FLOAT: Floatation Center & Art Gallery

If I could give this place a no stars, I definitely would. I called in today to reschedule our appointment and the lady who picked up was extremely condescending and rude. Thank goodness we didn’t go here! Go elsewhere!

Can’t say this is based on my experience cuz I haven’t been able to have one. Can barely get in contact with the place, even have confirmed «yes that day works for me» in an email as an IMMEDIATE response, and then my responses were «lost» or someone else scheduled over me, or I wasn’t even responded to. Very disappointing.
Would love to attempt to heal here, but it’s been a fiasco and have purchased a float here for essentially no reason, because I clearly won’t get scheduled I’m just not a priority here and that has proven to be true in my attempts to get in contact with this place.

Floating in the tank was great for my pregnant body, especially in the third trimester. Swimming was often recommended to take off weight during pregnancy, but I was not quite ready to merge into a cold swimming pool. So, this flotation center was quite blessing.
I also felt deeply relaxed after spending an hour in the floating tank with minimum or no stimulation.

I’ve only floated here once and was going to wait until I had a few more experiences to leave a review, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this place. It was an amazing experience! I wouldn’t say I had any life-​altering mind-​trip, but it was surely the most relaxed I’d felt in ages. The flotation experience itself is one of the most physically comfortable things I’ve ever experienced. It took me awhile to fully relax, but I believe that’s because it was my first time, so it was hard to let the brain wind-​down.
The atmosphere is great. It’s very laid-​back, and doesn’t feel like a snobby, fancy, high-​end spa. It’s just a welcoming environment, open to all.
I’ll definitely be back. The prices are high but comparable to all other flotation tanks in the area (actually, they’re probably a bit less.) Definitely worth the cost. I plan to make it a monthly ritual, or perhaps even weekly when I’m feeling more stressed.

Allison and Craig are an amazing duo, offering pleasant floats and personal attention. For those of you who have never floated they explain every detail and even give helpful hints for first timers. Often times they’ll allow you extra time as well, sometimes up to 90 minutes for the 60 minute float price. This is the updated version of the old fashioned sensory deprivation tanks… An incredible way to meditate and the Epsom salts relax your muscles as well. I always go into a very deep meditation here. And when you’re done with your float you get a cup of tea and a walk around a funky gallery featuring a local artist. I’ve been to other float centers… This one is my go-​to place because of the people who run it, the environment and the overall quality of the experience. I have referred 5 of my friends and family here.
Side notes: There are large tanks of heated water with literally a ton of Espon salt melted in each one… there is always a humid sort of smell at float centers, sort of like how a pool smells. You should always wear the ear plugs so the salt doesn’t dry up in your ears. Do not go in if you have any small cuts without protecting them with a water proof barrier — the salt will sting for the first 20 minutes of your float!

I have been here several times. My uncle recommended me to do this and both times I have enjoyed my experience! I felt super relaxed and refreshed after my experiences. The owner brings you tea after your float, and while you come back to reality after such a blissful experience you can enjoy the beautiful art all over that changes every time. will be making another appointment soon.

Allison was the bee’s knees! Great ambiance, excellent service and an overall amazing experience for a first time floater. Didn’t hesitate to buy their 3x float package after because I am DEFINITELY coming back!

Always have has an interest in a float tank since I heard Joe Rogan talking about it over the years. Luckily FLOAT was having a Groupon, so I took advantage of a 3 float deal for $ 100…
The owner was very nice and explained everything in detail beforehand. Any apprehensions I had about the tank, she made me feel better…
I had an excellent time, wish it would have lasted longer then a hour! I went places ive only went, when I was under the influence of hallucinogens. The tea, music and nice art on the walls was nice at the end… CANNOT wait for my next session!

My experience with this business has been most disappointing. First, I tried making an appointment online for a Tuesday and I didn’t get a reply so I called a week later. I thought the Tuesday time was taken, hence the no-​reply. I made an appointment for Thursday instead.
A week later I get a call on Tuesday asking if I was lost. I said my appointment was on Thursday and she checked her calendar. She claimed I had made 2 appointments and didn’t believe me when I said I never got an email back! She got mad and said in an annoyed tone, «You should only make one appointment. *sigh* see you Thursday.» After the phone conversation, i double-​checked all my emails again and all the spam folders too. No email from them.
Then, during the actual float, there were at least 3 hairs in there itching me during my float. It was also really stuffy and hard to breath. I’m not even claustrophobic.
Lastly, when I was about to leave, the lady called down from upstairs if I had used 2 bath robes. I said yes and she got real upset. I mean, she had 2 bath robes hanging side by side in the bathroom. Any normal person would assume one was for the dirty-​just-​out-​of-​salt-​water experience and one was for after a clean shower. She muttered with gritted teeth to remember we were having a drought. She was going to wash the towels anyways! She really didn’t need to blow her top over 1 extra bath robe. If she didn’t want people to use 2, she could have said it before or not keep 2 in the bathroom!
Seriously, such terrible customer service. Never going back.

Best place to float in the Bay Area. Clean, affordable and very calming environment. I love the art gallery and the services they provide! Wouldn’t want to go anywhere else!

