Hot Tubs vs Float Tanks

I love hot tubs. For a long time, my dream home goal was to own a hot tub of my own, so that I could soak every day in peace and privacy. I thought that hot tubs were best for resolving exhaustion and tension.

Then I started a regular floating practice.

At my next hot tub opportunity, I was surprised to feel a sense of disappointment. Hot tubs still hold wonderful appeal (especially in winter!) but when I float, I achieve total relaxation. Floats aren't as cozy, of course, but there are many ways to get cozy, and in my busy-busy-busy life, it's harder to find effective methods to deeply and fully relax.

So I decided to compare hot tubs and float tanks to see if I could determine why floating felt more relaxing.

Temperature

Hot tubs are meant to be warmer than skin temperature. The heat soothes sore and tired muscles. Meanwhile, the air above the hot tub feels cold, creating a contrast that lends to its cozy appeal.

On the other hand, the water *and air* in float tanks are meant to be skin temperature so that the sensation of water and air dissolve into nothingness. This is to help relax the mind against the constant presence of the world.

Temperature-wise, hot tubs are meant to be physically relaxing and float tanks are meant to be mentally relaxing.

Buoyancy

The float tank has about 1000 pounds of salt in order to allow its inhabitants to effortlessly float. Instead of using heat to soothe muscles, the float tank uses this buoyancy to encourage floaters to rest their muscles, because they don't need any to support themselves.

In a hot tub, buoyancy can actually be a bit of a problem. If you float up, you emerge from the water and expose yourself to the aforementioned cold air. Depending on the tub, it can take concentration to stay submerged and in your seat. It might lighten the load on your joints, but your mind and muscles don't get to completely rest.

Sight and Sound

Hot tub environments also keep the mind busy. My favorite hot tubs are outdoors, but that means lots of sights and sounds to distract the mind. Even more private settings are rarely soundproof and I've never seen a pitch black hot tub setup. Hot tubs might provide a break from your day, but not a break for your senses.

Float tanks offer a chance to float in silence and darkness, giving the senses of sight and sound a rest. Even if you choose to float with light or music, the float tank is a private, static space, and doesn't offer a whole lot of distractions. While floating, the mind really has a chance for peace and quiet.

Risks

If your goal is to relax and recover, then the hot tub has a definite downside: the time limit. When I'm trying to relax, the last thing I want to do is count minutes and move fast, so almost every time I end up in the hot tub I stay too long. When I finally crawl out, the world is spinning and my legs are wobbly and I feel a little ill. This might be more of a "me" problem, but hot tub time makes me appreciate that no matter how long I float, I always come out feeling stronger and refreshed.

Final Thoughts

After laying the two out side by side, it becomes evident that hot tubs might soothe the muscles, but float tanks are designed to rest both body and mind. This suggests that there is an actual reason for the deeper sense of relaxation I get from floating. In a hot tub, I still have to process the world around me, including the temperature and whether or not my muscles are engaged to keep me in place. When I float I can completely disconnect.

With that in mind, it might be worth exploring the sauna + floating combination at Float Seattle to get the soothing benefits of heat along with the restful benefits of floating!

Guest Blog // Float Seattle Member, Kel Lyle