For the first ten minutes in the tank I had a huge smile on my face and I was wide-eyed like a child in awe.
Let me start at the beginning though…
I am always looking for new and better ways to achieve creativity and distraction-free thinking.
So when I heard Joe Rogan talking about the benefits of floating in a sensory deprivation tank, my interest was piqued.
After watching this exact video (below) I was sold on trying out the tank. I immediately found a location nearby and booked a 2 hour session.
What Is The Sensory Deprivation Tank?
“The sensory deprivation chamber has been the most important tool that I’ve ever used for developing my mind, for thinking, for evolving.” - Joe Rogan
When most people hear the words “sensory deprivation” they immediately think of torture.
The sensory deprivation tank is more like the opposite of torture. It’s a peaceful escape from the constant interruptions of life.
And the distractions and interruptions of life are constant, even to people like me who take extreme measures to block them out.
So when I heard Joe talk about the tank I couldn’t resist giving it a try.
How The Sensory Deprivation Tank Works:
- The sensory deprivation tank is completely sound proof and light free. It’s completely pitch black, you cannot see anything (though you can hear some sounds)
- You are immersed in a solution containing water and 1,000 lbs of dissolved Epsom salt.
- The salt-water solution makes you float effortlessly, without gravitational requirements as if you were floating in space.
Joey Diaz says; “I didn’t see nothin, I didn’t do nothin, I don’t know nothin.”
When you get in the tank you don’t see anything, you don’t hear anything and you don’t know anything.
So why would anyone want to float?
Floating in the tank is supposed to put you in a state of deep relaxation because your body produces theta waves while floating.
“Theta is the state of mind where it is believed you can create everything and change reality instantly.”
Theta waves are naturally produced when you are deep in sleep for short periods of time. However, floating produces these waves for a longer period of time.
In a theta state you experience vivid imagery, feelings of overwhelming peace and happiness, and crystal-clear creative thoughts.
(A “theta state” is when theta brainwaves correspond to a state of mind associated with dreams and waking dreams, as well as a deep meditative state.)
The sensory deprivation tank would be the perfect spot to just… think. While floating you’d be able to think freely, without worry of distraction or interruption.
Getting Into The Sensory Deprivation Tank
You have to take a shower to clean yourself before getting into the tank.
You must dry your face and put earplugs in your ears before you get in the shower or the tank. Without earplugs, the salt in the tank can seep into your ears and give you ear problems.
(Even with earplugs, I had salt in my ears for weeks after.)
When you open the tank door, you can see inside perfectly. You aren’t entering an unknown black hole, it’s just a tank with water in it.
You climb inside, lie down and shut the door behind you…
And you’re in a completely different world. It’s pitch black and you’re literally floating.
You float in space and drift in time, it’s an awe-inducing feeling.
(You literally float due to the ton of salt that has been placed in water.)
My Experience Floating In The Sensory Deprivation Tank
For the first 10 minutes in the tank I had a permanent smile on my face. I could not stop smiling!
When I first started floating I felt nothing but wander. It was truly amazing.
It was like being completely weightless, it literally felt like floating in space.
Inside the tank you can’t see or hear anything. It is so dark that you can put your fingers in front of your face and you will not see them.
The earplugs in your ear block out almost all sound (I would have preferred to hear a specific kind of music in the tank rather than hear nothing).
The first 10 minutes in the tank were literally amazing, but after 10 minutes reality kicked back in…
My Biggest Problem With The Tank
I wanted to float in space and drift through time itself for a full 2 hours, but that’s not quite how it turned out…
If the entire two hour experience matched my first ten minutes, I’d be a huge believer, but it didn’t. Instead, my long arms and legs constantly kept brushing the tank’s edge and taking me “out of the zone.”
Once or twice would have been no big deal, but I kept hitting the tank’s edges every 15-30 seconds. Literally every 15-30 seconds. It would take me out of the experience every time it happened and I would have to get back into the zone.