The gentleman who was working there, Craig, was lovely. Some of the art in the foyer was really great too. Only 3 stars because though I made myself get over it the tank and area surrounding the tank up on the 2^nd floor smelled bad to me. A musty smell. The float itself was great once I worked the mind over matter magic with the unpleasant smell. Bath products also not what you would expect in a spa, very below average. I didn’t have the heart to complain about the smell to Craig because he was very welcoming and friendly. Won’t be going back.

My first experience floating and it was awesome! I was not sure what to expect because I have a little issue with enclosed spaces but managed to keep it cool and was able to get the full experience I read about. Unfortunately my second visit was not as enjoyable, I used the same tank located on the second floor but this time it was harder to breathe and there was a mildew smell. The smell and air quality was bad and I was not able to relax at all. I had to cut my time short because of this.

First timer here and wow what an experience — that I want to experience again! I saw this on groupon and clicked around, checked the place out on Unilocal,looked at the website and bought the deal. But to be honest I was a little scared… just looking at that tank and thinking about uh what. So I waited ’til the last minute to schedule an appointment. I was going to do this — and try something new! I walked in — and Allison was very welcoming and comforting, explaining everything in a simple, quick and good orientation! And soon I was in… where I settled in pretty quick and very much enjoyed the extremely relaxing /​interesting experience! Orientation. Shower. Float. Shower. Tea. And side note, skip out of shaving same day — it’ll burn some. Relax and enjoy!
FLOAT is *in this loft building (see photo)

I went again about a month ago and this time the experience wasn’t as great. It was still relaxing, but I didn’t feel as welcomed and felt a little more rushed. The lady snapped at me once… and the worst part of my floating experience was that there was hair inside of my tank. It wasn’t my hair. I noticed it right before I stepped in the tank. I don’t know if that bothers other people or if that’s just a me thing. I just feel weird because I’m naked… And makes me think of what other part of people’s bodies are floating inside the tank? I think I will be looking for a new floating location. Decent place but I’ll be looking elsewhere.

I decided to try Float as life can be overwhelming at times… and guess what, I liked it!
As long as you plug in the address in your GPS, you should be able to find it :) The front does look a little shady, but all good in the hood. When you come in, there are couches and usually the owner has already set up a glass of water for you. It’s very peaceful and she plays very relaxing music. If you’re early, just take a look at the gallery.
Once the owner is ready for you to start, especially if it’s your first time, she does an amazing job explaining what goes on when you’re in the Float. The air and water in the tank is the same temperature as your skin, so you essentially feel ‘nothing’ and get a sensation that you’re floating-​it really feels like I’m floating in outer space (though, not literally, just figuratively speaking). The water has medical grade epsom salt so you can float very effortlessly. Idea of it is sensory deprivation, and essentially helps you achieve a state of mind where you can relax, meditate, or think of anything you want. During this process, I had a lot of pain in my upper back/​lower neck area… after some stretches, it went away. If you have any body aches or pain, you will definitely feel it in the tank.
You do have to shower before and after the Float and you enter the tank naked, but no worries, there are curtains and robes. She has lotions, liquid bandage, soap, shampoos, robes, towels, etc for you to use.
After my first experience, I decided to get a small group package (3 sessions for $ 150-​big saving). It is pricey for what it is, though it’s pricey to maintain a business like this. If you’re a more active type of person (always like being on the go, doing something, prefer other ways to meditate), this may not be the thing for you as you just lay in the dark tank and let your mind drift.

I have always been fascinated since childhood by altered states of consciousness, whether drug-​induced or otherwise. I had heard that immersing in a sensory deprivation tank was a great, safe way to enter an altered mind-​state. There is quite a lot of literature surrounding floating in a sensory deprivation tank. The literature suggests that flaoting helps people enter a meditative state more easily. Some people have even reported hallucinatung or lucidly dreamed while in such a tank. Having been curious for years, when a LivingSocial coupon was offered to float in a sensory deprivation tank for an hour, I jumped on the opportunity.
Anyways, the idea behind a sensory deprivation tank, also known as a floatation tank or isolation tank, is to isolate one self from bodily sensations so that all you are left with is your mind. A participant floats quietly inside of a dark metal chamber which is filled with a 1′ deep bath of water mixed with a half ton of epsom salt. The water bath is kept at a constant 93 degrees Fahrenheit to emulate the body’s core temperature, to aid in isolating one self from bodily sensations.
The floatation spa owner was quite friendly and gave me the lowdown on what to expect. Participants must shower thoroughly before entering the pod, as the water did not get changed out frequently. You enter the pod fully naked except for ear plugs. She advised letting go, and spoke about how the ultimate goal was to enter a sleep-​state where one experiences delta-​wave brain activity. Some people who enter this state can also experience lucid dreaming. I was told that the experience was also quite conducive to creativity, and that often times artists and writers come to her spa specifically to get past blocks, and to feel inspired after their floatation session.
Unfortunately, I did not experience any of these altered mind-​states. I did not find the tank to be isolating at all. I had some small abrasions on my skin, and like pouring salt into a wound, these abrasions kept feeling irritated while lying in the salt bath. Also, floating on top of water is really not that comfortable. My neck tended to overextend backwards, which was slightly uncomfortable. I was advised to lift my arms up to help counter this effect, but this position too got a bit uncomfortable. Also, even though I do seated meditation off and on and readily get into states of relaxation and even bliss when doing so, I found it quite difficult to quiet my mind in the tank. By the end, the novelty had worn off and I was beginning to think it was torture to lie in that tank and keeping still while awake. However, once I got out of the tank, and commenced my after-​bath shower, I finally noticed the impact of floating. I felt stoned. I was so relaxed, that I felt like I as floating on a cloud. As I sat on the sofa at the floatation spa afterwards, sipping my complimentary cup of tea, my head kept nodding off. I was also deeply inspired to be creative. I wanted to race home and work on writing my novel. I don’t know if it was the floating itself that caused this frenzied creative state, or it was just the novelty of the experience.
Anyways, I was told by the spa owner that floating does get better as one practice. It is rare for the first time practitioner to relax deeply enough to enter that delta-​wave state that floaters aspire to. Even though the experience was slightly disappointing, I would totally repeat it again, if just for the relaxed feeling and feeling of creativity that I got afterwards

