I Floated in Complete Darkness for 90 Minutes—Here’s What I Discovered

My First Salt Float Experience

No light. No sound. No sensory input. Nothing.

My body was enclosed in a capsule-like container, floating in 19 inches of salt water.

This was how I spent my past Saturday afternoon as I ventured to do my very first salt float.

I first heard of this experience through my aunt and cousin. They have done many salt floats and found them to be very therapeutic mentally and physically.

Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, seemed like the perfect day to try this, given that six planets—Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune—were aligned along the ecliptic plane and visible to the naked eye.

Such planetary alignments create energetic "gateways" or opportunities for amplified manifestation.

So I figured I would merge my planned intention-setting meditation with the unique experience of a salt float. Win-win!

I booked a 90-minute appointment, packed a towel, and headed out to the lounge.

The owner gave me a few instructions:

1. Take a cool shower

2. Wear earplugs

3. Get in the float

4. Relax

Simple enough. I followed the instructions but got stuck on #4…relax.

I was fully submerged in water with my ears covered as well. Only a small portion of my face remained above the surface.

I had placed an optional float ring under my head for extra buoyancy and security that my face would be above the water line.

I found myself fidgeting a lot to get comfortable. There was a lot of pressure on my upper back and shoulders.

There were a few early moments when I contemplated just getting out of the pod and stopping the whole thing.

But I started to realize that maybe I was making this into a bigger thing than it needed to be. I needed to submit to this process and my resistance was likely creating the strain in my back and neck.

As someone who can’t swim, I wonder if my aversion to water played into my restlessness.

A memory suddenly hit me.

My visit to the Dead Sea —a body of water which is full of salt in which I was literally floating while sitting on a chair. I ditched the chair and still floated. There was no way to stay under the water for long.

This gave me firsthand proof that salt creates incredible buoyancy.

The high salt concentration in the Dead Sea increases the water's density, making it far denser than the human body, allowing you to float effortlessly.

It was the only successful swimming experience I have ever had.

I reminded myself that sea was over 1000 feet deep and the water in this pod was exactly 19 inches deep.

So I made the conscious decision to ride out the 90 minutes no matter what.

I started intentional breathing—slowly in and out.

Transitioned to chanting Ohm—the primordial sound of the universe.

It was fascinating to feel the reverberations of the Ohm chanting surround me and I could feel the vibrations moving inside my chest and neck—much more amplified than during my sitting yoga meditations.

I started to relax and just let my limbs do their thing. I stopped focusing on trying to stay in one spot and let myself drift.

I proceeded to set my new intentions in my mind and added visualization exercises to see them coming into fruition.

And then….I slipped into the void.

No track of space or time.

Just deep sleep.

My next memory is waking up to the soft music that is played in the room to alert the customer that time’s up.

I now had 15 minutes to exit the salt float pod, shower off again, get dressed, and vacate the room.

I contemplated more on my experience on the drive home.

---

Should you do a salt float?

My advice to anyone considering would be don’t go in with high expectations of something magical happening.

It could end up being that for you but if it ends up being just a normal experience, you don’t want to feel like you were ripped off.

Neutrality is a good headspace to go in with.

The owner mentioned that the largest two groups of his clients were pregnant women and employees in the tech space.

I see how both could benefit from a hard block of time to get deep relaxation.

My cousin mentioned how she has had epiphanies while in there. The business owner said the same—many of his customers come out with answers to nagging questions.

As for me—I did not receive any enlightening information but I had a deep nap and taught myself that I can do one more thing I thought I might be able to.

So go with with no expectations aside from taking in the benefits of an Epsom salt bath such as:

• Softens skin

• Easing joint pain

• Enhances blood flow

• Detoxification through skin

• Reducing cortisol levels and hence stress

These on their own can be worth it as long as you are not claustrophobic.

My final pro tip: if you find yourself in one of these pods, DO NOT rub your eyes with your salty fingers. You’re welcome.

As a former MRI technologist, I have had to end many exams due to patients being unable to tolerate being in a tunnel like machine. But there was light and sound available in that tunnel.

This is an enclosed and dark pod—might not be a claustrophobic persons cup of tea.

Final Thoughts

In the end, my first salt float was a unique experience—one that was equal parts challenging and intriguing.

While I didn’t walk away with profound revelations, I did leave with a newfound respect for the process of surrendering and letting go.

Now to answer if I would do it again? —at this point I really don’t know.

It’s not a 'heck yeah,' but it’s not a 'heck no' either

At this point it’s just ‘Hmmm…well that was different’.

I have been told that it takes a few times to get used to it. You don’t know fully what to expect the first time.

But for now, I think I will stick to my deep tissue massage.

I leave those sessions feeling as though all the stagnant energy has been pushed out of my body, and my muscles feel instantly relaxed.

But who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll find myself back in a dark, enclosed pod, ready to give it another go with a more open mind and body.