Better Being Float Center

After a very long week of getting my butt kicked by my personal trainer and long hours at the office, I was on need of some good R&R. Year ago I tried float therapy and remembered how relaxing it was so I looked up float centers in Indy and this place was the only one that came up. I immediately booked an appointment online (their website is very user friendly). I was able to get an appointment for the next day at a time that suited me. Upon arrival the staff was very friendly and made sure that I was well attended to. They explained how their float pods worked in a quick and efficient manner and let me get right to it. My only complaint about the whole thing was the size of their float pods. I’m very average in height (5’11) and felt the pod was too small. Every time I’d start to relax I’d bump into the walls of the pod and it would really throw off any zen groove I’d started to get into. Apart from that I think these guys really have nailed the float therapy business.

I first got interested in floating back in the 70s after reading «Altered States». I had always wanted to experience it, but I never got around to it… until today. Back then I wanted the «woo-​woo» heady experience, but today I went to seek relief from the chronic back pain one gets from 40 yrs of waiting to float (no, I fell 4 yrs ago and fractured a vertebra).
The guys were friendly and made me feel welcomed and informed, after an introductory tour and explanation of the equipment and general procedure.
My experience was very relaxing and peaceful. I had the slightest sinus swelling from having blown my nose 10 minutes prior to arriving. The humidity exacerbated the swelling, so I was too aware of my breathing to get anywhere close to a heady «woo-​woo» experience; however, I drove home pain free and look forward to my next visit… until the float center in Irvington opens.

I don’t have experience at any OTHER float centers to base my review around but I’ve been 3 times to BB and each time, it gets better.
I’m a VERY restless person, so my first experience was comically bad for me (not BB’s fault, my own!). I was flying out of the country the next morning during the winter when it’s snowy and was super stressed out about flight cancellations and because of that, I spent my whole time in the tank, fidgeting around, never turned the light off and ended up getting out early. So if you’re super, super mentally stressed out, I would recommend not scheduling a float then because you have to be a certain level of relaxed already to let yourself relax even more. If your mind is racing, you won’t be able to enjoy a float.
My second time was a lot better, but I was still pretty restless. I turned the light out in the tank and actually let myself really appreciate the nothingness, but I still found myself moving around a lot of and I kept having thoughts of «what could I be doing with this 90 minutes instead that would be more productive»
My most recent time however, I finally was able to let go and sort of went into a meditative state. I found counting my deep breaths really helped settle me into that. I had a little bit of visual hallucinations, but nothing Fantasia-​like, just what looked like light floating in my field of vision kind of. It was kind of cool.
As far as pain relief goes… I have an old shoulder injury that gives me a lot of trouble. Floating hasn’t really helped noticeably with it the same way deep tissue massage has, but it does make all the stuff surrounding the injury feel more relaxed at least. It’s a different kind of relaxation, I guess. The feeling afterwards reminds me of my childhood growing up on the coast and coming home from a swim… sort of invigorating but not like you’re relaxed into sleepiness or anything.
Hoping my next time is even more useful.
I recommend it if for nothing else than to have the experience but at the same time, I kind of feel like you need to try it a few times to really get a feel for it.

Truth be told, I spend a lot of time, effort, and money to relive my pain from everyday life;too much travel in the car and on an extremely cramped airplane; and other factors.
The center itself is pretty unassuming. The front area contains a few chairs if arrive early as well a small pay counter. There are three separate floating rooms.
The staff is very friendly and will walk through and explain the process to those new to floating.
After a 90 minute session floating in silence and complete darkness, I always leave feeling relaxed, stressed free, and feeling like I have a normal body. Did I mention that floating helps with muscle and bone pain?
Some Tips:
— The gel ear plugs that conform to your ears work the best
— Make sure to cover any cuts, no matter how small, even chapped lips, with the vaseline packet that they provide
— If you can’t stand 90 minutes of silence, bring along some music to listen to while you soak
— When booking online, you will have pay $ 15 deposit that is created to you total payment of the session
–Avoid shaving ~24 hours prior to floating
–Don’t be an idiot and float right after your hair dyed, salt is not your friend
–Try to avoid touching your face while floating. There is a towel and some regular water on a ledge if you happen to make that mistake.
–Take a deep breath and try not to overthink it. You will not drown. Enjoy your time away from the world and try and relax

