A new floating therapy is growing in popularity in Fresno
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresh off an hour-long soak at Float Fresno, Kyla Sanchez is quickly becoming a float enthusiast.
"After the first 10 minutes, you just relax and go to a different state of mind. It doesn't even feel like you're in water, it almost like you're in space and it's like no gravity."
The hair stylist just started floating at Float Fresno. The tanks are quickly becoming a favorite alternative therapy among celebrities and athletes.
Sean Carter, owner of Float Fresno, said, "It's called floatation therapy, the real term is sensory deprivation isolation chamber. It's basically floating in a solution of Epsom salt."
Carter started his business in 2009 and expanded to a Walk in Tank in Clovis. He said first people come in and shower from head to toe.
"So when they get in the chamber they don't wear anything so that is no distraction to your body."
With no clothing on, people get into the 250-gallon water tank and lie down.
Fifteen hundred pounds of Epsom salt is poured into the tank. It makes you feel buoyant, much like being in the Dead Sea.
Each client sits in the flotation therapy for an hour up to two hours in the dark. He said people can get out any time.
Filters are used to keep the water clean.
Carter said, "The equipment is the state of the art equipment. We use a 90 gallon per minute pool pump that goes through three stages of filtration. And then it goes to a UV light to sanitize the water. We also use ozone treatment."
The alternative therapy is not regulated by the federal government, but Carter said the Float Association has standards.
For client Eva Falk, she sees many benefits.
"But one hour in the tank to me is a good eight hours of sleep."
Customers spend anywhere from $40 to start to $150 a month for a membership -- a cost they say is well worth it.
Sanchez said, "You get a whole hour to yourself where you don't have to worry about anything, just how much you're relaxing."
An experience that's only a float away.
