FLOAT Annapolis

FLOAT Annapolis offers individual float sessions. Each guest floats alone in a private chamber filled with water and a large amount of Epsom salt, which keeps the body buoyant. The room is kept free of sound and light.

The chambers are built by Float Lab Technologies, and each measures about 5 feet wide, 8 feet long and 7 feet high. Between guests the rooms are cleaned with cleaning systems made by the same manufacturer. The business says Float Lab is the only NSF-certified flotation chamber maker in the world.

A visit begins with a shower, since guests are asked to rinse before floating and are encouraged to rinse again afterward. Guests float without clothing. Towels, earplugs, body wash and shampoo are provided. Sessions run at least an hour, and guests may leave the chamber whenever they like.

Guests are advised to skip a heavy meal and caffeine beforehand. People under 18 need a parent's permission, and anyone with an infectious disease or untreated epilepsy is advised to avoid the tank. Two people may not share a chamber at the same time.

The business points to history and research on float therapy as background. Float tanks date to 1954, and lay-down commercial tanks appeared in the early 1970s. The business also lists research on floating and sauna use covering stress, addiction, pain and performance.

Floating is offered as a private, individual experience, with guests set up for the session through a shower, provided amenities and advice on what to eat and drink beforehand.

A quiet, dark and sound-free room with a private chamber for each session.