Urban Float

I was new to floating and read the advice that you need to do it more than once to get the hang of it. I completely agree. I did their 3x starter pack and really liked it. The staff is very helpful and the rooms are clean, secure and modern. My only nit is that it’s hard to find parking, but just allow a little extra time to find street parking.

I have nothing but great things to say about my floats at this location. The person who helped me during my first float (on christmas eve) was amazing. I am entirely hooked on floating and go every couple of weeks at least. I explained it to a friend like this; its like having an hour long session with a therapist, masseuse and meditating all that the same time.
I will also add I tried the Renton location this week and didn’t have the same experience I usually do. I contacted the manager in Fremont and she credited me the float back. I think Renton is still working out it’s kinks since it just opened up.

I visited Urban Float on 8÷16÷15 while on vacation in Seattle. Floatation Therapy is something that I’ve been interested in trying for some time now, mostly due to comedian Joe Rogan’s enthusiastic endorsement of it. While there are several facilities offering it in my home city of Los Angeles, until recently, there haven’t been any that were convenient for me to get to.
Urban Float was great and this is what I enjoyed about it:
Friendly front desk staff
Super-​clean
The introductory video that explained how to prepare for the float and what to do afterward.
The reasonable price
All of these factors greatly contributed to an excellent float session that really felt great and the after effects were pretty amazing. I will definitely return for another session at Urban Float when I visit Seattle again next year.

Unique experience. I’m used to massages and the usual spa amenities, but floating was something new to me. We were greeted with a warm welcome and everything was explained thoroughly (as this was our first visit). You can choose to have music played during the entire float, the first and last 5min, or not at all. I chose to start and end my float with music. Floating in darkness was really relaxing, but if you feel a bit claustrophobic I’d recommend leaving the light on whilst floating. Will definitely return and I highly recommend if you need some relaxation and want to try something new.

Very unique experience. It’s relaxing and makes your skin feel good afterwards. Give it a try!

Love floating it’s wonderful

Update is for service. I recently purchased two floats, and also got an email about a third on my account that I’d forgotten about.
I spent Friday night trying to book an appointment for Monday morning, but their system kept telling me that my password was incorrect, and that my account didn’t exist when I tried to retrieve my password.
No big deal. Saturday morning I sent an email through their contact page explaining the issue I was having and the appointment I wanted.
It is Wednesday and I still haven’t gotten a reply.
I float because I have recurring/​chronic pain from a car accident, and use it to prevent sciatic pain and having my back lock up. I like their system because I have very limited days off, and on, y get my schedule a week at a time, and can usually make an appointment a few says in advance with no trouble. It’s not very useful if you can’t get any response from their customer service to make an appointment.
I will also say that I love the facilities as far as the pods (they’re comfortable, well-​designed, very clean), shower, and rest area, but they really should have invested in better walls and doors. If people are having conversations or walking around you hear everything– as well as any bug vehicles stopping and starting at the busy light directly outside. The employees are not conscientious about not talking loudly, not correcting customers who are having loud conversations, not walking loudly, and not playing personal music.
If they invested a little more money in soundproofing their rooms, and they actually responded to emails (and maybe cleaned their couches– last time I was in they felt very well-​used) this place would be the best.

Holy crap!!! I am still in the afterglow, but I have to do this now. This place is amazing. The floating was perfection. It was our (the wife and I) first time so we didn’t know what to expect. After taking a few minutes in the chill room to watch a video, we were shown how everything works and left to Float.
I cannot explain what it was like other than perfection… Beautiful perfection.
I would suggest if you are not a person who regularly meditates do it with the music on. We did ten min of music to start and 5 to end and it was perfect.
Thank you Urban Float for being my new favorite place in the world.

