Sensory deprivation tanks

February 17, 2006 2:16 PM

Sensory deprivation tanks: Are these still widely used? What is it like? How could I find one near me? (Google has proved useless so far).
posted by gottabefunky to Health & Fitness (16 answers total)

Wikipedia has some great information on the subject.

Apparently, "sensory deprivation" is now only used in the context of interrogation methodology. Therapeutically, it's known as a floatation tank. Perhaps using that query would yield some better search results.
posted by mr.dan at 2:28 PM on February 17, 2006

Try searching for "isolation tank" as well.
posted by unknowncommand at 2:32 PM on February 17, 2006

I don't know if they're still in vogue, but years ago, just after the film "Altered States" came out, I decided to try one. I found a place that had them, stripped down, got inside and floated in the darkness. It felt like -- um -- floating in darkness. It pretty much felt the same way it feels to float in a pool with your eyes closed. Now, I'm not a "mystical, spiritual" sort of person. No doubt you experience more if you're less of a materialist than I am.

It all ended badly for me. I got an itch in my eye, and I brought my finger up to scratch it, forgetting I was floating in salt water. I spent the next couple of minutes with salt in my eye, screaming, "Ow! Ow! Owwwww! Goddammit!" and fumbling for the door handle. Then I got out and hopped around on the cold floor, clutching a towel to my eye. This was only about 20 minutes into the process and I'd paid for 90 minutes. So after my eye felt better, I climbed back in. But it wasn't the same.

Before, though I hadn't seen Jesus or anything, it was sort of peaceful. But now I was too paranoid about absentmindedly rubbing my eye to relax. After about another 20 minutes I got bored and left.

The other thing I didn't like was that due to the coffin-like size of the tank, there was no way to avoid the walls. For a minute or two, I could stay in the center, but as I relaxed, I would float towards one side or the other and bump into the wall. Which didn't allow my senses to be deprived.
posted by grumblebee at 2:38 PM on February 17, 2006

Can't help you with finding one where you are, but I've been to one in Chicago a couple times (SpaceTime Tanks). The website gives a lot of information about it. I also don't know how widely used they are, though I can say that most people who I've mentioned this to have no idea what I'm talking about.

As for what it's like: the first time I went, when I got out, it was like being stoned. Everything just flowed. It was great - probably because I, luckily, had not touched my eye. :-) The second time, the feeling wasn't as evident, but it's still different than how you feel after, say, a massage.

The place in Chicago has private rooms, each room with a tank and a shower. I went in naked, though you can wear a swimsuit. They recommend naked to get the full effect. The tank shuts off all light (but there's air circulating) and the water is at skin temp - the idea is to make it feel like you're floating in air, since the amount of epsom salts they use makes it like the Dead Sea (you can't sink). You'll probably feel panicky for the first minute or two, since the pitch-blackness and the oddness takes getting used to. Just remember to breathe.

Afterwards, you shower off. The epsom salts are good for your skin, but you don't want it drying on you. At SpaceTime Tanks, you get to them come out to the main room and relax on their couch with a glass of water until you feel ready to move. Very New Age-y, but very pleasant.

SpaceTime Tanks also offers massages, which I did right after my second time in a tank. It was neat, but I think it was also too much at once for me, and I would prefer just using the tank.

While you're in there, you have time to meditate or to sleep (seriously, you can fall asleep). You'll probably come out not remembering what you thought about, or feeling like not much time has passed. I highly recommend it. In fact, I might have to make another appointment soon.

Let me know if you have more questions, here or by email - metabibbit (at) yahoo (dot) com.
posted by bibbit at 2:43 PM on February 17, 2006 [1 favorite]

Do they make sure you shower before climbing in? 'cause floating in the assboogers of the previous client just doesn't, y'know, appeal.
posted by five fresh fish at 3:07 PM on February 17, 2006

A friend gave me a certificate to try it out a long time ago. The place I went to had speakers in the box so I brought along some music to listen to, I listened to some classical music. At first when I got in I kept worrying that my head would sink under the water so put my hands under my head to keep it above the water* but as I relaxed my arms slowly drifted away from where they were. Eventually I fell asleep and at the end of the session it took them over a half hour to wake me up - heh. After getting out of the tank it felt like I didn't have muscles, found it was difficult to walk, and felt like I was floating - I was massive lump of jelly. I found the experience really enjoyable and would recommend it as it well.

*This was more about my fear of drowning than any real threat.
posted by squeak at 3:12 PM on February 17, 2006

This site lists a couple of places in Albuquerque where you can do it.
posted by bac at 3:40 PM on February 17, 2006

I've only been once but have a certificate to do another one that was given to me by friends after I raved about it.

The one I went to in London had it's own room with a shower. You shower both before and after. I found it to be the most relaxing experience I've ever had but it took me about 20 mins to just switch off (having said that, you have no perception of time). At times it felt like I was spinning around when just pushing away from the sides of the pod with my little finger. All the stress in my muscles just seemed to melt away, yes I felt slightly stoned, but for the rest of the day I felt so 'high' and re-energised.

I would totally recommend going!
posted by floanna at 4:39 PM on February 17, 2006

Here's a list of some places with flotation tanks. I've never done it myself (never even heard of it until a few weeks ago) but this thread is making me think I should look one of these doojiggers up myself...
posted by fuzzbean at 4:53 PM on February 17, 2006

I went to Koan Float as part of my getting-myself-over-claustrophobia program. The tank was tight around my body as grumblebee describes, and I spent some time with the lid open at first to get used to it. Once I adjusted to the odd floating (so much different than floating in non-salty water), I really enjoyed it. It seemed to help muscles relax that otherwise never did, postural muscles I suppose. I felt the effect most strongly in my neck. I would also highly recommend it as an experience, and hope I can do it again sometime soon.
posted by olecranon at 5:33 PM on February 17, 2006

Wow, you guys have totally convinced me to check out floatation tanks. I think that I seriously need something like this.

Thanks!
posted by Afroblanco at 9:24 PM on February 17, 2006

fff: yes they do - there's also a filtration system that is run between floats. A list of locations can be found here. Grumblebee's account is spot on - the golden rule is don't touch your face (also put Vaseline on any cuts and don't shave beforehand - ouch!), and yes, you tend to bounce off the sides a little at first. Another annoying problem can be that condensation accumulates on the roof of the tank and droplets of cold water can fall on you during your float, so you should check for that at the start, particularly above your head.
I've actually done quite a lot of overnighters in a tank (long story), although I've always gone in wasted, which I believe is frowned upon by spiritual types. The osmotic potential does rehydrate you though....
posted by forallmankind at 9:52 PM on February 17, 2006

The branch of Oasis on Park Avenue in New York has a flotation room, but it's more like a bathtub; you can choose to have it completely dark or with a candle. I didn't like that I was on the water rather than in it, and my neck didn't feel completely supported. YMMV
posted by brujita at 10:50 PM on February 17, 2006

have you read about Richard Feynman's experiences w/ them? he writes about it in his book, Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman!, and has good things to say about his experiences.

it's something i'd like to try myself eventually.
posted by jruckman at 5:21 AM on February 18, 2006

There's a tank in my town.

We should all agree on a date to go tanking, and then come back with experience reports. :)
posted by five fresh fish at 10:36 AM on February 18, 2006

I just wanted to thank everyone who took part in this thread. I had wondered about floatation tanks for years, but never thought I would be able to visit one. Inspired by this thread, I had my first floatation experience today. It was INCREDIBLE. I wrote about it here.
posted by Afroblanco at 5:06 PM on April 8, 2006