Float Sanctuary

Preface:
I really wanted to like Float Sanctuary. Having floated before in other float tanks in LA, my girlfriend and I thought it would be a great start to ring in 2016.
The beginning:
Arriving to Float Sanctuary for our appointment at night, we were greeted by a young lady at the front counter. She did not seem happy to have us there (probably given we had the last appointment before they closed). I had received a call earlier that day to try to reschedule me to an earlier time, but I declined since I had already made prior plans. You can already get the sense of where this is going.
We had purchased our float experience through Living Social, which the girl at the front counter had trouble pulling up. We spent about 15 minutes trying to process our promo code until she finally gave up. Next she gave us a hurried tour of the facility before letting us float. I already started feeling anxious and rushed; both of which are not good feelings to have before a float.
She had also let us know their Bluetooth speakers for the float tanks were malfunctioning so she would ring a bell through the room speakers instead. If all else fails, she said she would come in the room and knock on the tank. (Yeah…kind of hard to get comfortable when you’re actively listening for a bell or a stranger knocking on your tank door while you’re meditating.)
The float experience:
My biggest gripe was the water temperature in the tank. My previously attended floats were at a comfortable body temperature water, roughly in the sub to mid 90 degrees. The tank water at Float Sanctuary felt like room temperature non heated water. It was much colder than anticipated and my nose started running.
After a few moments I felt the heat somewhat started to kick in, and I realized the tank had heat mats underneath the lining; however the mats seem to be placed in only certain locations, unevenly dispersing the heat.
On the tank door, there is also a small transparent hole which let in a stream of light during my float. This was very distracting and I had to keep my eyes closed to stay focused. I actually considered just getting out of the tank and leaving mid way, had I not have to wait for my girlfriend in the other room (which she also had a bad experience btw).
Thankfully, I heard the bell ring after an hour flew by and no one had to come knock on my tank door.
The aftermath:
I quickly got out of the tank, showered and got dressed; trying to be mindful of the attendant’s time. Midway of getting dressed, I heard the tank’s cleaning motors switch on and now I know she really wants me out.
As I stepped out of the room, she bristles right past me without saying a word. No «how was your float» or anything. Apparently she was on the way to the supply room to gather supplies to clean the room ASAP so she can leave. My girlfriend and I were there for another 10 minutes to use the blow dryer and lotions, and the whole time the attendant walks in and out of the room without saying a word or making eye contact. Talk about awkward.
We actually almost left without saying anything to her before saying good night, which she managed to at least reciprocate.
Overall, I had a terrible experience at Float Sanctuary. The combination of rude service along with a faulty float tank makes for a disappointing experience. I can confidently say if this was my first float experience, I’d probably never want to float ever again. But since I’ve experienced better, I know there are some float businesses out there who probably care a whole lot more about your well being.
I’d skip this place and find some place better.

Float Sanctuary was a very unique experience. I only wish I had more time to allot to give back to myself like this. I’d love to come back!

Really cool experience! I heard about «floating» several years ago and decided to buy a groupon to try it out.
The location is small but cozy with street parking available. I did have to drive around a bit. The receptionist was very friendly and walked me through everything:
The room has its own shower. You shower before and after floating. The float machine itself is interesting. There is about a foot of warm water with a ton of salt to keep you floating.
I was not able to keep the door to the machine closed this time as I am a bit claustrophobic.
I left the door open but the lights were quickly turned off so I was still able to fully relax.
You do have to be careful not to get the water in your eyes, it will burn!!! There is clean water provided in case that happens.
You have the option of going nude or wearing a suit, I personally would prefer a suit.
Ear plugs, makeup remover wipes, shampoo/​conditioner and body wash are all provided.
They also have a sauna and massage services available.
Overall great experience and I would definitely come back!

It was not my first float, but my first at Float Sanctuary. Parking is easy to find, the location is great and it is quiet inside. The facility is clean, I was given a tour of the place and the helpful & friendly representative explained everything about the room and the tank. I quickly felt at home. It was a great experience, I will be back for more for sure.