I’ve been floating fairly regularly for about 6 months now. Better Being has pretty much been the only game in town since they opened, and I’d say that the team over there has set the bar pretty high for what I’m sure will become nearly as popular as tanning salons and reflexology massage shops in the not-​too-​distant future. Matt, Ryan, Missy, and Kenny have done a great job with their facility, and they’ve treated me like family from the moment I first interacted with them.
Upon entering the float center, you’ll notice that the air/​vibe/​energy in the place seems… serene, and the demeanor of the crew certainly reflects that same ambiance. It’s clean, calm, and inviting. They also make a considerable effort to ensure their clients are well cared-​for, and seem to be improving upon those efforts all the time. One thing I really liked was the eventual addition of wax earplugs as an alternative to the standard orange foam type they also offer.
Entering one of their three float rooms as a first-​timer is a pretty unique experience. The pod itself looks like a weird combination of a human-​sized crock pot, hot tub, and space ship. I’ll admit, it can seem a little… daunting? at first — not quite intimidating — but also intriguing. The room is set up very nicely, with a great shower in each room and accompanying shower products at your disposal.
Once you climb into the tank, you immediately feel the heavily salt-​laden water begin to fight against your weight gently, which is a super weird experience. The level of buoyancy is surprising. On your first go-​round, it can be a little tricky to get comfortable with floating as effortlessly as you do. Even your head floats, but releasing your neck tension while in the water is much easier said than done. They offer neck floats in the tank for people that might be too uncomfortable with that bit.
You can plug music into an aux jack (AIRPLANE MODE!!!) in the pod, and you also have the option to leave the lights on. I recommend neither. If you go, clear your mind before you ever set foot in the place. Focus on your breathing. Relax. If you can settle your mind well enough in the tank, and you are receiving zero sensory input from your body, your brain lights up like the Fourth of July. There doesn’t seem to be much difference between having your eyes open instead of closed, but chances are high that you’ll see some things either way. I’ve experienced everything from organic, seemingly living blobs of color to images of all sorts, and even «heard» tones and other various sounds in some of my more intense experiences floating. The mind is a pretty bizarre thing when it begins to unspool. Time stops, and the outside world dissolves, as does the tank itself. You may as well be floating through the void of Outer Space.
The benefits I’ve received by floating are many, and I feel they’ll only increase with each trip to BBFC. You’ll never get to know yourself better than by being alone with only yourself, floating through nothingness, and any time I’ve gone while also trying to deal with whatever life problem I’ve got at the time results in a far more clear understanding of how to solve my problem, or at least how to proceed more effectively in the future. My primary reason for going are those mental benefits, but the physical benefits are also amazing. I leave feeling like I’ve just had a 90-​minute massage, but for much less than I would’ve paid for one. It’s almost difficult to adjust to standing and walking for a minute or two afterward. Floating is perfect for the elderly and those with fibromyalgia or MS because of the tension and pain release. I had an ACL replacement a few years back, and my knee feels way better after an appointment. Anybody with joint pain will immediately get hooked. The magnesium dose you get from the Epsom salt is also pretty good for your body, since most people are a bit deprived of magnesium in their diets.
All in all, I can’t recommend Better Being Float Center, and floating in general, highly enough. The people, the facility, and the continued experience will keep me coming back for a VERY long time into the future, and I tell absolutely everyone I know that will listen about how great it is. It helps that they’ve got a pretty sweet referral program. Lulz. Sorry for the novel, but thanks for reading this. I really believe in what these great people are doing, and I think you’ll probably agree if you check it out for yourself. Just don’t get the water in your eyes, and tell them Nick sent you!

This was my first float and I will definitely be back. Staff was very friendly and Struve to make sure everyone is comfortable and has what they need for a relaxing experience. It was nice to be able to completely relax and detach from everything. The private room with shower and Ann necessities provided made for a great experience.

I went to Better Being as a first-​time floater, and was very impressed with the facility and customer service. The gentleman at the desk walked my friend and I back to one of the rooms and oriented us on the entire process including the showers, how the tank works, how to play music, turn off lights, etc. He was patient and made sure we knew what to expect and had no questions. The rooms were spacious and clean. A sign on the door even indicated that additional towels, qtips, lotion, and even hairdryers were all available upon request at no charge. Hot tea and cold water are available in the waiting area. I’m not so sure that floating is for me… BUT I’m not reviewing float therapy here. This facility is clean and staff are friendly and accommodating… I’d recommend this float center to anyone who’s been wanting to try floatation therapy.

Great staff and one of a kind type of service

Today was my first float session.
Here are some things you should know before floating:
1) Yes, you go in naked. 100% birthday suit.
2) Yes, it’s sanitary. You’re floating in 10″ plus ***900 lbs*** of Epsom salt. It’s impossible for bacteria to grow in that amount of salt. On top of that, they have a pool type filter that filters the water between float sessions AND there’s peroxide in the water as well. Whew! That was a lot. But one of my first questions.
3) Upon entering the water, you’ll notice your skin has almost a slimy feel to it. That’s normal — it’s not slime. It’s the salt.
4) This is 90 minutes. No they don’t do shorter sessions. This is for people who genuinely need to unplug. The first 30 minutes, I was a fidgety mess. Until all of a sudden — I just was in a zone of… well… nothing. Hang in there. Stick out the time. You’ll thank me later.
5) They supply shower gel (remember to wash your ears. They DO get salty even with the ear plugs they provide), shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer and comb. Bring flip flops.
6) The point of all this is that you are completely weightless for 90 minutes. Your body can tell. I felt great upon my exit. All stress was relieved from every muscle and joint in my body for 90 minutes. Except for maybe my neck. That part was a bit tricky for me for some reason.
7) There are some things to consider before scheduling a float… such as… you might not want to invest in this if you’re claustrophobic. For more FAQ’s, visit their website at