Back in the late 80s, I was living in Los Angeles, working for a new age book publisher. The editor in chief was into the work of the late researcher John Lilly, who had a curiosity of what psychological states might emerge if a person could achieve total sense deprivation. If sight, sound, touch, feel and gravity were removed, where would our mind travel?

These questions resulted in the creation of the first ever “flotation tank” — a sound proof structure, with water heated to body temperature and filled with enough Epsom salt to ensure automatic buoyancy. No sight, no sound, and no feel. Just floating.

Lilly’s experiment led to the discovery that while floating in such a tank heightened states of consciousness emerged which encouraged supreme relaxation and pain reduction and other health benefits. The editor in chief told me there was a tank in West Hollywood and encouraged me to go. Being an alternative health and wellness epicurean, I couldn’t resist. I went, floated for an hour, and achieved such peace that when I emerged, I was suddenly committed to stopping smoking cigarettes. After that float, I quit. Just like that.

Now there’s a float tank right here in Bozeman. My friend Kyrsten tipped me off to its arrival, and I’ve now been to Sea of Tranquility Spa and Flotation Center five times. I can’t get enough!


The business opened on January 1st of this year and has been, according to co-owner (with Josh Kronske) Justin Gorgol, booming. Word of mouth, aided by some posters hung around town, was its only promotion. It seems lots of people are curious about this unusual experience, and what’s not to be curious about? It is an interesting way to spend 60 minutes, that’s for sure.

The center is located at 618 Griffin, out 7th by The River’s Edge, in a cozy older building. The float suite has a fireplace, fountain, salt-water fish tank, comfy couches and chairs and all the lights in the suite are blue. You are surrounded by “chill” before you even enter the tank.

The drill is simple — before entering the tank, you shower to remove any oils, perfumes, etc. Then you step into the tank, close the door behind you, and float. Earbuds can pipe in music if you prefer something to silence, but if not, when an hour is up, music plays outside the tank to signal it’s time to get out, so you don’t have to worry. You take another shower to rinse off the Epsom salts, and you’re done.

Gorgol says people are coming to the tank for all reasons; health, relaxation, and spiritual awakening. “People are also coming because they’re curious,” he said. “Flotation tank experiences are not an every day thing.”

Gorgol got into floating just about two years ago when he heard about it online and was curious. “Being a seeker’ I was instantly intrigued and drove nine hours to Denver to try out the tank there,” he noted. After three floats, Gorgol was converted. He began researching the data on flotation tanks and their health benefits, and also grew intrigued with the possibilities of spiritual awakening that some reported from their floats. While he holds his cards close to his chest about his own spiritual experiences while in the tank, he will admit that they have been many and deep. Gorgol has logged over 300 hours in the tank thus far. But he stresses that most people come to Sea of Tranquility for the multiple health and wellness benefits that can be achieved through the experience.

A Google search for “floatation tank benefits” yields over 11 million hits. Clearly something is going on. Researchers credit the profound relaxation that comes from floating in the tank to the brain slowing down to a theta state, brain waves commonly associated with meditation and stress reduction. Profound relief from arthritis, migraines and fibromyalgia has also been reported.

My floats were peaceful, deeply relaxing and caused me to sleep more soundly afterwards. I also felt as if I had been meditating for several hours upon exiting the tank. After the first several floats, my body craved the experience and I am now going regularly. It feels incredible in the tank, and the post-tank benefits last for several days.

During the month of March, the first three floats are $30 each time; the price goes up to $60 per float after. A massage therapist is on-site so you can have a massage before or after your float. New this week is the option of adding a flow of pure oxygen to the tank for an additional $1 per minute.

Sea of Tranquility has a helpful website (bozemantranquility.com) on which there is an informative FAQ and links to research on floating. A reservation form is there, along with information for first-time visitors. They also have a Facebook page.

At the very least, floating is a great way to relax. At the most? Well, who knows… it seems from the research and anecdotal evidence that the sky’s the limit.

Sea of Tranquility
406-585-3053
618 W. Griffin, Suite H

$30/students
$60/others
$30 per float for the first three floats during the month of March; $60 per float after

Liz Harrison is an alternative health and wellness junkie who lives in Bozeman. This column explores the many alternative wellness offerings and practitioners in the Gallatin Valley.   Suggestions, raves and rants may be sent to wellnessepicurean@gmail.com