Transcript

My name is Rebecca Aho.  I’m 27.  I have 3 kids, Elijah, Emily and Eloise, and I’ve been married for 5 years.

Q.  What first brought you in to float?

A.  Well I was pregnant with my daughter and I had a lot of complications during the pregnancy and so I was on bedrest for a long time and I needed something to help me relax that was safe that I could do while being pregnant.  And float came up actually because of my auntie.  She was going and she mentioned it to me and said that she would pay for my float.  And so I went not thinking I would really enjoy it at all actually, and I left feeling phenomenal.

Q.  How did you feel going into your first float?

A. It felt like I was in there for, like, 20 minutes.  Once I was finished it did not feel like an hour.  So it’s really neat.  Time kind of just stands still.

Q.  How did your first float compare to floating now?

A.  The difference between the first time going and the subsequent times going is you know what to expect.  So, it’s definitely a lot more enjoyable after you’ve gotten the first time out of the way.  Every time after that I think just gets better and better, for me anyway.  You’re more relaxed when you go in.  You know what to expect.  Actually the last time I went in I was able to go in without any lights on or anything which is a pretty big deal for me because I don’t really like the dark.  So, yeah, it was really neat.   

Q.  What has been the difference between your first float and your last float?

A.  I went in with the light and music because I was too freaked out to be in my own brain on my own.  So yeah.  But after that first time and once time again, the third time I went in, yeah, it was everything off and no sound, no music.  Yeah, and it was awesome!

Q.  Did you have any struggles in the tank?

A.  Any struggles I had in the tank would have been mainly getting out of my own brain.  And having to kind of talk myself down because I do suffer from anxiety so I get kind of nervous and stuff being enclosed in a space and then its dark.  And I found having the light in there with me, knowing that I could have that if I needed it, really helped.  It made a huge difference.  But all in all I got used to it pretty quick and it really wasn’t an issue for me.

Q.  Has floating helped you as a parent?

A.  Yeah, the last time I left Float I was walking out and I said “my daughter could do anything right now and it would just be like – ok sweetie, that’s okay, you’re alright”.  So, yeah, it’s one of a kind experience and its natural and healthy and I feel like it’s good for us to be able to destress and finally shut our brains off from all the intake and input that we get on a day to day basis, 365.  I don’t think we realize how much we take in on a daily basis because it’s not just light and sound.  Its, you’re being touched, you’re being called, everything, like all your senses are going all the time.  So to be able to destress and decompress from that is phenomenal.

Q.  During your high risk pregnancy, did you try anything else to help yourself?

A.  I hadn’t tried anything that was this natural.  I tried medical things, where it was medication and stuff like that to help with the anxiety and depression and things like that.  But this was the first thing I tried that was really good for me all around.  Yeah, it kind of has the whole package because I’m not giving myself medication, instead I’m doing something that actually helps my brain and there isn’t any negative side effect to it.

Q.  How has floating benefited you?

A.  Floating has been beneficial in the way that I’m able to decompress, to think about my own things instead of everybody else’s.  Because I find on a daily basis I’m thinking about what my husband needs, what my children need and floating gives me the opportunity to think about what I need.

Q.  Do you see floating in your life long term?

A.  I’m not going to stop.  It’s not something I’m going to stop doing.  Yeah, I feel like it helps my sanity.

Q.  How do people react to you talking about floating?

A.  When I talk about floating people are taken aback and I always say, you know, that was my first impression too, I was like “okay, yeah, float, how much can it really help you”.  But it’s insane how much shutting everything off around really does help.  It really does, it makes a huge difference.

Q.  How would you describe the physical sensation of floating?

A.  Wow, okay, I’ve got to think about this answer for a sec.  To me, floating is like being on a waterbed but without having anything touch you.  It’s just being in space almost.  Yeah, it’s pretty exhilarating, it’s pretty amazing.  To even put it into words is kind of difficult.  You’ve really got to experience it.  It’s something you really have to do, at least once.

Q.  Do you suffer from any sort of anxiety?

A.  I have, like, PTSD Symptoms and I’ve got a whole rap of stuff and its insane how much it helps, it really does.  When I come out of a float I feel 20 times better.  I didn’t know there was something that could help so much, you know.  I’m just really thankful that I found it.

Q.  What would you say to someone who’s main reason for not floating is money?

A.  For people who can’t afford the float, how much coffee do you buy?  You could save up for it.  It’s so worth it!  It’s so worth it for your mental sanity.  I guess it really depends on where your priorities are, you know what I mean?  For me, its priceless.  I’d pay pretty much anything to go float.  I would find a way to get it done because its spectacular and I think anyone who goes once…  I think that’s something people say when they don’t want to try it.  I think if someone really wants to feel better this is a great way to go about it.  And at least give it a shot before you shoot it down because it really does do awesome stuff.  It’s amazing!

Q.  How did you deal with your claustrophobia?

A.  I even left the tank open a little bit too the first time because it helped ease things.  But once you’re in there, it’s amazing, even being claustrophobic, you’re in there, but it feels so big.  Its only when you actually touch the side that you realize, oh crap, I’m in an enclosed space.  Sometimes you even forget that you’re in this space.  It feels like there’s all this area around you, it’s amazing.

Q.  How did floating help your pregnancy?

A.  When I was pregnant with Emily I had insane pain to the point where I could barely walk.  I actually had a cane the last 3 months of my pregnancy.  And floating, I felt absolutely no pain in that tank.  It was unbelievable.  It was unbelievable.  To be able to lay there and also to be able to lay on my stomach with my hands up, yeah it was awesome.  And she moved all the time, she was always moving.  And in that tank she was calm.  It was like we were just Zen together.