Let My People Float – A Visit To West Coast Float

I originally heard about the concept of sensory deprivation a year or so ago and was immediately both intrigued and more than a bit sceptical. Could floating in a tank, in complete silence and darkness, really provide someone like me – not your typical yoga and meditation loving new-age kind of guy – the complete relaxation that is promised? Would I get bored? Would I have to pee? And then, there it was, Whistler's very own float center, right in the heart of the village. I immediately inquired about the possibility of checking it out and about a week ago had the opportunity to tour West Coast Float's facilities and give it a go for myself.

It’s called Floating or Floatation Therapy, using float tanks, isolation pods, or sensory deprivation tanks and it’s amazing.  Floating allows you to relieve pain, stress & sleep deprivation; to relax, visualize & create.   What’s unique about floating is that it gives each of us what we need, yet it does so with the same three factors – reduced gravity, sensory deprivation and Epsom salt.  It may sound a little strange but we’re confident that once you float, you’ll see that it’s unlike anything else in the world.

The facilities are beautiful and modern, as you would expect. There's two "tranquility float pods", one open pool for those not into the idea of being enclosed, and there's even a larger tank that can fit two, for those up to the challenge of relaxing while floating naked next to your significant other. The process is quite straight-forward and the staff did a great job of making me feel welcome. After a small orientation I was led to my very own pod, took a shower and hopped in.

Now, I should mention that although I am a bit curious about meditation I have never formally tried to meditate so I was more than a little unsure as to what to expect. I was hoping to enter the "theta state" of complete relaxation I'd been explained was the ultimate goal of sensory deprivation, but at the same time was just happy to give it a go and see what happened. 

Floating screens out these external physical stimuli, creating a pure state of “sensory” relaxation. Under these unique conditions, your body has a chance to restore its natural powers of self-regulation, while you simply lie back and rediscover the pleasure of a deeply relaxed mind.

The most consistent and widely experienced effect of floating is a sense of deep, lasting relaxation. As humans, we are often brought down by stressful sensory experiences. Managing the ever elusive work-life balance, in today’s multi-tasking instant gratification world can cause us to lose sight of the beauty and positivity that life offers in every moment. Floating is a way to pause all of these stressors for 90 minutes and provide the mind and body a needed space for relief and reflection. After leaving the pod, one often finds their tension eased, optimism restored, and the ability to appreciate the richness of life revived.

The float itself was pretty straight-forward. To be completely honest, I am not sure if I entered a fully meditative state, although I definitely have not felt that relaxed and completely as ease in a long time, if ever. My brain is most definitely on the more overactive side of the scale and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself able to enter into a completely blank state for at least half of the time I was in the tank (hey, it's my first time!). That is to say, during the 90-minute session there were at least two or three large chunks of time where I was, well, "just floating". I was worried about falling asleep, which a lot of people seem to do and although it's not considered bad (hey, if you're sleeping you must be relaxed!) I was stoked that I did not. The 90-minutes flew by and before I knew it gently bells and lights were signalling that my float had come to an end.

So, the big question. How did it feel? Well, as I mentioned, I have basically zero experience with these types of experiences and went into this with an open mind. It was definitely one of the most relaxing things I've ever done and I am pleased to say that I did in fact feel extremely relaxed afterwards. I didn't experience any psychedelic visuals or other intense states that some others have claimed, but as a meditation beginner I was not really expecting to be able to get that deep into it.

– Used by athletes to visualize and improve their performance, prevent injury, speed recovery & reduce fatigue.

– Relieves pain of multiple types whether caused by an acute injury, physical exertion or a chronic condition – including tension-related muscle pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines.

– 2 hours of floating is more restful and restorative than a full night of sleep; alleviates insomnia and jet-lag.

– Promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and deepens meditation.

– Diminishes depression, anxiety and fear; facilitates freedom from habits, phobias and addictions.

Would I recommend it to others? Definitely. While it's not exactly the kind of thing I am longing to do every day, I could definitely see myself doing it once or twice a month as a nice way to relax and disconnect with the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Big thanks to the fine folks at West Coast Float for letting me check out the facilities and experience this cool new form of relaxation! Check out their website for more info and follow them on Facebook too