Imagine waking up in deep space after being held in a state of suspended animation. Everything is black and quiet—the only sound is your deep, rhythmic breath. As memory seeps back, you realize you’re not drifting through the cosmos—you’re simply waking from a nap, safely tucked away in an Earth-tide vessel, experiencing the deep relaxation and therapeutic effects of flotation therapy.
Meet Carlos and Shaheen, owners of float 360 in Durango, Colorado. A little over a year ago, the couple took over this mainstay business, determined to create a new kind of model that challenges the status quo.
Flotation therapy—also known as an isolation tank—has been around since the 1950s but has surged in popularity over the past few decades. Here’s how it works: roughly 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt are dissolved into the water, making it so dense you float effortlessly on the surface. Inside, there’s no light, no sound, and the air and water are warmed to match your body’s temperature. The goal is to eliminate external stimulation, allowing the body and mind to fully let go.
Leaving behind the hectic goings-on of Durango City life, I step through float 360’s door. My nervous system immediately begins to unwind as lo-fi hip-hop hums softly through the speakers. Carlos greets me with a warm smile. My eyes are drawn to a massive art installation above his desk—something between a collage and a mosaic—made of hundreds of small toys and trinkets glued together in a way that perfectly captures beautiful chaos. The piece was created by local artist Ella Bridge (@ellabridge.raw), whose work feels right at home in a space dedicated to inner exploration.
Carlos, a well-spoken man with a calming presence, begins our conversation by stating, “We live in a system that’s built a certain way.” A self-starting entrepreneur, he and Shaheen took over float 360 last year to pursue their shared dream. Central to that dream is an equitable business model in which future employees hold partial ownership—a structure that defies convention and could inspire a new trend in local business.
After a short consultation, I’m escorted downstairs to a private room with a shower and float tank. The pre-float ritual begins with cleansing—washing away the day with soap and shampoo before stepping into the inky blackness of the tank. Passing through float tanks's door feels like stepping through a portal. Once safely nestled inside, the world goes silent. A soft blue light glows above like the lure of a deep-sea anglerfish.
As I begin my float, I let go of the effort it takes to hold myself up. My head, hips, and legs are gently lifted, my body buoyant as a cork. The Epsom salt immediately begins pulling and tugging on my body’s tensions. Then the light fades, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
This is where the real journey begins. With the air and water both matching my body temperature—around 96.6 degrees—my physical boundaries blur. Suspended in stillness, I begin to explore the subconscious.
“The body takes what it needs,” I remember Carlos saying. At first, I try to resist, but gradually, waves of relaxation wash through me. Time and space begin to dissolve like the salt surrounding me. I lie adrift and slip into a light sleep—not the usual kind, but one that feels deeper and quieter, a sleep where my mind’s faculties dissolve into the surrounding abyss.
At this level of stillness, the line between the inner and outer world fades. Just as my muscles release their tension, my mind begins to process and let go of the noise of daily life. In that liminal space, it becomes clear that consciousness extends beyond the five senses. For what are we without them?
After what feels like ten minutes—or perhaps ten hours—the blue light softly returns. Three gentle knocks from Carlos signal the float’s end. Gradually, my senses come back online, and I slip back into my body. The relaxation that follows is profound. Carlos says the effects of a float typically last for three to four days.
To deepen the experience, guests can add a private sauna and cold plunge to their session. There’s even a couples’ package where partners share the full cycle—float, sauna, and plunge. As Carlos puts it, “It’s the perfect opportunity to have that important conversation you’ve been putting off.”
When I return to the lobby, Carlos greets me with tea. I glance at the art installation again and realize it’s a metaphor—a reflection of the stress and clutter I brought in, now symbolically transferred into the artwork.
float 360 acts like a magnet, drawing out anxiety, worry, and stress. Once those layers are stripped away, what remains is a calmer, more peaceful, and more loving version of myself—the one I’m always trying to get back to.
Book your soak today at www.salt360float.com
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Buoyancy: 1,000 lbs of Epsom salt in 10 inches of water creates effortless floatation.
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Temperature: Water and air are maintained at ~96°F to match skin temperature.
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Benefits: Reduces cortisol (stress hormone), eases muscle pain, improves sleep, boosts creativity.
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Origin: First developed in the 1950s by neuroscientist John C. Lilly.
"The body takes what it needs."