I went to Float over three years ago for several sessions and really enjoyed the experience. Fast forward to now and my life has become super stressful. FLOAT came to mind the other day so I bought some passes. The float session is EXACTLY what I needed. I actually fell asleep several times during that blissful hour. Floating is really therapeutic. Understand that floating takes a lot of being able to ‘let go’ and relax. First time floaters should read up on floating and be sure to pay attention during the orientation. I’ve always found the staff to be professional and friendly.
FLOAT is also an art gallery which is really neat. I always enjoy going to FLOAT and will be back soon!

I got a groupon as a gift from my friend. I didn’t know exactly what ‘Float’ means and my friend didn’t know that I am claustrophobic. Sounds as a good start, right?
Anyway, the moment I got in and saw the booth I could not breath. I panicked. The lady, I don’t know if she is the owner or not, was unprofessional to the point of being rude. My intro was so fast that I couldn’t follow her, especially since all I could think of was my fear. I told her about that. Instead of helping me to come down she told me that I have no idea what claustrophobia means and ignored my comments about what the closed space means to me and how I feel. She was dismissive and rude. Like she knows it all.
She was also diminishing in a conversation when she used scientific terms and when I told her that I don’t know what it means she would faces like I am stupid And this is Harvard. (Btw, I went to Harvard).
When I asked her to stay near the booth for a few minutes in the beginning (in case I have a panic attack) she said I will be fine and she will be downstairs and pay attention from there.
Anyway, the experience was fine. I kept the door open and it was pleasant. But I was tense but not because of my claustrophobia but the way how the lady treated me.
And at the end, she was upset that I had a groupon. Wow! Such an unpleasant person. She should not be working with people. And she should be thankful that nothing happened to me.
That’s why I rated it with 2 stars. She gets negative 100. The experience was enjoyable though.

Just finished my first float at FLOAT and what a great experience! I purchased the Groupon and got the 3 floats and was able to schedule my appointment for the next day.
Follow the directions on their website. It was easy to get to off of 880.
Allison was great. She was friendly as she greeted me and had me hydrate and relax prior to my first float. When ready, she explained the history and benefits of floating.
Also, how to enter, what to expect, etc. Warning: If you have any nicks or cuts, use the liquid skin that she offers as it will eliminate the salt stinging. Also don’t shave prior to your float as your face will sting.
You take 2 showers… one before you get into the tank and one after you get out of the tank.
I entered the tank and laid back… its like the others have been saying… Its like a liquid water bed. It took a little while for my mind to calm and to regulate my breathing. Once I did, I loved the feeling of weightlessness. Before I knew it, Allison tapped on the tank to let me know that my hour was up. I didn’t realize it but I had fallen asleep.
Another warning… don’t let the water drip into your eyes as it stings like a mother*&%$. I came out of the tank totally relaxed and calm.
I took my second shower, changed and went downstairs to a hot cup of tea. I enjoyed my tea and sat down reflecting and noticing how the colors on the paintings on the wall looked brighter, more colorful. Once I finished my tea, I booked my 2 remaining appointments.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at FLOAT and can’t wait to go back.
Thanks Allison!

A waterbed meets outer space! I did my homework before trying this experience. Watched a few youtube videos, read over the website a few times and then called and made my appointment.
You are naked; you shower off before and after the float. You get into 10″ of body temperature water treated with Epson salt. You get into the tub facing out, sit in the water and close the door behind you. You then lay down and you actually FLOAT.
My mind relaxes, you relax and for me it was a great experience. I purchased the 4 pack and will be back over the next several weeks. I didn’t fall 100% asleep however practice makes perfect and that’s my goal.
Allison is very nice and explains everything to you. You get a water before and after with some decaf tea.
Give yourself a few extra minutes to find the place, come with an open mind and just relax. Go home and you will sleep like a million bucks.