add in a massage for good measure. Obviously, I needed a little bit of relaxation.

This is a sponsored post, but the journalist’s opinions remain her own.