In Stillness, I Floated: Exploring the Deep Calm of Salt Pod Therapy
- Dr. K.
- Apr 30
- 5 min read
It started with curiosity.
I’d heard of the trend—floating in a pod filled with warm water and Epsom salt, sealed from light and the usual noise of the outside world. My mind, like many others, often races between responsibilities and rhythms. So on a quiet weekend after a 5K walk, I decided to try something unfamiliar: stillness.
The float therapy studio called Pause in El Segundo, California, was clean, modern, and softly lit. They offered other services—LED light beds, cold plunges, saunas—but I was there for the float. I was guided through the space and into a private pod room. The pod itself was futuristic: glowing blue water, a gentle current of warmth, and the light mineral scent of Epsom salt—magnesium sulfate.
The lid was optional, and I left it slightly open—enough to feel secure, but not closed in. Claustrophobia is real, and even a few seconds fully sealed inside was enough for me. After showering and selecting a soft meditation track, I slipped into the water wearing a swimsuit.
Immediately, the dense salt held me up. My arms and legs floated effortlessly. At first, I was hyper-aware of everything—the shape of my thoughts, the tension in my jaw, the unfamiliar quiet. But then, the external world began to dissolve. The sensory input faded, and something inside started to open up.
More Than a Spa: A Space for Thought, A Cultural Ritual
Float therapy is often packaged as a wellness service, but it recalls something deeper—something more ancient. The deliberate withdrawal from external stimulation is a thread that runs through countless spiritual and cultural traditions.
In Vipassana meditation, practitioners observe strict silence and bodily sensations over multiple days, turning attention inward to gain insight into the impermanent nature of the mind and body (Jain et al., 2023). In Native American vision quests, solitude and fasting in nature create space for transformation and personal clarity. And in yogic tradition, the fifth limb of Ashtanga yoga, pratyahara, describes the conscious withdrawal of the senses from the external world—considered a bridge between outer distraction and inner stillness (Iyengar, 1993).
Tibetan dark retreats (Yangti Yoga)i take this even further: days or weeks spent in complete darkness to access deeper meditative states (Gyatso, 2002). Each of these practices shares something essential—not escape, but attention. Not retreat, but return.
Float therapy offers a physical container for these same impulses. Lying weightless in darkness, I wasn’t trying to meditate. But I entered something close to it. My mind began to clear, then wander, then sort through things I hadn’t consciously revisited in weeks. Thoughts rose. Regrets softened. Ideas appeared. I wasn’t trying to control the experience—and that, perhaps, was the point.
What the Science Says
Floatation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) has been studied by researchers for its effects on the nervous system, particularly in high-stress individuals. A 2018 study led by Feinstein et al. found that even a single one-hour session significantly reduced anxiety and improved mood. The float environment reduced muscle tension, increased body awareness, and supported mental stillness.
Dr. Justin Feinstein, one of the leading figures in this research, has described float therapy as a “reset” for the nervous system—especially valuable for people stuck in chronic fight-or-flight states. Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman has also discussed how sensory reduction enhances 'interoception', the brain’s ability to perceive signals from within the body, which is often dulled in our distracted world.
There’s also a physiological reason float therapy feels restorative: magnesium sulfate, or Epsom salt, is known to reduce inflammation, ease muscular pain, and support sleep (Swaminathan, 2003). The experience may feel intangible, but the science isn’t.
After the Float
At the end of the hour, a soft voice signaled the session was over. I emerged slowly, rinsed the salt from my skin, and sat still for a few moments. I didn’t feel euphoric or dramatically altered. I felt quieter. More in rhythm with myself. That night, my sleep came easily and deeply.
But more than that, something had shifted. I had remembered what it feels like to be alone with my thoughts, uninterrupted.
Float therapy, though contemporary in its design, mirrors a universal human impulse. It offers a rare space to unplug without distraction or instruction. A soft container for reflection in a world of constant interruption. It doesn’t ask for performance—only presence.
And in that hour of weightlessness, something unexpected happened: I didn’t float away—I floated inward.
Global Float Therapy Destinations
North America
Pause Studio – Located in El Segundo, California, Pause Studio offers a modern approach to wellness with float therapy, LED beds, cold plunges, and sauna treatments in a thoughtfully designed space.
True REST Float Spa – With over 40 locations across the U.S., True REST delivers consistent, clinically-informed float therapy services in specialized pods designed for complete sensory deprivation.
Float Sixty – Based in Chicago (with other locations in the Midwest), Float Sixty merges contemporary design with evidence-based float therapy, catering to both first-timers and experienced floaters.
Europe
Floatworks – A pioneer in UK float therapy, Floatworks operates in London with beautifully curated spaces focused on relaxation, introspection, and nervous system recovery.
Float in the Forest – Nestled in the Forest of Dean, this center provides nature-adjacent float experiences in a tranquil rural environment, perfect for restorative practices.
Asia
Samahita Retreat – Located on Koh Samui, Thailand, Samahita integrates float therapy into science-backed wellness and yoga programs, emphasizing respiratory health, metabolic care, and mind-body integration.
Africa
Ubuntu Wellness Centre – Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Ubuntu offers floatation hydrotherapy within an integrative healing framework, rooted in South African and global wellness traditions.
Australia & Oceania
City Cave Float & Wellness Centre – A fast-growing Australian franchise with dozens of locations, City Cave combines float therapy with massage and infrared sauna for comprehensive wellness care.
Flow Retreat – Based in Daylesford, Victoria, Flow Retreat offers float therapy and allied treatments in a tranquil, boutique setting aimed at nervous system recalibration.
References
Feinstein, J. S., Khalsa, S. S., Yeh, H., Wohlrab, C., Simmons, W. K., Stein, M. B., & Paulus, M. P. (2018). Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PLOS ONE, 13(2), e0190292. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190292
Iyengar, B. K. S. (1993). Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. San Francisco: Thorsons.
Gyatso, T. (2002). The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco.
Iyengar, B. K. S. (1993). Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. HarperCollins.
Jain, N., Walsh, R., & Shapiro, S. (2023). The experiences of attending Vipassana meditation retreats: A qualitative study. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 30(1), 32–41. https://journals.lww.com/jpmh/fulltext/2023/01010/the_experiences_of_attending_vipassana_meditation.3.aspx
Swaminathan, R. (2003). Magnesium metabolism and its disorders. The Clinical Biochemist Reviews, 24(2), 47–66. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1855626/