I’ve always wanted to try floating. Trying new things is fun. I used a Groupon so the price was really affordable.
Overall, I thought it was a cool experience, but it wasn’t a revelation for me. I didn’t get anywhere near falling asleep! I had a hard time making myself relax and allowing myself to lie there completely motionless. My body just kept wanting to move. I think it did not like the feeling of sensory depravation, so every few seconds I found myself clenching my toes, adjusting my neck, squeezing my arm or leg muscles. But that’s just me.
Near the end, I started ever-​so-​slightly pushing off one end of the tank and suuuuuper slowly floating to the other side, then pushing back again. It felt cool.
I was concerned that being in the closed confined space would freak me out. At first, I lay in the tank with the door open for a while, then I closed the door but propped it open just a couple inches with the hand towel. The room lights were on a timer; it would have been helpful if the attendant told me about that. She also didn’t tell me that the squeeze bottle above the tank was an eye wash (at least I think it was). I only knew it was saline because I read about it. Even thought I was careful not to touch my face, I still got some salt in my eye somehow, and that saline came in handy.
They provide great earplugs, vaseline for any skin cuts, towels, shampoo, soap, conditioner (It didn’t feel like conditioner! Bring your own!) combs, deodorant, a hair dryer, lotion. There is a shower inside the same room as your float tank.
I would definitely recommend giving this a try. I heard that pregnant women can position so they are on their stomach. That sounds like it would feel really good with all the pressure that is normally on your body! I will recommend this to my pregnant friends!

Awesome experience. Very clean. Courtney was really sweet! I’ll definitely do this again now that I know how it works. A different way to relax; you’ll fall asleep! Very peaceful!

Establishment was nice. Very quiet with the right amount of amenities. Bathroom, sitting room with reading material and water, and a mirror/​sink w a hairdryer and lotions for when you’re done. Individual rooms have shower and the float tank.
Showers provided body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. While I was showering off beforehand I didn’t realize I had bumped the door open and water went EVERYWHERE on the floor. Word of caution I guess. Lol.
We were shown around the place and I got the 90 min float for me and my husband. It came out to $ 78 for both which isn’t a bad deal.
This was my first time doing this so I didn’t really know what to expect.
Getting into the tank and laying in darkness isn’t as bad as you’d think. It’s pretty easy to get started. Trying to clear my head was the tough part. Also… I’ve suffered from eczema and sensitive skin and even though i didnt have any active «hot patches» at the moment, parts of my skin started to burn while laying there. Then my neck started to itch really bad. So there went the relaxation. I got out for a couple minutes to make sure my skin was ok, but that made it worse because the salt dried out my skin making it even MORE irritated. I ended up calling it quits after about half hour because I didn’t want to end up with painful rashes afterwards. It’s so weird, because if you do a Google search on float tanks… they say they’re good for eczema relief. But it seemed to aggravate my sensitive skin, not make it feel better. I would like to state this is at NO FAULT of the establishment. I was just born with diva skin. Never know when she’s gonna throw a fit!
Also…I kept hitting the sides of the tank as I floated around… that didn’t help my concentration much either.
My husband lasted the 90 min and said he enjoyed it and would try it again. So every experience is different. Just use caution if you have sensitive skin like me!: /

I bought my dear friend (while she was in her last and uncomfortable trimester) a float session. She loved it, she was able to float on her belly and relieve the pains from her lower back and «vg» bone… she was in bliss with the weightlessness. Then for my birthday she gave me a float and I’ve just redeemed it; I had a bit of hesitation for fears of darkness and complete silence… and my imagination. I LOVED floating; I felt like I was in outerspace, becoming renewed and reborn. It was absolutley amazing, relaxing and wonderful! I will float on and on and on again!

This place is great. I have done two floats, and gave one to my wife. I plan on doing a couple more within the next two months as well. This is a great way to discover things about yourself, relax/​de-​stress, or simply enjoy a new experience.

First time in a float tank and I have to say I’m pretty impressed. I had a gift certificate from a friend, so I thought I would try it out.
It’s a small facility but the one staff on hand was super friendly and helpful. They even let you stay longer in the tank if there is no appointment after you.
The receptionist explained everything quickly and thoroughly. She even mentioned small details that you might forget (such as drying off your face before going in).
When I first entered the tank, I was a bit nervous (I have a thing with water in pitch black darkness). But after I relaxed a bit and let my mind wonder, it was easy to reach a more meditation-​like state. By the time was up, I had no idea if I was asleep or awake. VERY RELAXING!

Came in on a Sunday afternoon, receptionist was friendly and informative to us since it was our first time. We filled out our waivers and received a brief tour of the beautiful and clean facility. The lounge area has interesting reads on the coffee table as well as water if guests get thirsty. I forgot what the back room was called but it had extra towels and amenities like a blow drier, q-​tips, combs, and contact solution to make you comfortable after your float.
The float experience itself was nice and relaxing. Personally, I can’t float in an ocean or pool, but I enjoyed being able to float here. Go into the tank with an open mind and try your best to clear your thoughts. It’s a great place to meditate and I hope to get better at it each time I go in the future!

I purchased a 3 hour float session, I arrived about 30 mins late but they still took me in. It was still a good long session. I went in and out of consciousness, meditated and had a lot a images and would benefit my book project.
The place was clean and very relaxing. I’d come back to do another float.

