Float tank. Float pod. Sensory deprivation tank. Flotation therapy. If you have been reading about floating, you have probably met all of these names and wondered whether they describe different things.
They don’t. At Serenus Float & Wellness in Bloomington, Indiana, we hear this question often, and the answer is simple. They are all names for the same idea: resting on your back in warm, salt-rich water, in a quiet space with very little light or sound. Here is what that means, why there are so many names, and what a float is actually like.
One experience, many names
Researchers call it flotation-REST, short for restricted environmental stimulation therapy. Water rich in Epsom salt holds your body up, while reduced light and sound give your senses a rest.1
Everyday names grew up around the equipment. A float tank or float pod is the enclosed tub you float in. Sensory deprivation tank is an older name for the same thing, and it describes the quiet rather than anything being taken away from you. Float therapy and flotation therapy describe the session itself.
At Serenus, we simply call it floating.
What is inside a float tank?
Water and salt, and a lot of it. Our float water is kept around 93.5°F, close to the temperature of your skin, with 800 to 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved in it. That much salt makes the water dense enough to hold you at the surface, so you can lie back without any effort at all.
Because the water is close to skin temperature, many people find it hard to tell where the water ends and the air begins. With the lights low and the room quiet, there is very little for your senses to keep track of. That is the whole design.
Does “sensory deprivation” mean I will be shut in?
No, and this is the question we hear most. You are always in control of your float.
In our float pods, the lid is yours to leave open or close, and you can step out whenever you like. If you would prefer more room, we also have a roomier float cabin. Many first-time guests start with the lid open and decide as they go.
What does floating feel like?
Most people notice the lightness first. The water carries your weight, so your neck, back, and shoulders can let go in a way that is hard to find in a bed or a bath.
After that, it is mostly quiet. Some people drift close to sleep. Others let their thoughts wander. In one study, 50 adults with anxiety and stress-related conditions reported feeling more relaxed and less tense after a single one-hour float.2
There is no technique to learn and nothing you need to accomplish. If your mind is busy, that’s perfectly fine.
What the research can and can’t tell us
Float research is still growing, and most studies so far look at how people feel soon after a session.1 The best way to know what floating does for you is to try it. If you are considering it alongside care for a health condition, your healthcare professional can help you decide how it fits.
Your first float in Bloomington, Indiana
A float session with us is 60 minutes. You will have a private space, with towels, robes, and earplugs ready for you, and you will shower before and after your float. Your host will show you around and answer your questions before you begin.
You can float on your own, book a couples float in our large cabin room, or float side by side in separate pods.
When you are ready, explore float therapy at Serenus in Bloomington, Indiana. Our first-visit guide covers what to bring and when to wait. You will find us at 410 South Landmark Avenue, and you are always welcome to get in touch with questions before you book. Your first float might be the quietest hour of your week.
Sources
- Lashgari E, Chen E, Gregory J, et al. (2025). A systematic review of flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST). BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 25, 230. ↩1 ↩2
- Feinstein JS, Khalsa SS, Yeh H-W, et al. (2018). Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PLOS ONE, 13(2), e0190292. ↩