Portland Operator Says Float Tanks Help Clients Manage Pain and Anxiety

Float therapy uses a dense solution to suspend the human body in water.

The treatment involves lying in a tub containing nearly 1,000 pounds of magnesium dissolved in skin-temperature water. The high density of the solution prevents the body from sinking. Sessions usually last one hour or longer, with options to eliminate light and sound.

Nia Linbravo referees women’s basketball games four to five nights per week. She also works in project management and previously served as a juvenile probation officer. Linbravo stated that the physical and mental demands of her schedule made relaxation difficult. A herniated disk and sleep issues prompted her to try the therapy. She reported that the experience helped her manage depression and anxiety.

“It was hard to relax,” Linbravo said. She consulted with her doctor about the practice. “I wanted to talk about different strategies and they were saying it would be helpful for me, and it has been,” Linbravo said. She described the sensation as a release. “I think it’s the weightlessness and the feeling of the water supporting me, and I’m literally just letting go,” Linbravo said. “Being in the floating tank, it is a space for me to just talk to myself and reflect on what’s happening, calm my mind and be in the moment.”

Dana Highfill has worked as a massage therapist for 17 years. She operates Float North in Northeast Portland. Highfill said most clients seek relief from physical discomfort. “There’s that physical component, you’re getting relief because it feels like you’re turning off gravity. You’re laying there fully supported, your joints open up, and it helps reduce inflammation,” Highfill said. She noted that the environment reduces stimulation to the nervous system. “You can go from fight or flight, which most of us live in, to a rest and repair state,” Highfill said.

Highfill addressed concerns about the physical space. She noted the tanks are not as confining as some expect. A single tank measures eight feet long and four feet wide. The ceiling height is seven feet. The water depth is approximately 10 inches.