I have heard about float tanks and always wanted to try them, but I usually go into things with low expectations when getting a Groupon. No offense to Groupon, but sometimes what you expected to buy, is nothing like what you get. This usually includes getting services at places you would not normally go to. This is not the case with Float Sanctuary!
I went there today w my guy and they put us in two separate rooms. They have a total of two float tank rooms, and then a communal area in the back where you can get q-​tips, and combs, etc. I recommend to get there 10 min before your appointment!!! I got there a little late, and by the time I signed the waiver and Coral gave us a quick tour, we had to cut our float a little short. Coral was great in explaining what we would be doing, and gave us tips on how to get in the tank safe, etc.
You take a pre-​shower before and post shower after getting in the tank. There is a ton of salt in there! It was a little hot when I first entered and closed the latch, but my face started cooling down a bit. There is cooler air that circulates at the far end of the tank. I noticed that a little bit of water would go into my ear during the float which caused me to readjust my ear plugs several times. Another issue I had was that my face (nose, mouth area) kept itching! You have to be careful not to touch your wet hands to your eye area because the water is so salty, and it will burn your eyes. So I had to be really careful itching my nose. They leave you an eye wash rinse outside the tank incase that happens to you.
I rinsed off really good afterwards because you can feel all the salt on your body. I have knee inflammation, and the epson salt really helped me with my pain for the day. I recommend getting the 90 min float instead of the 60 min if you can. I couldn’t really tell how long I was in there, alone with my thoughts, and then the 60 minutes was up! I started to feel more weightlessness and relaxed as the float went on, but I wasn’t able to clear my thoughts completely in a zen state. I did hit the snooze button though. :)
I went in super frustrated and upset from the stressful happenings of my life. I left in a much better mood. My partner noted how «bright eyed» I looked afterwards. If you are considering this and you have bouts of depression, I would encourage you to go. Meditation can help with depression, and the float is kind of like a one hour meditation. I will probably be going back again and recommend my friends. :))

This was my 2^nd time floating and was a better experience than the 1^st. I recommend trying more than once before you decide it is or isn’t for you.
The facility is nice and clean. The owner greeted us and his enthusiasm rubs off on you quickly!

I’m always on the lookout to try something new. It’s how I’ve come to try everything from flying trapeze, bungee jumping, stand up paddleboard yoga, and skydiving to Thai massage, fish pedicures, and pumpkin facials. (Not to mention all those illicit drugs! Just kidding!!!)
Unlike other reviewers, I’ve never seen Altered States and I didn’t read tons of info ahead of time, so I really had no expectations at all. It just seemed like a unique, relaxing thing to try.
From the moment I stepped in the door, everything felt peaceful and tranquil. Coral gave me a tour of the facilities and explained how everything works. She was really sweet and super efficient in getting the rooms ready between customers. Each tank is in a room of its own with a personal shower, so once it’s your appointment time you’re kind of on your own schedule.
The tank has 11 inches of water with about 850 pounds of Epsom salts dissolved in it. After entering the tank, I spent some time, well, playing is probably the best word. :) I wanted to get a sense of how floaty I was and also how big the space was. To give you an idea, the width was about a wide as a doorway, probably a little wider. I’m 5’4″ and when I pointed my toes and stretched my arms above my head, I couldn’t touch the walls with my toes and my fingers at the same time. It’s pretty roomy. I spent the hour after that stretching and breathing deeply and zoning out and letting my mind wander. I fell asleep a couple of times, too.
There’s an escalated system for waking you up, too. First, soft music starts to play. Then a doorbell goes off. If those two things don’t work, they turn the pumps on on the tanks (they’re pretty loud!). But, according to their brochure, if no one is scheduled after you, you can stay in as long as you’d like at no extra charge — that’s pretty cool!
Everything you could think of (and even some things you probably wouldn’t think of!) are provided for you: robes, towels, shower toiletries, ear plugs, disposable combs, petroleum jelly as a protector against the salt for shaving nicks, contact lens case and solution, aerosol deodorant, everything.
Because I was so impressed with my first float session last night, I’ve been talking about it pretty nonstop today. Here are the answers to a couple of common questions I’ve gotten. 1) Yes, you go into the tank au naturel. A few mentioned being skeeved out by germs, but the tank water is filtered three times after every use, so it’s very clean. 2) You don’t get prune-​y, even after an hour! 3) Claustrophobia: you can leave the tank door open if you want, but it doesn’t lock so there’s any easy escape if you start to feel panic-​y (I still highly recommend trying it closed first). 4) Yes, it’s super reasonably priced, even without the Living Social deal I bought, plus they offer frequent floater packages. (I’m pretty sure I’ve convinced half my office to make appointments. :))
I think now that I know what floating is all about, my future floats will be even better. I’m very much looking forward to returning — thank you, Float Sanctuary!!!

