It can be a challenge to unplug from daily life—even when I go to a spa, I’m guilty of being on my phone (I’m constantly snapping lots of pictures so I can share on social later, but where’s the relaxation in that?) In order to truly unwind, I needed to try something that would force me to leave my phone alone so that I could allow my body to relax without any distractions.

Recently I visited Pause Studio in Venice, California to experience flotation therapy for the first time. Not only was I without my phone, but I lay partially submerged in salt water inside a sensory deprivation tank for an hour. Okay, I know that sounds kind of scary, but I promise it wasn’t. In fact, it one of the most unique and relaxing experiences I’ve ever had—you’re about to find out why.

Here’s what you’ll love about Pause Studio: 

• It helps facilitate mental regeneration and physical recovery with innovative wellness offerings in a well-designed sanctuary-like space that makes visitors feel comfortable.

• Guests can unplug and immerse themselves in one of Pause’s private soundproof flotation suites, where they can float in a custom blend of Epsom salts.

• Pause’s float pods and rooms are the same as the ones that can be found at the New England Patriots and Houston Texans training facilities, the U.S. Navy SEAL performance center in Virginia Beach, as well as multiple universities’ athletic departments.

• Infrared saunas offer the opportunity for a hyper-efficient sweat that increases circulation and rids the body of harmful toxins, aiding in total-body recovery.

• Pause’s IV drips and VitaShots supply nutrients, antioxidants, amino acids, electrolytes and hydration to improve health, wellness and mood.

• The Pause Market retails a curated selection of high-quality, transparent CBD and wellness products designed to amplify one’s experience at Pause.

Founded by Jeff Ono in 2016, Pause Studio is an experiential wellness studio that offers unique services like flotation therapy, infrared saunas and IV drips to facilitate mental regeneration and physical recovery. While it’s not a traditional spa where you can get massages and other standard services, it offers all the benefits of a spa while diving deep into the preventative medicine and health space.

After parking at a meter directly in front of the studio, I headed inside and immediately noticed the beautifully designed interior, which features a clean and minimalist aesthetic. I checked in at the front desk, then hung out in the relaxation lounge and browsed Pause’s marketplace, which sells a selection of high-quality, transparent CBD and wellness products.

At the front desk, I spotted one of my favorite brands, Beekeeper’s Naturals, which is a line of organic products made with various ingredients from the hive, including bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis. Other brands you can find at the Pause Market include HUM Nutrition, Four Sigmatic, Patchology, and more.

I was at Pause to try flotation therapy, but many people come to Pause to experience the infrared saunas to sweat out toxins, as well as IV drips and vitamin infusions to help the body replace key nutrients, antioxidants, electrolytes, amino acids and hydration.

For those not familiar with flotation therapy, it’s the practice of lying submerged in salt water while in an enclosed tub or sensory deprivation tank, where they become buoyant and eliminate sensory overload. This allows the brain to drift into the half-awake, half-dreaming Theta state where meditation and creativity flourish.

In addition, stress hormone levels drop, while “feel good” hormone levels go up. I was told that a lot of creative types come for the flotation therapy, as it helps them think and come up with ideas. As a writer, that sounded like something that I could benefit from as well!

Pause has two types of flotation experiences: enclosed private pods and private float rooms. I was in the private float room, which has its own shower, room to change and store your belongings, and door with a handle that opens into a floating tank.

If you’re claustrophobic and the idea of lying in an enclosed tub makes you uncomfortable, the float room is the perfect alternative because you have plenty of space. It’s actually quite luxurious!

Prior to my float, I was instructed to rinse off in the shower with plain water (no body soap or shower products), and no shaving. Because the water in the float pods and float room is custom-blended with 1,000 pounds of therapeutic Epsom salts, even the tiniest cut in your skin can sting painfully, so you want to make sure that your skin is injury and paper cut-free.

