I Tried the Latest Celebrity Health Craze and Caused a bit of a Drama

I stumbled across a new business venture on the island while casually browsing the trusty ‘Onchan Residents’ Facebook group.

Called ‘Isle Float’, the witty wordplay immediately grabbed my attention – who’d have thought we’d ever see a flotation tank therapy center open its doors at the Village Walk Precinct?

Float therapy essentially involves a person ‘floating’ in sensory deprivation tank filled with water for a specified amount of time – think of a big, enclosed bath and you’re on the right track.

According to internet consensus (well, sort of), it purports to calm both the mind and body, alleviating anxiety, depression and muscle tension in the process.

Used by celebrities and athletes alike, UFC fighter Paddy ‘the Baddy’ Pimblett, Ex-Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney and US podcaster Joe Rogan are big proponents of float therapy.

I have tried the treatment in the past but it was a discouraging experience.

Just half an hour before immersing myself in the Epsom salts, I decided to eat sausage bap and had a large black coffee.

Looking back, it probably wasn’t the best way to get me in the right frame of mind.

Arriving at the venue I was greeted by the smiling faces of Adrian Mayles and Kimberly Camp who gave me a quick tour.

Isle Float owners Kimberley Camp and Adrian Mayles

Before we began the therapy, they checked that I hadn’t dyed my hair or had any piercings or tattoos done in the last week – if I had, it would have made me ineligible for the session for health reasons.

The full session takes approximately one hour, with 45 minutes dedicated to the tank experience.

The remaining 15 minutes are allocated for pre- and post-float showers, ensuring cleanliness before entering the tank.

Before floating, there are several mental hurdles to overcome.

Or at least for me there was.

For starters, I was about to float in a large, enclosed egg for 45 minutes.

The next being that I had made the executive decision I was going to float in my birthday suit.

I had planned on modesty, but after discussing with Kim and Ade the benefits of floating naked I decided to give it a shot.

It seems that toxins are more easily expelled from the body when not hindered by my £8 Primark swimsuit.

I am up for trying anything once.

It might have been my second float, but it was definitely my first time going in the nude.

As I acclimated to my surroundings and sealed the lid, I endeavored to completely immerse myself in the soothing music that guided me into the realm of the unknown.

Without the influence of caffeine and stodge, I found myself relaxing more effortlessly.

Naturally, there ensued the obligatory monologue where I engaged in a conversation with myself about upcoming events, which included mentally checking off my to-do list, wincing at a remark I made to someone a week earlier, and reflecting on life before the float.

I was preparing myself to come out an entirely different woman.

Once this crucial phase of attempting to shut down had passed, I began to truly relax and give in to the magic of the Epsom salts.

One aspect I found both pleasing and frustrating was the lack of time awareness. The disconnection from the digital world was refreshing, a practice I think we should all occasionally embrace. Yet, the inability to keep track of the duration of my stay or the time remaining was something I detested.

After aimlessly floating for what must have been half an hour I was beginning to feel the benefits.

I felt like a baby being swaddled – a strange but nonetheless comforting feeling.

A little while later, I heard a noise approaching the tank.

The tank was spacious and lit with LED lights

I stayed put assuming the float had nearly come to an end and the music had come back on to resuscitate me back to reality. I quickly came around to recognize it was a human voice, not the calming symphonies I was expecting.

Removing my ear plugs I was surprised to hear Ade calling out to me.

‘Hello, Are you okay?’

Panic was the first emotion I experienced. Had I overstayed my float and zoned out too much?

I responded rather groggily: ‘Yes I’m okay. Is it my time to get out?’

‘You’ve hit the emergency button in the tank’, was Ade’s response.

At that moment, I was sitting upright, chuckling at the absurdity of the situation.

Once I reassured Ade that I was fine and not being consumed by the salts, I tried to return to a state of calm.

Regrettably, my ‘accidental emergency’ had prematurely concluded my float session, through no fault but my own. I couldn’t shake off the image of myself, innocently adrift, unwittingly wreaking havoc.

Was it a toe? A finger? Perhaps an elbow?

Anyway, I’ve always wanted to experience the thrill of pressing an emergency button.

I can now say I have, not exactly the exhilarating way I had imagined, but most definitely a funny story to tell.

Unexpected emergencies aside, the positive effects of the floatation experience lingered with me in the days that followed – my body remained relaxed and my mind was definitely clearer.

And my serene aura seemed to rub off on my parents – they were so impressed and captivated by my floating experience that they decided to book sessions for themselves!