The first ten minutes in the tank felt like being in outer space, but after that I was never completely distraction-free.
(Note: I went to the best, I didn’t go to Rob’s Discount Tank and Liquor, I went to Floatlab.)
Was Joe Rogan Right About The Sensory Deprivation Tank?
I can see why hippies love the tanks. The experience was a lot like being on drugs allegedly and at certain moments in the tank I did experience euphoria.
Inside the tank there were no phones ringing, emails pinging or even birds singing. With nothing to distract me I was able to produce a lot of great ideas.
I had an extreme case of “do it NOW” syndrome. Because of the euphoria and the breakthroughs in thought, I wanted to immediately make plans for the years ahead.
Coming up with ideas when you are uninterrupted is the easy part. The hard part is remembering all of them when you get out of the tank.
Inside the tank you these great ideas and you want to act on them right away, but you can’t. You can’t bring a pen and paper into a pitch-black tank. But I sure wanted to.
For over an hour I had this same repeating thought in the tank: I need to get out of the tank so I can get started NOW for these plans that I have for the future.
All of the plans in my head were making perfect sense and I couldn’t wait to get out of the tank and write them down so that I wouldn’t forget them.
The “do it NOW” syndrome went away after I got out of the tank, though I was able to record my notes afterwards.
Inside the tank you have this incredible enthusiasm and desire, but when you get back out into the “real world” that euphoria goes away within an hour or less.
Sensory Deprivation Tank: Yay or Nay?
The tank worked, for sure, but it wasn’t practical. I’m a work-horse and I love to work, I don’t love lying around for two hours. I kept wanting to get out so I could write my ideas down and not forget them.
Tanks are also few and far between and not everyone has access to one. Even if you do have access to a tank, 2 hours is a very long time to be alone with your thoughts. I could have gotten out at the one hour mark.
Many people claim they enter a ‘dream state’ in the tank but I never did. As mentioned, my long arms and legs kept bumping the edges of the tank, taking me out or the “theta state” entirely.
Even when I was in wide-eyed awe, I was still lucid. I obviously realized I wasn’t literally floating in space. I always knew I was lying naked in a tank of saltwater.
(Note: You never feel completely trapped in the tank. You can open the door and let yourself out whenever you want and you can also move around in the tank.)
Sensory Deprivation Tank Alternative
In my personal experience, there are more convenient ways to be creative and free of distractions while still being able to work.
In fact, I know of an alternative way to achieve a similar “theta” experience without sitting butt-naked in a pitch-black tank for two hours.
You won’t have to buy a tank, drive to a tank’s location, take off your clothes, float in a tank or anything like that but you’ll get some of the exact same benefits.
My easy method can be used by anybody to block out distractions and increase creativity.
Joe Rogan once said “The sensory deprivation chamber has been the most important tool that I’ve ever used for developing my mind, for thinking, for evolving.”
Then Victor Pride said “I know a much more practical way to get those same benefits.”
Click here see what the best alternative to the sensory deprivation tank is.
Until next time.
Your man,
-Victor Pride
Look forward to it.
Great article. I’ve found that the more times you go to float, the better it gets, meaning it’s easier to get into the zone. Hitting the sides of the tank like you experienced is no good though and will absolutely interrupt your experience. Maybe there’s a bigger tank? Another thing to try is to put your arms over your head outstretched. It helped me to relax a little more.
That’s really interesting - I might have to give it a try if there’s anywhere local to me. My arms and legs aren’t particularly long either so hopefully I might have a good experience.
You didn’t mention what kind of breathing apparatus they give you - presumably something SCUBA-style? Does that distract at all?
You aren’t submerged in the water. You float on top of it.
No breathing apparatus. You float on a few inches of Epsom salt infused water.
I love float tanks.
I also first heard about them from Joe Rogan.
A friend of mine opened up a local business with a few locations near me and I go once in a while when I need to hit “reset” on my mind.
Like you, I usually don’t have otherworldly type of experiences.
