Frequently Asked Questions

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Before someones first float we ask them to arrive 15mins early to fill out a short waiver and to be given a orientation on float procedures.  

When you come in to float you will be asked to remove; any outdoor footwear at the front door, and any jewellery or eye contacts before entering the tank. You will have you own private room to keep your belongings and we cary spare contact lens cases if needed. 

Before coming in to float we recommend that you don’t drink coffee for several hours beforehand (it can make your system jittery). Also, we suggest not shaving the day of your float, the salt water can irritate your skin. Eating a light meal about an hour to 90 minutes ahead of time stops your stomach from rumbling while you float which can be distracting. 

Other than that, there’s no specific preparation needed. (See Float Procedures)

If you have longer hair, you may want to bring a comb. or brush. (We do also provide brushes, combs and hair ties.)

 If you wear eye contacts it recommend to bring, something to put your contact lenses into while you’re in the float tank. 

(We also cary spare contact lens cases if needed.)

You also do not need a bathing suit as you have your own private room and float in the nude.  

Other than that, we provide everything you need (towels, robes, earplugs, body wash/shampoo, moisturizer, tea, water,..) (See Float Procedures)

 You’re always in control of your environment, and even people with extreme claustrophobia have reported having no problems during their time in the tank.

 Once you close the door there will be no difference between opening or closing your eyes, therefore being in the tanks is more like floating in open space rather than being shut in a box

You can also always leave the door wide open or propped open with a pool noodle or face cloth for as long as you like – again, you’re in control.

Nope. What's great about coming back to float is that each float is a different experience each time.

You may have a more passive float where you simply lay still and slowly relax every muscle in your body

or

You may have a more active float where you stretch explore you range of motion within the tank. 

Each person should find whatever position is comfortable for them. Some people float with their hands at their sides, some with their hands folded across their chest or abdomen, or behind their heads. You can keep your head at either end or sit up if you like. You may float with the door open or closed. Explore what’s best for you!

We use Oasis Relaxation System Floatation Tanks. They have been manufacturing float tanks for 30 years – wow! 

The tank features a powerful UV filtration system and an audio system which allows us to gently bring you out of your float with some tranquil music.

Find out more

The water is fully filtered 3-5 times (20mins) between each float, passing through an intense filtration system for particulate matter and then a UV filter which targets the DNA and RNA of bacteria, viruses, algae and other biological matter. Furthermore, the Epsom salt solution is naturally sanitary; the combination of the high concentrations of Epsom salt and a small amount of sanitizer (hydrogen peroxide 50-100ppm) make it cleaner than a pool and nearly impossible for microorganisms to survive.

Watch the video

Pregnant women love floating! Floating relieves all of the weight of the baby off of the mother’s body which can be a great help to those suffering from lower back pain. 

We also have a few suggestions floating on the front for pregnant woman as a position to explore while inside the tank. 

If you are in your third trimester, or have any concerns, please consult with your physician before coming in.

Yes. Just follow the same protocol you would for a swimming pool.

For more info on feminine hygiene and floating read the blog

Ladies, Ladies, Ladies by oGO Float.

You must wait 2 weeks after dying your hair before you can float. While there is no guarantee that the salt won’t strip some colour from your hair, we recommend that you check if the water running through your hair in the shower at home is fully clear. If there is still some colour coming out you should wait a couple of more days/showers.

Each float room is private so you’re ok to leave your stuff on the bench beside the tank while you float.

Floating has been around for over 50 years and has loads of published scientific research to back it up. No mumbo jumbo here.

See published research

The first float tank was developed in 1954. These involved full submersion in water and a breathing device that completely covered your face. The first lay down, commercial tanks were invented in the early 70′s.

Dr. John C. Lily, an American physician, neuroscientist, psychoanalyst, psychonaut, philosopher, writer and inventor.

Yes, but you’re not fully submerged in water, you don’t eat ritualistic mushrooms, and only a small percentage of floaters turn into proto-human monkeys.

Watch Altered States Trailer

Only one person per tank. We have five float tanks and we stagger our floats so up to 3 people can come float simultaneously in our centre. Double-wide tanks do exist, but we feel that they take away from the whole ‘sensory reduced’ experience.

You are always in control of your float and can hop out at any time. That being said, the 60-minutes usually goes by waaaay faster than you’d expect.

There aren’t any latches on the tank doors and are in complete control of closing and opening the door

There is a float centre in Portland Oregon called Float On that had an endurance athlete rent a room for a 24 hour period and apparently floated for most of that time! We haven’t heard of anyone floating longer than that.

Nope - your skin doesn’t even prune up at all! The magnesium sulfate actually makes your skin very silky and soft. You will absorb some of the Epsom salt, so it’s advised that you to drink plenty of water or tea after your float.

Yes! There are a few ways to go about this..

1. Members at Float Tank Barrie can float for up to 90mins/float
2. You can book a Double Float: back-back sessions for a 2.5 hour float. 
3. If you book the last float of the night you can float up to 2 hours long. (At no additional costs)

The water in the tank is incredibly buoyant and very relaxing – it’s entirely possible that you could fall asleep. Indeed, some people love to sleep during their float and you should feel free to do the same! It’s extremely unlikely that you’ll roll in your sleep in which case the worst that can happen is getting woken up by a bit of salt water in your eyes or mouth.

The water is only 10'' deep so you can touch the bottom to push yourself up and rinse any salt that gets into your eyes or mouth.

Starting out, for truly optimal results, floating 2-4 times a month for 2-3 months is a great way to dive into the practice. For those really keen, floating once a week is incredible.  However, even 1-2 floats / month for 4-6 months is a great start too. 

IT MAY TAKE A FEW FLOATS...

Many people can easily sink into the depths of a float session on their very first try. However, we are all formed by our life experiences a little differently and for others it make take 2-3 floats before a deeper connection is made, this is normal. It is in our experience that the floaters whom have a regular meditation/yoga practice grasp the learning curve of floating a lot faster. 

Once you've cleared your first 10 floats, done within one of the frequencies suggested above, you should be able to to see how floating can benefit you and your life. Then typically 1-2 floats / month is a great place to be. Even taking little breaks is good and then coming back with greater intensity (e.g. 3 floats in 2 weeks) is excellent. 

Epsom baths at home are wonderful, but entirely different than a float tank. For one, it’s a lot more Epsom salt. There’s almost 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt in a float tank. You probably can’t fully stretch out your body in a bathtub, and it’s not continuously heated to maintain temperature, lightproof or soundproof. This is not your average tub.

Each float centre will have their own rules and regulations, but yes children can float, with parental consent. Children as young as 6 have floated with excellent results!

Not yet. There are some who receive substantial medical benefit from floating, and with the help of their M.D., have been able to receive coverage from their benefits company. This is on a case by case basis.

It is now optional to listen to something (music, white noise, meditations) from either Spotify, Apple Music or Youtube while floating.

While we feel the silent/traditional float is best for maximizing the benefits from sensory reduction we do recognize that people relax in different ways and that some people would enjoy something to listen to while in the tank.

If you feel that some soft music, meditations, or white noise etc. will aid in a more enjoyable experience, simply let our staff know at check-in what you’ll prefer and we’ll be happy to help. 

Please email your music request or playlist link to floattankbarrie@hotmail.com prior to your float for the smoothest experience.