I love my float time. It’s always such an easy in and out process and I feel refreshed and relaxed for the rest of the day. The lady there is always so nice and she has such a serene presence it definitely makes it a warm and welcoming experience every time.
The first time was difficult only because I was first learning what to do and it was hard to focus on letting my mind go that I started getting fidgety and restless in the pod. Until you allow yourself to relax and sink into the nothingness around you, its a freeing feeling. As I got used to it by my second time I was able to fully relax right away and let my mind go. I started seeing beautiful colors swirling behind my eyelids and I felt like I was floating through outer space. I couldn’t even tell which direction I was facing anymore. You’ll bump into the walls even if you’re tiny like me but it’s about not focusing on the distraction and only focusing inwardly.
One thing I should add is that I was always afraid of falling asleep and not waking up. Well, they turn on the lights towards the end of your session that wake you up right away and after a while the jets start going so there’s no way you can miss that wake up call!
I recommend getting a float pass because it’s just so much more convenient & cost efficient and after your first float you WILL want to come back for your next ones.

Great environment, the pod and the shower were nice and clean. Friendly staff. Would love to go visit again :)

This is a really neat concept ! The atmosphere is great and you end up feeling completely relaxed. A word of caution though — if you are slightly claustrophobic — this is not for you. You literally are enclosed in a small tank for an hour. I took the tank option and my husband had the dark room option. We both enjoyed our options.
So basically — you get to choose from a tank or a room. The tank has mood lighting whereas the room is completely dark. You can also choose to have music on for the entire duration, part of, or no music. There is a shower in the room and you shower before and after the float. Try not to get the water in your mouth or eyes as it’s super salty and makes you feel sick afterwards.
Everything you need is right there — towels, shampoo, conditioner etc. And after the float there is an option to hang out in their lounge upstairs with complimentary tea and water etc. I really liked the experience and also especially liked the fact that nothing felt rushed.

A must try for anybody actually. I was bummed when I missed a groupon/​living social only to find the first time rate less and the opportunity to get my first three for $ 135. DONE!
Everything is taken care of for you, but for real… NO CAFFEINE! Just show up with an open mind and leave feeling euphoric and slightly befuddled.
I can’t wait to go again, oh yeah, my wife is convince she’ll open one of these oasis, watch out QA!

The facility is neat and the float tanks are decent!
Love the place!
I was one of the first members that started using their service, but after they started to build more clientele, it became so hard to book a float.
I had an incident in Nov 2013 when they canceled my appointment without telling me. When I arrived (I drove 20 minutes each way) they told me: oh, sorry YOU called and cancelled.
Hehe, I was not aware that I have another copy of myself that manages my appointments on my behalf…

My husband got me a gift certificate for a float for Christmas. I finally had a chance to go this week and was excited to try something new. I’ve always been curious about what it would be like to float in the Dead Sea and it pretty much does feel like you are weightless. But I couldn’t quite fully get there because I did have a lot of tension in my neck that took a while to relax. When it did I fell asleep for the rest of the session. I would say there was benefit because the sleep was pretty deep because your body doesn’t toss and turn to get comfortable. I came away from my session resolved to relieve my neck and shoulder tension, starting with eliminating any unnecessary weight from my purse.

