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Comment by zoba | Hacker News Reader

In my experience, float tanks are "fine" but nothing that great. Typically you can rent them by the hour, and I got the feeling that to truly experience one, you'd need to do it for multiple hours, or perhaps even a day.

Apparently Feynman enjoyed them, and even smoked marijuana before entering them on a couple occasions. Not something I'd do, but, I can imagine that would add to the effect.

One warning if you try the tank: the water is extremely salty...so if you get an itch anywhere on your face, be sure the water doesn't contact your eye... man does it burn.

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Poor man's alternative - a meditation eye mask that gives you total darkness, a good set of earplugs for silence, and a comfy mattress or just sit in a regular meditation position. After 30 minutes, the lack of spatial information and total silence removes you from your surroundings, you get a feeling that you don't know any more where you are, there is no world, just your mind. Can be scary or impressive.

> just sit in a regular meditation position.

Why not lie down?

You're more likely to fall asleep when lying down.

I've been a few times. I think a good session is 90 minutes. 60 seems too short for me but 90 is good enough to get the full experience. You really have to know how to relax though.

There's one in San Diego called Flot and the owner recommends at least two hours. I booked it and must've floated for closer to three, which was about right. It had three stages:

1. Mind racing, everyday worries at hand (~45-60 minutes)

2. Thinking through actual concerns and whats important (~30 mins)

3. Complete relaxation

It's an incredible experience if you devote the time to it, but to really feel it you need to get through the first stage which can take over an hour. I left happier and more peaceful than I had been in some time.

Maybe it's just me but I find smoking beforehand to be a shortcut to step 2.

Depends on the strain, not sure if I'd go into one of these after smoking a sativa-dominant strain.

That's exactly what I go for :)

I suspect mine would go like this:

1. Mind wandering (~5-10 minutes)

2. Sleep (~whatever time is left)

What keeps you awake all that time?

There's a lot going on in my life and a lot I want to improve personally. Some of these things keep me wired.

I'd like to try it for an entire night. I've been meaning to ask my local float spa if that's something they'd be open to trying.

Along with avoiding water in the eyes, also be cautious of any open cuts or wounds (from shaving or blisters) - they sting just as much!

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