I usually:
1. Get extremely relaxed. I feel more relaxed after floating than any massage or nap. I get relaxed regardless of how much stress I felt before hopping in. My muscles relax to such a degree it’s almost a struggle to sit back up due to the “weightlessness” of floating in the Epsom salt saturated water.
2. I get in touch with how my mind works and the thoughts that are working behind the scenes. Our minds are very complex. Couple this with the many distractions of the modern world and there is more going on in our heads than we are usually aware of. Floating allows me to be aware of the background noise in my head and slowly shed it away.
The place my buddy owns allows you to pre-load your own music or even recorded affirmations if you prefer that over silence.
Yes, you inevitably drift into the side of the tank. This is often relative to the size of the tank. I’ve been in ones that were more like large hot tubs where you have more room so are less likely to bump into the walls. Also you need to very GENTLY push off the side when you bump into it to prevent yourself from being like a ball in a pinball machine bouncing from side to side.
The ones I go to are usually an hour to an hour and a half.
I’m the same way. I usually have pen and paper ready for when I get out. I usually have a long string of ideas that I want to remember and find myself repeating a series of key words attached to each idea to make sure I remember them all. This in itself is a distraction, but I prefer to remember them when I return to the outside world.
Navy Seals, professional athletes and many other top performers are using these float aka deprivation tanks now.
I’ll be interested to hear about your alternative.
Thanks for posting your take on it.
All the best,
D
Holosync with good headphones has been the closest thing to what you’re describing for me. I never tried floating in a tank though. Can’t wait to know what your recommendation is, Vic.
Glad to hear you gave floating an open-minded attempt. The first float is by far the most difficult, just getting used to the feeling will take several tries. Also, if you have a regular meditation practice it makes floating that much easier.
I find that really focusing on stabilizing myself initially will help minimize the movement and bumping into the walls. But now that I’ve experienced it several times, I’m able to enter the theta state fairly quickly, and once I’m deep enough I find I hardly notice the wall bumps at all. They just become another ‘random’ thought that enters my mind and then I let it pass without really disturbing my flow.
Among the benefits of relaxation, boosted focus for several hours after, and that feeling of bliss where nothing can bother me, I also experience cool visuals like random lights and geometric shapes. I know it’s a good meditation when I have to focus on ‘hovering’ in that theta state and trying not to fall asleep (which usually happens a few times per float for me). I also experience sharpened eyesight afterwards when I walk outside, everything seems more colorful and clear.
I’d imagine your alternative is some sort of meditative process, but the way I see it - if you can eliminate most or all sensory input, then your already half way to achieving the theta state.
I’m really liking the increased activity on your site, and I greatly appreciate what your doing here.
Keep on crushing it!
Come one, all these methods are just watered down yoga practices.You can induce these mental states just by practicing kriya yoga.From Wim Hof method to DMT to binaural beats,everything is a rip off of ancient proven techniques.Even 50 years ago you had very similar chambers were binaural beats were blasting and you could drift off in this ‘magical’ state of mind(which is nothing more than a ‘natural’ state of mind).Osho said although they were useful,their purpose is to bring you to the meditative state.But then,you need to MEDITATE,or else you are just sitting there feeling happy.Big deal.
In your own words,you feel euphoric,well shit i can drill a hole in your brain and you can be euphoric for the rest of your life people.You need to go beyond that and then real shit are starting to happen.Yoga/meditation whatever, are not hippy eastern dogmas.They dont make you giggly or a pussy.The tank is fine as long as you understand that they are not magical and there are phenomically better ways to achieve what is aclaimed these tanks can do.Anyway,i end the rant here.I agree with your view and btw i had the same problem.I am 6.3 and i could barely fit,plus some dude literally knocked at the door twice.Yeah,to be fair it wasnt a high end place.