There was a small tray of complimentary products for me to use during my session, including shampoo, conditioner, Q-tips, and a white petrolatum jelly that can be used to cover any minor cuts in the skin. After putting my ear plugs in, it was time to float!

I carefully got into the flotation tank, which featured a relaxing blue background that lent a relaxed and dream-like vibe to the environment. Inside on one wall is a knob with a button to turn the lights off completely (if you want), as well as the audio. It being my first time, I wanted to ease into it—there’s something about a pitch-black environment that scares me. Like, what if a dead bug is floating in the water and I can’t see it?

After closing the door to the tank, I lay back and propped my head against a light neck support piece that was also provided (but optional to use). I wanted the extra support under my neck because I was nervous about salt water getting into my ears, despite the fact that my ear plugs were secured in place. I let my body do the work, and within seconds I was gently floating on my back while a gently pre-recorded audio voice informed me that my session was about to begin.

As I lay there floating in 10 inches of body-temperature water while listening to meditative background music, I began to feel more relaxed as the minutes went by. Initially, I was taking in my surroundings and looking around, but once I had acclimated, my mind began to free itself of distractions. I was also careful when opening my eyes (be sure not to rub your eyes while you’re in the tank) as salt stings!

Eventually, I worked up the courage to turn the lights off by pressing the button against the wall. I turned them back off and on a few times, until I finally let go of my fear of floating in the dark. As I lay there with my eyes closed, I imagined I was floating around in the ocean, lost at sea—but perfectly content. I wasn’t brave enough to float without any sound though, although I ‘d like to work up to that in a future visit, as I’ve been told that floating in total darkness with no sound whatsoever is the ultimate way to relax and get the most benefits out of flotation therapy.

Every now and then, a random thought would enter my head, but I found that the less I tried to “not think,” the easier it became. When you’re so focused on something like trying to relax or meditate, often you end up doing the total opposite, which then makes it more challenging.

It felt great to just float—all day long we use our bodies, only allowing them to rest when we sleep—so floating in water not only helps to relax the muscles, but it also takes some of the pressure off the spine and you’re no longer contending with gravity pressing against certain points. I felt free from the confines of this world and my own body, truly liberating!

The gentle meditative voice eventually spoke again, telling me to take a few deep breaths, blink my eyes, and bring myself back to my body. How had an hour already passed?

After carefully exiting the float tank, I took another shower to rinse off all the salt water—this time I used the provided shower products. Afterwards, I dried off and got dressed, then on my way out I stopped in the meditation room, which is lit by candles and has a small round table close to the floor, along with some cushions.

I was served a cup of warm tea, which felt very soothing. During this post-float period, guests can either sit in silence, meditate, or they can write down their thoughts and share some words of positivity in one of the journals that are on the table. I enjoyed looking through to see what others had written before me—some wrote longer entries about how it made them feel and what they got out of the experience, while others simply wrote the words “gratitude” or “thank you.”

Each entry was powerful in its own way and it was really special to see how others had been impacted by flotation therapy. I felt an interesting connection to these people that despite never having met them before, we were bonded by our shared unique experience.

After getting into my car, I looked in the rearview mirror and my skin was glowing. I felt incredibly relaxed and refreshed—as if I had taken a very special, supercharged power nap. It was an incredible feeling and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been able to “pause” and just spend time in the present moment at Pause Studio. It’s something we could all use a little more of in our busy lives.

Cost: Single Float Session (60 minutes, $75)

Insider Tips: 

• Arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.

• Metered parking is available on the street in front, in addition to a few spots located behind the studio.

• Wear comfortable clothes and flip-flops, especially for before/after flotation therapy.

• The float room showers provide complimentary shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion and skin protectant.

• Avoid shaving prior to the float and cover any cuts or micro-tears in the skin with the provided skin protectant.

Hours:

9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Daily)

Address: 13353 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066

Email: hello@pausefloatstudio.com

For more information and to book an appointment, click here. Follow them on Instagram: @pausestudio.la

[Images by Kamala Kirk]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk