Sensory Deprivation Float Tanks: What They Are and What to Expect
Imagine having an hour where nobody can contact you.
No phone. No notifications. No noise. No one asking you a question or needing something from you.
Just you, floating effortlessly in warm water, with almost nothing for your brain to process.
That’s essentially what a sensory deprivation float tank is designed to do.
Also known as float therapy or flotation-REST, floating involves lying in warm water containing a high concentration of Epsom salts, allowing your body to float effortlessly.
At Clear Mind Studio, we’ve seen thousands of people use floating for all sorts of reasons. Some want help switching off. Some come for physical recovery. Others simply want an hour where they can completely disconnect from everything happening outside the room.
If you’ve never floated before, here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Sensory Deprivation Float Tank?
Despite the slightly intimidating name, there’s nothing particularly scary about a sensory deprivation tank.
The idea is actually very simple.
The water is warmed to approximately skin temperature and contains enough Epsom salts to make you incredibly buoyant. You lie back and float without needing to hold yourself up or make any effort to stay on the surface.
The environment is quiet, the lighting can be turned off, and there is very little sensory input.
Essentially, you’re giving your brain and body something they rarely get during everyday life: less to process.
And when you spend most of your day answering messages, thinking about work, organising children, making decisions and mentally running through tomorrow’s to-do list, that can feel pretty incredible.
What Does Floating Feel Like?
The first few minutes can feel unusual.
Most of us are so accustomed to doing something all the time that suddenly having nothing to do can take a little adjusting to.
You might notice your thoughts racing. You might wonder how long you’ve been in there. You might even start mentally writing your shopping list.
That’s completely normal.
As you settle into the float, your body begins to relax into the water. Because the water supports your weight, you don’t need to consciously hold yourself in position.
For many people, that’s when the mental noise starts to quieten too.
Some people meditate. Some think. Some fall asleep. Others simply enjoy having absolutely nothing required of them for a while.
There isn’t a “right” way to float.
Why Do People Float?
One of the biggest reasons people come to us is simple: they’re tired of being switched on all the time.
Modern life gives your brain very few genuine breaks.
Even when you’re technically relaxing, you’re often watching television, scrolling your phone, answering messages or thinking about what needs to happen next.
Floating removes most of that stimulation.
Research into flotation-REST has explored its potential effects on stress, anxiety, pain, sleep and general wellbeing, with promising findings, although research is still developing.
But you don’t need to understand the science to understand the appeal.
Sometimes it just feels good to stop.
Why Floating Can Be So Good for Busy Minds
This is probably the part of floating we understand best at Clear Mind Studio.
A lot of our clients aren’t necessarily looking for another “wellness treatment”.
They’re looking for somewhere they can switch off.
For busy professionals, parents and anyone carrying a huge mental load, even relaxation can become another thing you’re supposed to be good at.
Meditate.
Journal.
Exercise.
Get eight hours of sleep.
Take time for yourself.
Sometimes you don’t want another thing to achieve.
You just want everything to stop for an hour.
That’s what makes floating different.
Once you’re inside the float room, there’s nowhere else you need to be. Your phone isn’t with you. Nobody can interrupt you.
You just get in and float.
What Happens to Your Body During a Float?
The high concentration of Epsom salts makes the water extremely buoyant, so your body is supported while you float.
That means you’re not standing, sitting at a desk, carrying a bag, chasing children around or consciously holding your body upright.
For people who carry tension through their shoulders, back or legs, that feeling of weightlessness can be one of the nicest parts of the experience.
You may have also heard claims about absorbing magnesium from Epsom salts through the skin. Research into significant transdermal magnesium absorption is still limited, so we don’t rely on that as a reason to float.
The biggest difference is much simpler: you’re floating effortlessly in a quiet environment with very little demanding your attention.
What to Expect During Your First Float
If you’ve never floated before, you do not need to prepare for it like some kind of endurance event.
There are just a few things worth knowing.
Try not to shave immediately beforehand because salt water and freshly shaved skin are not friends.
Avoid a huge meal immediately before your session, but don’t arrive starving either.
When you arrive, we’ll explain everything before leaving you in your private float room.
You’ll shower before entering the float, step into the water and then lie back.
And yes, you really will float.
You don't need to know how to swim and you don't need to do anything to keep yourself on the surface.
What If I’m Claustrophobic?
This is probably one of the most common questions we hear.
You are always in control of your environment.
You don’t have to float in complete darkness and you don’t have to close yourself into a space that makes you uncomfortable.
If you’re nervous, tell us.
There’s no prize for doing your first float a particular way. The aim is for you to relax, not spend the entire session proving something to yourself.
Lots of people who worry about claustrophobia beforehand are surprised by how comfortable they feel once they actually experience floating.
Do You Wear Bathers in a Float Tank?
Usually, no.
Because your float room is completely private, most people float without bathers.
It removes the sensation of wet fabric against your skin and helps create that feeling of having as little sensory input as possible.
You’ll have your own private space to shower, change and float.
Can You Fall Asleep in a Float Tank?
Yes, some people do.
Others hover in that lovely half-awake, half-asleep state where you’ve completely lost track of time.
And some people remain awake for their entire session.
All are completely normal.
The aim isn’t to fall asleep. The aim is simply to give yourself the space to stop.
How Often Should You Float?
There’s no perfect schedule.
Some of our clients float regularly because it becomes part of their routine. Others book when they feel particularly stressed, physically tired or in need of some proper time out.
If it’s your first time, start with one session and see how you feel.
You don’t need to commit to becoming a weekly floating convert before you’ve even tried it.
Sensory Deprivation Float Therapy in Perth
Clear Mind Studio offers float therapy at both our Inglewood and Fremantle studios.
Our approach to floating has always been about privacy.
You have your own room with your float and shower, rather than moving through a large communal wellness space.
We think that matters.
If the entire reason you’re coming is to get away from noise, people and stimulation for a while, the experience should feel calm before you even get into the water.
Float Therapy in Inglewood
Our Inglewood studio is convenient for clients around Mount Lawley, Morley, Dianella and Perth’s inner northern suburbs.
Inglewood also has our open float pool for couples, so two people can experience floating together.
Float Therapy in Fremantle
Our Fremantle studio gives clients south of the river and around Perth’s coastal suburbs another option for experiencing Clear Mind Studio.
You’ll get the same focus on privacy, quiet and giving you space to properly switch off.
Can You Combine Floating With Other Treatments?
Absolutely.
Floating works particularly well as part of a bigger reset.
You might combine a float with a massage if your body feels tight and tired, or pair it with an infrared sauna when you want a longer wellness session.
We also offer Ice Bath + Finnish Sauna sessions for people who enjoy contrast therapy.
But if you’ve never floated before, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with booking a float on its own.
An hour of doing nothing is already quite a lot.
Is a Sensory Deprivation Float Tank Worth Trying?
If you’ve been curious about floating, our advice is simple: try it once.
You can read about what floating feels like all day, but it’s a difficult sensation to properly describe until you experience it.
For some people, the best part is the physical feeling of weightlessness.
For others, it’s the silence.
And for plenty of our clients, it’s simply knowing that for the next hour nobody needs anything from them.
That alone can be worth its weight in Epsom salt.
Ready to Try Float Therapy in Perth?
You can experience float therapy at Clear Mind Studio in Inglewood or Fremantle, with private rooms designed to help you properly disconnect from the outside world.
Whether you’re looking for relaxation, recovery or simply an hour where your brain gets to stop doing all the things, your first float is a pretty good place to start.
Book your float at Clear Mind Studio and discover what doing absolutely nothing for an hour actually feels like.
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