I used to work in Fremont and passed this place everyday coming and going to work. I moved here from a little place in Texas a few years ago, and hadn’t ever heard of floating before I saw this place. I always looked in the window when I went by and looked up the website one night when I got home. Still, it wasn’t until last weekend, about a year after first seeing Urban Float, that I finally came in to try it. I bought a 3-​Float First Timer package, and scheduled my appointment mid-​morning at 10:30 on a Sunday. I got the notice to arrive a few minutes early, but I walked from the U-​District and unfortunately misjudged how long it would take me, so I didn’t get the watch the video beforehand. It was fine though, because I had already read a lot online before coming, and the receptionist did a very good job of explaining the process to me so I would I know what to do/​expect.
I was in the Float Room, and it was a nice tiled place with two different ambient lights overhead. That way you can take your shower, walk to the main light and flip it, and still have enough light to see to get up the small staircase to the tank. The second light you can flip off from inside the tank by reaching to the right just outside the door. I was worried that it would be colder than I like in the tank, as I’m very cold-​natured, but it was comfortably warm, and all the salt in the tank not only makes it super buoyant, but also gives it a sort of silky feel you don’t get from bath water. I laid out on the water and as the meditation music played out the beginning I tried to find a comfortable position. I did, and maybe 5 – 10 minutes after the music stopped I had finally worked out all the tension. (It will take you awhile, you *think* you’re relaxed until you shift and realize there’s a small group of muscles you still had bunched up.) This may have been harder for me than most people as I have mild scoliosis and as such tend to tighten up in my back and shoulders from trying to support myself.
When I was settled, my mind sort of shut-​off it’s normal day-​to-​day worries and, perhaps contrary to what most floaters experience, I became *more* aware of my body instead of less, but in a good way. I didn’t feel, in both the physical and emotional sense of the word, the «weight» of my body. I do have back pain because of my spine, and for whatever reason, I have never in my life been able to breathe comfortably through just my nose. Even when I am in a state of rest, I pretty much always have to breath through my mouth or a combination of the two because I just feel winded otherwise. When I was in the tank, near the end, I *was* breathing through just my nose, and I really felt my chest open up. Even after I left Urban Float, I still had these automatic, really deep breaths periodically throughout the day. I didn’t have to think about it, like when people *tell* tell you take a breath. It was just happening on its own. It was very nice not to have to feel like my body is a prison for awhile.
After my float, I showered and walked up the lounge area and read a book I’d brought with me for awhile as I let myself acclimate to being out of the tank again. The lounge is upstairs away from the street, and the couches are very comfortable. There is free water and tea, and some fruit drinks and coconut water for a few dollars more if you feel like that. Another new floater came upstairs shortly after me and was doing her paperwork. She asked me how it was and I told her the truth: it was amazing. :)

I’ve been floating for about 7 months now and I love it. The employees are all very helpful and relaxed. I thought it would be claustrophobic for me but I actually feel MORE comfortable being in the pod than if it were a larger space. There are so many benefits… it has helped me with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, muscle pain and fatigue, insomnia, etc, etc, etc. I can’t recommend it enough. It is an intense experience unlike any other especially if you’re experienced with meditation as you can experience some pretty interesting things if you float actively instead of passively. I like to do a bit of both. I’ll go in the afternoons for an active float, and in the evenings for a passive float.
Tips:
–If you are coming straight from work, or another active function, give yourself an extra 10 minutes to wind down, center and sip some tea in the waiting room. It’ll save time in your float — the more you relax and prepare before, the quicker you’ll be able to enter that meditative state and have more time to enjoy the float.
–Dress comfortably and loosely. Remember you’re going to be out of it and relaxed and not wanting to pull on tight skinny jeans, long socks and big boots. Wear some leggings and a sweatshirt and some slip on shoes. No jewelry. Maybe a hat to keep cozy and warm when you leave.
–Earplugs in before you shower, and dry your face extremely well before getting in so you aren’t tempted to touch it at all
–Don’t drink caffeine the day of, and don’t eat for 3 or so hours before so you’re very comfortable. Make sure you are hydrated and no shaving, waxing, etc day of.
–Try with and without lights. Don’t be scared of giving no lights a try, but if you’re claustrophobic, having the lights on at first might help so you can easily peek and see that you have plenty of room if you start to feel scared.
–Try to stay in the pod, even if you can’t fully let go. Your first time is going to be weird-​your body hasn’t experienced anything like this since you were in the womb! Just give it a shot, and keep counting and consciously relaxing every part of your body. Don’t punish your mind for wandering, just gently redirect it.
–Find a position that’s comfortable. If you have upper back/​shoulder issues, it feels sooo good to have your arms above your head. Honestly, my body positioned itself bit by bit during my first float. It was strange, but felt great.
–Try to stay still. The goal is to kind of trick your body, in a nice way, of thinking it’s basically sleeping. So, as much as you can, just try to let your extremites fall asleep and stay asleep.
–You might fall asleep. That’s okay — the music will come on 5 minutes before the end so don’t panic.
–When the music comes on at the end, go slow. Wiggles toes and fingers, bring your knees to your chest, stretch your arms out, etc. But don’t linger forever — the cleaning whirlpool comes on after 5 minutes and it startles me sometimes even when I’m in the shower and fully awakened.
–Bring conditioner, your preferred moisturizer, and some for your lips, too. Your skin will need it!
–THOROUGHLY shampoo your hair, especially if it’s long. It’s going to take effort, and multiple lathers if you have thick, long hair like me. Be prepared.
–Use the vinegar in your ears!
–Bring a wide toothed comb if you have thick and/​or long hair.
–Drink lots of water the next couple days — just like a massage!

I have had 3 sessions at urban float. My first in the pod (instead of a room). Initially, I was concerned about feeling claustrophobic in the pod but instead the water was deeper and I liked the warmth of the smaller space. I was 37 weeks pregnant and my body felt so relaxed and zoomed in. I recommend either the room or the pod to any pregnant ladies. As difficult as it gets at the end carrying the extra weight, the salt float lifts and encapsulated my body and made me feel weightless which was such a nice reprieve.
One float experience I found that I wasn’t really floating like i had in my other session but deduced it to being that i was very pregnant so it might be the extra weight. When the attendant asked how my experience was i mentioned that snd he promptly credited my account to give me another session snd said that they would repair the tub. I was so
Impressed it hadn’t even occurred to me yet he wanted to ensure the experience was relaxing and enjoyable.

It was a cool experience. For me it was hard to relax and I had ups and downs in it, but that is just me. The place was great and I would recommend trying it. Clean, professional and worth trying. I had a groupon and the $ 45 seemed right compared to the full retail price.

I floated in darkness with only my heartbeat and breath to keep me company. Relaxing to some. Not so much for me.

Let me start off with a brief back story…
During a short vacation to Seattle, I took a day trip to Vancouver, B.C. While waiting in line for a popular ice cream shop, I came across a «float» spa that was next door. I had never heard of floating at all at that point. Read the various signage they had on their windows and decided to give it a try. It sounded like it could be very relaxing, perfect for a vacation… and Oprah had endorsed it, so yeah, I was intrigued.
Decided to go with Urban Float for my very first try. It was either them or Float Seattle, which had more reviews and a slightly higher (4.5-star) rating, but I ended up going with Urban thanks to its uniquely shaped float «pods,» which looked a lot less claustrophobic and cleaner than the pictures I saw posted for Float Seattle. I figured hygiene was a big factor for something like this, so I was turned away by the pictures I saw on Float Seattle’s Unilocal page.
Urban Float was a nice place. The lobby and waiting area were nice and clean. The individual float rooms themselves were also very clean, so my hygiene worry was put to rest at that point. The receptionist did a really good job explaining the process and gave me some good tips.
Now, onto the activity of floating itself. I’ll be honest, I was a bit nervous before getting in. The idea of laying inside a small, enclosed area didn’t seem too appealing to me, even though Urban’s pods looked a lot roomier than the float tanks I saw at other places. For the first 15 minutes or so, I laid inside the pod hearing only the distinct sound of my beating heart. Admittedly, it was beating somewhat fast since I was still a bit nervous. It took another 5 – 10 minutes before I started to relax a bit.
The floating is pretty cool. I had my doubts that a tub filled with salt would actually keep me afloat, but it did. You’d have to actually try to keep your body fully under water. My neck sunk a bit further into the water than my body, but a little foam tube they provide served as a pillow.
So long story short, was this the best 1 hour of relaxation I’ve ever had? Nope. I’ve felt more relaxed sitting in a Jacuzzi or getting a massage, but floating was definitely a unique experience. It did feel nice to defy gravity and have tension taken off my back and legs. They played music inside the pod for the first 10 minutes and last 5 minutes… I highly recommend asking them to have the calm music playing the ENTIRE time you’re in the pod. It helps you relax better, especially if it’s your first time.
Urban Float gave me a nice, clean, and somewhat care free first try. I’m definitely willing to try floating again, but only because Urban made my first experience a good one. ⁴⁄₅.