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The Float Tank Cure: Free Yourself From Stress, Anxiety, and Pain the Natural Way
Weightless. Calm. Meditative. Free. These are words people from all over the world use to describe what it is to float. In this long-awaited book, Shane Stott shares his personal journey and professional insights into the Float Cure. For millions of people floating is not only a method of healing and meditation, but a journey to a higher state of wellness and being. With new scientific research illuminating the multifaceted benefits of floating, and the practice becoming more available, the time to float is now. Join with Shane on this journey, and experience the cure. "Without a doubt, Shane is a high achiever. Not because he's never failed or fallen but because he keeps getting back up. His persistence and dedication to whole life success are inspiring. Read this book and you'll be inspired too!"--DARREN HARDY, Publisher SUCCESS and New York Times Bestselling Author of The Compound Effect. (Float Tanks are often referred to as: Isolation Tanks, Sensory Deprivation Tanks, Isolation Chambers, Float Chambers, or a mix of those keywords.)
150 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2015
48 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 25, 2015
For me, the value in a non-fiction book lies in the quality of the information conveyed. The basic premise of this book is, there are health benefits in floating in a tank of water made more dense by the addition of some magnesium sulphate, and excluding all light, sound, or any other sensory input. Stott, happens to run a company that sells such tanks. The book is essentially a description of Stott's early life where he basically had burnout from ridiculous overwork and had a consequent mental breakdown into the depths of depression. He cured himself, so he claims, by this floating technique, but it is somewhat vague as to what happened in this period. There are a number of anecdotal stories of others helped by floating, and a general discussion of "ailments" for which floating might assist. Leaving aside the length, this would make quite a reasonable promotional sales brochure.
The writing is clear, but I found the message to be somewhat unfocused. Stott compares the virtues of floating to one other technique aimed to aid meditation, which did not work for him, but he went into it feeling it would not work, and he gave it one try. Basically, there is no magic instant cure for depression, but rather a longish program is required. Will this work generally? I don't know. The tank will cost a few thousand dollars, and on top of that you need over a third of a tonne of magnesium sulphate to dissolve in the water, so you will need somewhere to put this where you do not mind crystals of magnesium sulphate forming from drippings when you emerge. A concrete floor with a central drain would be fine. But if your house does not have this, this form of floating is not for you. Is a convincing case made that you should spend several thousand dollars on it? For me, while anecdotal evidence was presented, only favourable anecdotes would have been selected. I would have preferred to see more statistical analysis. To counter that, Stott suggests that before doing this, a potential customer should try it at least three times at a centre. I am unsure how many of these centres there are. The grading I am giving is based on the limited applicability and the limited specific information and analysis provided. On the other hand, the book is cheap, and it may well lead to some people finding help.
The writing is clear, but I found the message to be somewhat unfocused. Stott compares the virtues of floating to one other technique aimed to aid meditation, which did not work for him, but he went into it feeling it would not work, and he gave it one try. Basically, there is no magic instant cure for depression, but rather a longish program is required. Will this work generally? I don't know. The tank will cost a few thousand dollars, and on top of that you need over a third of a tonne of magnesium sulphate to dissolve in the water, so you will need somewhere to put this where you do not mind crystals of magnesium sulphate forming from drippings when you emerge. A concrete floor with a central drain would be fine. But if your house does not have this, this form of floating is not for you. Is a convincing case made that you should spend several thousand dollars on it? For me, while anecdotal evidence was presented, only favourable anecdotes would have been selected. I would have preferred to see more statistical analysis. To counter that, Stott suggests that before doing this, a potential customer should try it at least three times at a centre. I am unsure how many of these centres there are. The grading I am giving is based on the limited applicability and the limited specific information and analysis provided. On the other hand, the book is cheap, and it may well lead to some people finding help.
October 30, 2018
I listened to this in a single sitting on a road trip after a conference.
It's exactly what I wanted to hear and I have a float booked at a local REST centre for this coming Friday. I will give it 3 sessions and think I will love this method of relaxation and meditation.
It's a great resource to anticipate what a float tank is and what to expect.
It's exactly what I wanted to hear and I have a float booked at a local REST centre for this coming Friday. I will give it 3 sessions and think I will love this method of relaxation and meditation.
It's a great resource to anticipate what a float tank is and what to expect.
October 16, 2015
I will admit that I have not yet felt stressed to the point that it has caused me the type of anxiety that Shane described. The human body is the most amazing creation and it doesn't surprise of how many different benefits can be attained through simply floating. I was pleasantly surprised and glad to find that the author had backed his personal findings with research. I am glad that he also mentions fundamentally sound concepts to use along with the float. Some of the additional concepts mentioned were meditation, healthy relationships and staying fit.
Stress and anxiety to me is on the rise with more and more people having to fight to survive with the higher demands to fit in or maintain their lifestyles. I liked the realistic advice that was given for patience and incorporating fundamentals into the journey for better mental health. I know I always feel better mentally when I have taken care of my body by eating right and exercising. When I first started reading, I wasn't sure how effective the float cure would be but after finished reading I understand how this can be effective stress and pain relieving method. I would recommend it for anyone searching for natural ways to improve the quality of life by lessening stress and anxiety.
Stress and anxiety to me is on the rise with more and more people having to fight to survive with the higher demands to fit in or maintain their lifestyles. I liked the realistic advice that was given for patience and incorporating fundamentals into the journey for better mental health. I know I always feel better mentally when I have taken care of my body by eating right and exercising. When I first started reading, I wasn't sure how effective the float cure would be but after finished reading I understand how this can be effective stress and pain relieving method. I would recommend it for anyone searching for natural ways to improve the quality of life by lessening stress and anxiety.
June 30, 2023
3.5 Stars
I first learned of floating (also called sensory deprivation tanks) from watching Stranger Things. Aha! See, TV and movies aren't all just mindless entertainment, or at least some of them aren't.
As per usual, I went on a researching binge and dove right in the deep end of the internets (get the pun there, haha, though really the tanks aren't all that deep, typically just 10 inches) and learned all I could about floating. But I knew I had to put aside the things I was learning and actually try the darn thing out. I thought what better time than as a gift to myself for my birthday. Fuck if it wasn't one of the best birthday gifts I've given myself!
What is floating? Simply put, it's a tank filled with water and enough Epsom salt (roughly 1,000 lbs) that allows you to float without any effort. The tank is also enclosed, which is where the sensory deprivation comes into play, cutting off your sight, sound, and smell. There is no other place I can think you can get an experience like this than in a float tank.
As for all of the details of float tanks and the MANY benefits they offer, I recommend this article for a quick overview of it: https://draxe.com/sensory-deprivation...
But really, try it for yourself. There are so many possible benefits to floating, ranging from various forms of physical pain to mental health disorders, to improving performance creatively, athletically or just in general. I really shouldn't be allowed to speak so highly of it, since I've only done it twice in the past two weeks, but if two times had that big an impact on me then I can't imagine what would come if I can make it a regular part of my routine.
Personally, I've chosen to try out floating for my mental health and creative endeavors. I can say the only thing close to how floating has made me feel, mentally, are my recent adventures in trying out pot. Both of which have taken my anxious, ADHD, never shutting the fuck up brain and shut it the fuck up (though floating next leveled that shit). It took me to a place I didn't even know existed, complete calm. I mean, even to the point where, when floating, I would try to venture to those places (because that's what my brain does) and it just wouldn't penetrate there. The veil of chaos was lifted from my mind. A mind that cripples me constantly to the point of depression, of questioning my existence, my worth, making me anxious all the god damn time for no reason and floating just took that giant dark cloud and pushed it on its way. Don't get me wrong, it's not a simple, poof I'm cured. It's more of a tool to help me learn my brain more, get a hold of it, and find ways to more easily manage my mental health and find that place of calm. Honestly, I can't recommend floating enough!
Getting to the actual book review... Having already tried floating, I didn't really need this book to convince me of it. I can 100% relate to the mental state Shane was in when he first started floating and I'm excited for how much more I can gain, the more I incorporate it into my life. I was hoping for more of a blend of his experience and the science behind floating. While I didn't get as much research backing the scientific benefits of floating (though it's out there) in this book, I did enjoy and relate to what he had to share and recommend it to any who has yet to try floating and needs convincing. Highly, highly recommend!!!
*And if you're in the Portland area. I highly recommend The Float Shoppe. The people there are wonderful and they've made every experience thus far truly special.
I first learned of floating (also called sensory deprivation tanks) from watching Stranger Things. Aha! See, TV and movies aren't all just mindless entertainment, or at least some of them aren't.
As per usual, I went on a researching binge and dove right in the deep end of the internets (get the pun there, haha, though really the tanks aren't all that deep, typically just 10 inches) and learned all I could about floating. But I knew I had to put aside the things I was learning and actually try the darn thing out. I thought what better time than as a gift to myself for my birthday. Fuck if it wasn't one of the best birthday gifts I've given myself!
What is floating? Simply put, it's a tank filled with water and enough Epsom salt (roughly 1,000 lbs) that allows you to float without any effort. The tank is also enclosed, which is where the sensory deprivation comes into play, cutting off your sight, sound, and smell. There is no other place I can think you can get an experience like this than in a float tank.
As for all of the details of float tanks and the MANY benefits they offer, I recommend this article for a quick overview of it: https://draxe.com/sensory-deprivation...
But really, try it for yourself. There are so many possible benefits to floating, ranging from various forms of physical pain to mental health disorders, to improving performance creatively, athletically or just in general. I really shouldn't be allowed to speak so highly of it, since I've only done it twice in the past two weeks, but if two times had that big an impact on me then I can't imagine what would come if I can make it a regular part of my routine.
Personally, I've chosen to try out floating for my mental health and creative endeavors. I can say the only thing close to how floating has made me feel, mentally, are my recent adventures in trying out pot. Both of which have taken my anxious, ADHD, never shutting the fuck up brain and shut it the fuck up (though floating next leveled that shit). It took me to a place I didn't even know existed, complete calm. I mean, even to the point where, when floating, I would try to venture to those places (because that's what my brain does) and it just wouldn't penetrate there. The veil of chaos was lifted from my mind. A mind that cripples me constantly to the point of depression, of questioning my existence, my worth, making me anxious all the god damn time for no reason and floating just took that giant dark cloud and pushed it on its way. Don't get me wrong, it's not a simple, poof I'm cured. It's more of a tool to help me learn my brain more, get a hold of it, and find ways to more easily manage my mental health and find that place of calm. Honestly, I can't recommend floating enough!
Getting to the actual book review... Having already tried floating, I didn't really need this book to convince me of it. I can 100% relate to the mental state Shane was in when he first started floating and I'm excited for how much more I can gain, the more I incorporate it into my life. I was hoping for more of a blend of his experience and the science behind floating. While I didn't get as much research backing the scientific benefits of floating (though it's out there) in this book, I did enjoy and relate to what he had to share and recommend it to any who has yet to try floating and needs convincing. Highly, highly recommend!!!
*And if you're in the Portland area. I highly recommend The Float Shoppe. The people there are wonderful and they've made every experience thus far truly special.
February 22, 2020
“Your Brain is always scanning, computing, categorising, and working away as it monitors your surroundings and your state of being. Well trained monks have the power of a full focus , zero distraction mental state. The rest of us usually don’t. This is, unless we are floating.”
The author tells his story of how he got into floating as a way to cope with stress and anxiety. It’s the one place you can shut out all external stimuli. That’s why they’re sometimes called self deprivation tanks, among other things. Being totally alone and without external stimulus allows you to go on a journey through your own mind. This is what many meditators crave for as well as the calm, insight, peace and well-being that inevitably comes with it. Stott turned a hobby into a business, building his own flotation tank at home using materials from Home Depot before deciding to form a business that would provide the opportunity for others to float from home too.
Researchers have indicated that there are two main types of stress: eu stress and distress. Eustress is actually a good kind of stress because it is manageable and usually motivates us in a positive way to do something and change something in our lives that could otherwise cause distress (bad stress). However, even too much positive stress all in one go can be too much i.e. if you got married, moved city and started a new job all in one month.
Lol - I moved in with my wife to be, moved city and started a new job all in one month.
4 years later, I lost my job, got divorced and had to move home all within 3-months 😆😬
People are increasingly showing the symptoms of ADHD because of distractions and the impulse to always respond because of technology. We should change our communication habits and not feel pressured to respond right away. It’s almost like we’re all 999 operators on call 24/7.
The author outlines why our habits cause stress and why we should make more effort to check out and find ways to enhance our wellbeing. Floating, he says, is a sure fire way to do this and - he believes - will see a new wave of enthusiasts.
The author tells his story of how he got into floating as a way to cope with stress and anxiety. It’s the one place you can shut out all external stimuli. That’s why they’re sometimes called self deprivation tanks, among other things. Being totally alone and without external stimulus allows you to go on a journey through your own mind. This is what many meditators crave for as well as the calm, insight, peace and well-being that inevitably comes with it. Stott turned a hobby into a business, building his own flotation tank at home using materials from Home Depot before deciding to form a business that would provide the opportunity for others to float from home too.
Researchers have indicated that there are two main types of stress: eu stress and distress. Eustress is actually a good kind of stress because it is manageable and usually motivates us in a positive way to do something and change something in our lives that could otherwise cause distress (bad stress). However, even too much positive stress all in one go can be too much i.e. if you got married, moved city and started a new job all in one month.
Lol - I moved in with my wife to be, moved city and started a new job all in one month.
4 years later, I lost my job, got divorced and had to move home all within 3-months 😆😬
People are increasingly showing the symptoms of ADHD because of distractions and the impulse to always respond because of technology. We should change our communication habits and not feel pressured to respond right away. It’s almost like we’re all 999 operators on call 24/7.
The author outlines why our habits cause stress and why we should make more effort to check out and find ways to enhance our wellbeing. Floating, he says, is a sure fire way to do this and - he believes - will see a new wave of enthusiasts.
November 14, 2017
Simplistic and anecdotal. I would have preferred more science (although the science is catching up as floating is still relatively new). I’ve been floating for several years now and was gifted this book. Perhaps it’s a good simple introduction for people who haven’t floated before (and I’d recommend this maybe more for a high schooler or young adult-the author seems ‘cool’ talking about his music industry and skateboarding days). There are several times where he says ‘....., in my opinion’ etc. So you’re basically just reading opinions. Anecdotes or tips and tricks are fine, but felt like he was speaking as an authority, not just on floating, but an authority on mental and physical health.
June 3, 2017
I became interested in floating several years ago and have done it twice in the last few months. I have many more floats in my future. If I ever have the money, I'll get a tank in my basement. So this book didn't have a great deal to teach me, since it is more designed for someone who is interested in learning about the experience and the benefits.
August 5, 2017
Its a very short read and as someone who has a few floats under his belt, it doesn't really introduce anything new. That said, if you have friends who you think are interested in floating but haven't yet, this is a perfect gift to introduce them to it. Its a good book, but it feels directed at virgin floaters.
November 5, 2018
Great book on floating
I floated for the first time a week ago and wasn't sure what to expect. I bought this book before my second wristband it really opened my eyes to the benefits as well as explaining some of my initial thoughts and feelings. Thank you so much. I am now a devout floater.
I floated for the first time a week ago and wasn't sure what to expect. I bought this book before my second wristband it really opened my eyes to the benefits as well as explaining some of my initial thoughts and feelings. Thank you so much. I am now a devout floater.
December 6, 2019
I really enjoyed this book by Shane Stott about floating. He is very vulnerable about telling his story about his battle with anxiety and depression and how he found relief through floating. If you are interested in learning more about sensory deportation and floating, I would highly recommend reading this book!
November 17, 2023
As a practicing “floater”, I observed this book on a table at a floating location I was at one day and decided to give it a read. Very insightful and full of science-related facts and theories to the numerous health benefits of floating on the body and mind. A great read for anyone interested in the world of floating.
August 20, 2018
The book itself, as writing, leaves a lot to be desired. But as a floater myself, I can vouch for the advice being absolutely spot-on and definitely something that many people need to hear. Maybe this book is the right one for someone like that.
September 23, 2018
Great introduction to floating
Sincere, heartfelt, self-aware, research-based introduction to floating. Perfect companion to my first few floats and has given me a vision of how I can use this tool long term to help me in many aspects of life.
Sincere, heartfelt, self-aware, research-based introduction to floating. Perfect companion to my first few floats and has given me a vision of how I can use this tool long term to help me in many aspects of life.
January 4, 2026
Good introduction to floating
I picked up this book after a float at my local float center. I started to read it and decided to buy it. Shane does a good job of explaining all the different ways floating can benefit you.
I picked up this book after a float at my local float center. I started to read it and decided to buy it. Shane does a good job of explaining all the different ways floating can benefit you.
January 3, 2019
If you are at all interested in floating this is a great starting book. I just finished the book and booked my first float session. I can’t wait to incorporate this practice into my life!
February 22, 2019
Great book! Been floating for a few months now but I went looking for this book to get more information!
July 25, 2020
Great quick read about the power of floating.
May 20, 2022
Lots of editorial and punctuation errors that dropped my rating. For the size or length of this book it was a good read and full of good information to back up the benefits.
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November 4, 2025Read this for work lol!
September 27, 2015
Like so many people, I have had my fair share of problems with anxiety and stress. Recently, a friend of mine was telling me that I needed to look into the float tank cure. I had NO CLUE what they were talking about. I thought they were talking about swimming or something. That is when I found this book - The Float Tank Cure: Free Yourself from Stress, Anxiety, and Pain the Natural Way by Shane Stott.
The basic idea of floating is simple. You completely remove or minimize the sensory input to your brain. You simply shut off every single signal from the outside world to your brain. The goal is to create an environment that allows you to focus such as you would do with meditation to allow for more effective thought. Floating is a method for achieving a state of calm and reducing stress and improving overall physical, mental and emotional health.
If you would like to relieve stress and achieve overall better health, then this book can help.
The basic idea of floating is simple. You completely remove or minimize the sensory input to your brain. You simply shut off every single signal from the outside world to your brain. The goal is to create an environment that allows you to focus such as you would do with meditation to allow for more effective thought. Floating is a method for achieving a state of calm and reducing stress and improving overall physical, mental and emotional health.
If you would like to relieve stress and achieve overall better health, then this book can help.
July 25, 2021
This is a great book for someone that is pondering floating, has misconceptions, someone who loves floating and wants to know more. I really enjoy floating and it has so many physical, mental and emotional benefits.
January 18, 2017
This book gives a lot of good info about floating and it's benefits. What I wasn't expecting was how good it describes life with anxiety and depression. I got a lot more out of it than anticipated.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews