What is a float tank?
Float tanks were created in 1954 by John C Lilly, an American physician and neuroscientist. They’re also referred to as sensory deprivation tanks or isolation tanks.
The tank itself is a light proof, soundproof chamber where an occupant lays horizontally in about 12 inches of highly concentrated salt water - more dense than the Dead Sea! The floating experience combined with a lack of sensory input or stimuli is what makes a sensory deprivation tank unique.
There have been studies that suggest float therapy offers a number of benefits including muscle relaxation, relief from back and neck pain, improved sleep, decreased stress and anxiety, as well as improved productivity and creativity.
Currently, there are many models and styles of sensory deprivation units on the market including float tanks, float pods, float cabins, and float rooms.
Tanks have been around the longest - they are a narrow rectangular unit with a hatch on one end. You enter through the hatch, sit down, and close the lid behind you. These are generally the smallest version of sensory deprivation units.
Pods are a bit newer to the market - picture a race car version of the aforementioned tanks. Sweeping lines, wider body, and an easier entrance. Similar though, you close the lid behind you and are unable to stand at that point. Some offer light and sound controls for your in tank float experience.
Cabins or Suites, as we have at Victory Float Lounge, are much larger than the tanks or pods. They’re built in place and then the room is finished afterward, which means you enter by stepping through a door. At our space in Lawrenceville, our suites are 6.5 feet x 7 feet at their base, and more than 7 feet tall. They’re open, spacious and relaxing, which makes them comfortable for first time users, or those that may be uncomfortable in confined spaces. The suites we chose for Victory Float Lounge have in tank controls for light and sound, including a night sky option that offers a comfortable level of lighting if a user isn’t ready for a full sensory deprivation experience.
And finally, float rooms are big, fancy bath tubs placed in an open room, and I don’t mean that in a bad way at all. The physical floating experience is the same, but the sensory input piece is typically controlled by the settings of the room. Set ups like this are typically used in spas that don’t ‘specialize’ in sensory deprivation. Although they are a wonderful alternative and worth trying if you have the opportunity.
Regardless of what type of sensory deprivation experiences are available to you, they all have their physical and mental benefits, which we will dive into in a later blog post! The Pittsburgh area is fortunate to have a handful of float tank locations and types. Do your research and see what makes the most sense for you!