Victor,
I did the tank after seeing Rogan’s video about 2 years ago. My experience was similar to yours. I kept hitting the side of the tank every couple minutes and there was an air hole that brought it a tiny bit of light that ruined it as well, so I closed my eyes. It was cool and I experienced some euphoria and at one point thought I saw purple mist, but that was about it. I was only in for 30min to an hour. If I had a bigger tank with absolutely no light and all, I’d go in for 2 hours for sure. Rogans experience in the video is about three times as cool as what I experienced.
Great article Victor!
Have you tried Binaural or isochronic meditations? Thompson, Monroe Institute, or Steven Halpern’s deep theta are good. I also just recently bought a new one of a fibonacci style track, but can’t remember the name of it.
Curious to see if you’re going to recommend a light and sound machine, or some other weird device like a brain tuner or neurophone. Enough with the cliffhanger already godammit! ;)
Yaw Professor Vic’.
If you weren’t possibly allowed to jot down these ideas you had in mind by writing, I thought why you couldn’t simply audio record yourself during the experience when you could have had the chance to if you were doing it again.
(But I know you probably never want to waste another second on the same thing.)
Personally, I looked forward the ideas you have had on top of your head regarding whatsoever I got hooked into reading what you were thinking.
So really, I’m waiting for the next post to see the turnaround of my disappointment into the fire you promised on this one.
But besides it, I like the way you do it. Keep mentoring us, will ya?!
These sensory deprivation tanks remind me of this kind of ship where Neo woke up all connected to the cords. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8eKxVCFoUk
A hands free waterproof voice recorder would be nice to record the outpouring of thoughts. Maybe one attached to the tank’s wall with velcro.
Ever since I saw the movie Altered States when I was ten years old, I wanted to float.
Agreed!
Ever since I first saw Altered States years ago, I have a always wanted to do this. However, being 6’2, I am concern earned that I may have similar issues as Victor. The closest facility to me is in Louisville Kentucky. If anyone that has tried sensory deprivation could give me your opinion of this facility based off their website, I would appreciate it!!!
Welcome to meditation victor. Don’t give up on it just because your mediocre first experience. Look up hurry sickness and parasympathetic nervous system. I should know. Im an extreme type a personality too
I still wanna try this
Great article once again. I am curious about one thing though. Did you have any visual hallucinations? Maybe I did not see that part but I am quite curious. Thanks!
The sensory deprivation tank sounds interesting, but like you say, there are other ways of achieving a similar effect.
The way you describe it almost sounds like the type of trance you get into while writing. Those moments where words flow onto the page without having to think about it.
If only someone would find a way to put this state into a supplement…
RedSupplements.com has got great stuff coming I’m sure.
Can’t wait.
Boss Pride! Great article, I’ll go check out my local tank and do an hour myself. Pretty devastated you don’t follow me on twitter anymore man hahaha
I don’t? That’s weird.
Float tanks are great - had my first experience about a year ago. Makes you realize how much bullshit is constantly on your mind. Helps to shed it all away.
Vic, I know you’ve said before you don’t like drugs, but in my experience responsible use of marijuana (preferably ingested, to avoid harming the lungs) in conjunction with a float tank does amazing things.
Anyways, I like how you’re writing more frequently now. Glad to hear that you’re over that difficult period in your life and back at it.
Best,
-Jon
How did you get your header big like it is? I tried changing the height and width in theme functions and the styles sheet but it just cuts off my picture.
You’re referring to a photograph in an article. Nothing to do with theme functions.
I mean you website title “boldanddetermined”
LMAO — Vic I completely agree… I heard about it through other means and it took about 1.5 years before I tried it, but when I did last year what an underwhelming experience.
Leave the Float Tank to the woo-woo lovers who love to spend money to gain experience.
I’ll leave my development to reading masters and sharpening myself through taking calculated risks every m*****f****** day.
Cheers
Randy
Oh, I want to go to Rob’s Discount Tank and Liquor! Sounds like a god mix!
Sounds like hell for somebody with tinnitus. Mine isn’t loud enough to really bother me, but I feel that a sensory deprivation tank would make the ringing exponentially more annoying.