I love the massages I’ve been getting here! Dana does an amazing job and seems to intuitively know where to work. I plan to see her often.
I tried the float and it wasn’t relaxing for me. I was able to get relaxed in the tub, and the concept is amazing, but I could only seem to focus on the pain in my body when I tried,
I’m going to try again when I’m in less pain. But I’m really looking forward my next massage with Dana!
Sash

Bottom line: Affordable, fun way to spend an hour, but I wouldn’t mind a bit warmer air temperature
Float Sanctuary has a lot going for it. Prices are very reasonable and packages seem to abound to keep you and your friends coming back (one of the noncommittal deals says you or a friend can use a float you paid for, which is a refreshing and useful concept… I mean, sharing is caring, after all). I found my first float to be like floating in the ocean but without the worry that some icky sea creature or slimy seaweed might disturb my solace, so that is a sure bonus. My only recommendation would be to raise the air temperature in the floating rooms, or at least have that option, because the parts of me not submerged got cold pretty early on in my hour float and this distracted from my overall experience. Still, I really enjoyed being in there and wonder what my second float experience will be like!

AMAZING! I had my first float yesterday. A little intimidated at first, but the chick totally made me feel at home. She gave me the complete run down from start to finish.
The room was amazing! So clean, and really relaxing. They provided EVERYTHING!
shampoo, conditioner, body wash, towels, combs, deodorant, q-​tips, cotton balls, make up remover, vasaline (for those small paper like cuts you know you have) ear plugs (both the wax and foam ones) Use the wax ones.
The experience in itself is a must do. its about 7 inches of water, a TON of epson salt. so you won’t know if you have a tiny cut until you get in. no joke, but the pain goes away tho It was tough for me to let go of my thoughts, but that shows me how much my brain is engaged, and its just about life changing when you realize more than half of your thoughts are useless. I spent more time thinking about how i would explain to my friends about this place. Every now and then I would do some breathing exercises to let go, and then i would totally relax. I am sure that is how a baby feels inside the womb. lol
I wanted to close the door, but I couldn’t. I kept getting shocked, mainly because I was in salt water and my static electricity was amplified. if that is even true on the science part. but I floated. The room is dimly lit, and is on a timer and will go out. SO eventually it was dark minus the small pin hole light from the door in the room.
JUST AMAZING! I plan on doing this monthly. There is also a massage guy there, so next time i might do an hour in the tank then a good rub down! lol
I felt relaxed and renewed afterwards, afterwards I trekked down to Baby cakes and got me a nice cupcake :)
UPDATE:
I went back yesterday (11−8−14)… STILL AMAZING!!! I will say, the second time you go it is even better!!! I was able to get what I needed. Even though I still get restless at near the end and find my self swishing in the water, it is still AWESOME! Thank you again !!! I can’t wait for my next float next month, it is going to be even more amazing!!!

This concept sounded fascinating to me! I love a good massage, so I thought I’d try something new. Took a friend here for her birthday so she could check it out with me.
The overall idea is great. I love having your own private room and shower. I definitely recommend asking for the «float pillow» otherwise, if you’re like me, the salt water going in your ears for an hour is enough to ruin the entire experience! I was able to «drift off» for about 20 minutes and relax. Didn’t close the hatch door because that was too claustrophobic for me… but even with the hatch open, it was dark and quiet. After awhile, my «exposed» parts started to get cold (the water is warm) and it was weird feeling salt all over my skin (crunchy). My mind started to wander to other things… I like the concept, I’m glad I did it, but I think the whole «relaxation» thing was lost on me.

This was my first time «floating» so i had an idea of what to expect. The room with the float tank is nice and clean. Each room has it’s own shower with shampoo, conditioner and bodywash. Towels, earplugs and anything else you would need are provided. You will shower before and after your float session.
I brought a bikini bottom with the intention of wearing it, but when it was time to get into the tank I totally forgot about it and felt comfortable enough to get in without it.
So since this was my first time I was weary about shutting the door to the tank so I left it open, but within 5 minutes the lights in the room shut off anyway and you are in complete darkness. A moment of panic set in, but I just told myself to breath and relax. It’s what I would think being in outer space is like — complete quiet, all you can hear is your own breathing. I drifted in and out of sleep. I was able to quiet my monkey mind and before I knew it 60 minutes of floating had went by! Music starts playing to let you know your time is up.
I felt nice and relaxed after and I definitely think I will be back for another float session and would love to try a massage after.