Ever wonder what it would be like to experience complete stillness? We're talking full-on quiet—not just in your head, but in your body, your surroundings, your senses. Total blackout. Zero stimulation. Sounds kind of dreamy… but also kind of terrifying, right?
It’s giving floating in a void. It’s also giving deep nervous system reset.
In this episode of Biohack-HERS, HigherDOSE founders Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps head to Vessel Floats in Brooklyn to explore one of the most low-key (literally) but powerful wellness treatments around: sensory deprivation therapy. This isn’t your average spa day—it’s a journey inward, guided by silence, stillness, and saltwater.
What Is Sensory Deprivation?
Sensory deprivation (aka float therapy) involves lying in a pitch-black, soundproof float tank filled with ultra-salty water that keeps your body effortlessly buoyant. No lights, no sounds, no distractions—just you, your thoughts, and your heartbeat (which starts to sound really loud, by the way).
Each tank is filled with just one foot of water but packs in 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt—aka magnesium-rich magic—for maximum floatation and muscle recovery. The water is warmed to skin temperature, which tricks the body into forgetting it’s even touching anything at all. Add earplugs for silence and zero lighting for total darkness, and voilà: you've got a recipe for absolute sensory surrender.
The Experience: Spooky or Soothing?
At first, it’s a lot. Lauren and Katie aren’t the kind of people who usually just lie still and do nothing. So stepping into a space that’s completely quiet and still—no phone notifications, no music, no ambient spa playlists—is, well, intense.
But once the panic about not doing anything starts to melt away (around the 10-minute mark), something wild happens: the mind starts to let go. Floating in that still, salty void feels like drifting through outer space—except instead of aliens, you’re meeting yourself. Some people even report hallucinations, emotional breakthroughs, and “natural highs,” all without substances. It’s like meditation on steroids (but without the side effects).
The Biohacking Benefits of Floating in Nothingness
We know, it sounds counterintuitive: do less to feel better? But science backs it up.
- Deep nervous system reset – Floating shifts brain waves into the theta state—the dreamy liminal zone between sleep and waking that’s associated with creativity, clarity, and calm.
- Anxiety relief – With nothing to process or respond to, the mind begins to unwind. Float therapy has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety—even in people with chronic conditions.
- Pain + inflammation relief – The magnesium-rich water helps break down lactic acid, relieve joint tension, and reduce inflammation, making it an incredible tool for physical recovery.
- Better sleep + mood – A single float can trigger parasympathetic nervous system activation, helping you sleep deeper, wake up more refreshed, and improve overall emotional regulation.
Would You Float in the Void?
For Lauren and Katie, this wasn't just another spa treatment—it was a full-on surrender to the moment. No filters, no distractions, just stillness. And the results? Deep relaxation, calmer minds, and a newfound respect for the power of doing absolutely nothing.
So if you're curious about unlocking the next level of chill—or just want to see if you can last an hour with yourself and your thoughts—float therapy might be the unexpected wellness reset you never knew you needed.
Ready to see what it’s really like to tune out your senses in a dark floating tank? Follow Lauren and Katie’s experience on the latest episode of Biohack-HERS, out now.
