Suzanne McNamara learns the art of being still, floating in complete darkness and doing absolutely nothing.

Float 1 // Monday 14 March

The irony wasn’t lost on me that Float Culture is located in Water Street, an industrial cul-de- sac off Mt Eden Road that borders the soon-to-be Maungawhau/Uptown City Rail Link station.

Having been “too busy”, I was feeling slightly uptight when I arrived at Float Culture for my first float experience. What I hadn’t already researched was soon revealed in the introductory video, which told me everything I needed to know, from how to prepare to how to float.

I was shown to the spacious ocean room, which comprised a toilet, hand basin and shower. A door revealed the enclosed room that contained the tub of salty water, which had surprisingly good head height and was more like a large bath – not the pod I had anticipated.

Once showered, and with supplied earplugs lodged, I eased into the supersaturated Epsom salt solution water. The light in the tub is a low-beam blue LED and once you’re in, you can switch off the light yourself and start experiencing the nothingness.

With arms raised around the side of my head, I was off on the first float.

I was keen on quietening my monkey mind. Except I couldn’t. An hour is a long time to think of nothing, so I let the thoughts drift, wondering how I would write about lying in a salt solution for one hour.

It’s an unusual sensation to float. It feels like you’re lying on a bed completely still, but you can’t feel your body where it connects with the mattress. The only sensation I could feel was the water lapping ever so slightly around my neck.

I jerked – had I just dropped off to sleep? – then it happened again. Maybe I was so dog-tired or so relaxed that I could go to sleep suspended in water. Then the hour was gone and before I knew it, I was back in the shower, washing my hair again. 

Float 2 // Wednesday 16 March

By float two, I hadn’t noticed any great benefit or difference to my well-being. The receptionist asked me if I had slept well after my first float. I tried to think if I had or not. Being a mother and now menopausal, I am used to the elusive nature of sleep.

This time I noticed a slight excitement at the anticipation of slipping into the water. It felt easier for all my muscles to relax more quickly. My mind flip-flopped from feeling slightly bored to experiencing creative solutions to those life problems, and then back again to how do I write about lying in a salty water solution?

I lost track of time and I didn’t fall asleep or experience any jerking. Again, the only sensation I could feel was the water around my neck. I was just the real me, floating in 30cm of salty water.

At home, I paid attention to my sleeping. I didn’t get a super early night, but it was a solid night's sleep. A seriously good sleep. I wondered about the power of suggestion. 

Float 3 // Monday 21 March

This time, I was keen to mix it up and try a pod. They are longer and wider than the tub rooms, but it didn’t feel like it. Before slipping into the darkness, I was served kava, the bitter drink that is popular in Pacific Island cultures for reducing anxiety and inducing relaxation. It made it easier to pull down the lid of the pod and turn off the light.

I was away – floating content, relaxed and not caring at all about how I was going to write about lying suspended in salty water for an hour.

“I was away – floating content, relaxed and not caring at all about how I was going to write about lying suspended in salty water for an hour.” 

Float 4 // Tuesday 22 March

On waking, I knew I had experienced another solid sleep. I bounced out of bed convinced that floating would be great for my husband, a stressed-out executive.

I stopped visiting the gym due to covid, but I’m keen on trying the salty water as an excellent therapy for when I return and experience sore muscles. Floating could be something I do for the rest of my life. 

Floatation Therapy

• Effects of flotation therapy on reducing stress are well documented in scientific research

• Blood tests indicate that floating reduces the levels of stress and stress-related neurochemicals

• People have reported they are less bothered by their pain following flotation

• It can be used as an effective recovery regime to decrease muscle soreness and replenish energy, increase muscle tissue growth and prevent long- term injury