Float Seattle (Greenlake) — Local services in Seattle

A friend and I, curious about sensory deprivation, decided to visit float | seattle. The owner was friendly and courteous, and was very reassuring when we were slightly nervous about the experience overall. The tanks were comfortable, and the space was kept almost completely clean.

As for the experience of actually floating, if that's what you're reading the review for: For me it was relatively comfortable, though at times I felt strain in my shoulders from remaining still for extended periods of time, and couldn't quite get my arms into a comfortable position(I tried holding my hands behind my head, at my sides, and on my stomach). After what I believe to be about 15 minutes(take with a grain of salt - obviously I had no way of telling in the blackness), I began hearing what I thought was another person breathing, eerily close to me, and out of sync with my own breath. The reason I believe I heard this was because I room with someone who is a bit of a 'loud' sleeper. Occasionally I heard a water drop from somewhere near my feet. Later on, I heard muffled "thuds" which I thought sounded like someone banging on the tank(despite knowing that I had locked the door before getting in). Towards the end I discovered that the tank was not as soundproof as I had believed - I thought I heard voices, but they were unfamiliar and it turned out later that it was actually the owner, showing another person to their tank in the nearby room, as my tank was adjacent to the front lobby, and at one point a police siren disrupted my enjoyment of the tank(I know for sure the siren was an external noise as it was corroborated by the friend I went with). I was definitely disappointed not to have experienced any major hallucinations, but I wasn't expecting anything particularly psychedelic while floating. Every once in a while I drifted and lightly touched the edge of the tank on one side or another, and a (very) light push left me adrift again.

My friend was not as enthusiastic at the end of his session. What I believe happened, from what he has told me, was that he frequently braced himself against the walls of the tank to keep from drifting and moved regularly when he felt he wasn't getting what he expected out of the session, and his muscles, already sore, did not take well to floating. I'd recommend going in with no expectations - it won't be what you imagine if you haven't tried it already, and I doubt that any two sessions would be quite the same.

The only reason I don't plan on going back in the future is that I am on a relatively limited income and definitely cannot afford the steep increase in price for returning customers. However, I do recommend giving it a try if you're at all...

To be honest, I was initially hesitant to conquer my first floating experience. Embracing change is one thing but to welcome the unknown -- on your own -- is another, much more difficult, thing.

But by choosing to float, and by choosing to let go of the distorted securities that surround our familiarities, we anchor ourselves in consciousness -- something that is sadly becoming harder and harder to do in this day & age.

So, no matter who you are or how you define yourself, I am confident that your first float will leave you with an unforgettable personal experience and I challenge anyone who welcomes self-reflection and new age meditation practices to consider sensory deprivation tanks as a guide to living in the moment. You don't have to be a hippie, wear yoga pants or practice Buddhism, you just have to be willing to give something amazing the benefit of the doubt, even if it is intimidating at first.

That being said, Float Seattle is where you want to have this experience. The facilities are extremely well kept, modern and genuinely the best in the industry. The staff is comprised of a spectrum of awesome individuals that will walk you through your first float at a suitable pace based on your needs. They aren't judgemental -- they are welcoming and it's the subtle details like that, details I appreciate, that truly make Float Seattle stand out as a sensory deprivation...

This place is freaking awesome. Friendly, helpful, communicative staff. Clean, well stocked facilities. Easy booking process. Great network of float centers. Float Seattle is a top business for me.

What to expect from floating - most of the time when I float I experience a subtle but noticeable benefit. Not necessarily a profound peak experience, but my body feels more relaxed after, my mind has unwound itself, my overall mood is simpler and more peaceful. Sometimes I have peak experiences of altered consciousness, but that’s not necessarily typical. Both are very healing and helpful in their own way. Often my time in the tank is characterized by a racing mind, but once I’m out I notice my mind is much quieter. It’s sort of like letting the air out of a balloon. While in the tank your mind might be making all kinds of noise, but eventually it runs out of air and you’re more relaxed.

I’ll reiterate that the staff here is awesome, they’re really what makes this place exceptional.

I personally prefer the Oasis Float tanks at the Greenlake location because they tend to run a little warmer and I get cold easily. But the Float Orbs at the Greenwood location are slightly more comfortable getting in and out, and the float cabin at Greenlake is the easiest to get...