Floating (60 min)

A 60-minute sensory deprivation float session in a custom-built pod filled with dense Epsom salt solution. The high salt concentration allows effortless buoyancy, removing gravitational load on the spine and joints while eliminating light, sound, and temperature stimuli.

The floating session at FOLGA takes place in one of two custom-built float pods filled with approximately 500 kg of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) dissolved in water heated to skin temperature (~35.5°C). The resulting solution density is high enough that the body floats effortlessly on the surface without any conscious effort to stay buoyant. This removes the constant gravitational load on the spine, joints, and musculature that the body manages throughout waking hours. Once inside the pod with the lid closed, the environment eliminates the three primary sensory channels: light is absent, sound is reduced to near-silence (with optional ambient audio available for first-time floaters), and the water temperature matches the skin surface so precisely that the boundary between body and water becomes imperceptible. This combination of zero gravity and sensory minimisation triggers a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic nervous system dominance — the body's stress-response systems stand down, cortisol production decreases, and the mind enters a state similar to deep meditation or the hypnagogic phase between waking and sleep. The Epsom salt itself delivers a substantial transdermal magnesium dose during the 60-minute session. Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including muscle relaxation, nerve function, and sleep regulation. Many regular floaters report improved sleep quality, reduced muscle tension and chronic pain, and a sustained sense of mental clarity in the hours and days following a session. FOLGA's pods are custom-built rather than off-the-shelf commercial units, allowing for precise control over water temperature, filtration, and internal dimensions. The water is filtered between every session using UV sterilisation and micron filtration. Each session includes time before and after for showering, and the centre provides all necessary supplies — towels, earplugs, and post-float tea.