I lay down in a dark tank for an hour and it felt as if I was in space looking at the stars

There I was, lying in pitch black darkness floating around on salt water, left alone with my thoughts and unable to see anything. If I was to tell you this without any context you would probably be terrified and rightly so. However what happened next was completely game-changing.

I was doing this as part of a new £35 experience at Swansea’s Float and Wellness Hub and it completely changed how I view relaxation. Run by Gavin Earley, this wellness experience is based on flotation therapy. The idea behind it is to experience sensory deprivation – a state in which your body is completely relaxed and protected from any external stimuli.

For this you are put in a tank with a saltwater solution of water and Epsom salt and left to float in complete or partial darkness with the idea being that you are completely in control of the amount of sensory deprivation you are experiencing.

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My experience started with a warm welcome by Gavin who explained how the entire experience works and the potential benefits from it – although he warned that sometimes it takes a second experience to fully feel the benefits, as was the case for him. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here.

Working as a journalist you are – or at least are supposed to be – fully aware of what is happening around you in the world. As such I constantly find myself struggling to switch off, relax, and not constantly think of a new story to chase. Therefore I was looking forward to this the entire week and it did not disappoint.

It was time for me to start. I was given ear plugs, a neck pillow, and some petroleum jelly to put onto any open cuts or scratches to avoid irritation from the saltwater. Following a quick shower it was now time to take the leap of faith and go in the dark tank.

As soon as I went in the tub I felt some relief as the water was heated to just the right level. Then came what I thought was the hard part: floating. If you swim you’d probably know that you need your body to be perfectly straight to float but not here. It simply a matter of lying down and up you go.

For the first 15 minutes, as you adjust yourself to the water, calming meditation music is played to soothe you into the experience. For me it was quick only a few minutes in and I felt as if my body had become light as feather and relaxation came as a second nature to me.

The next part might feel a little funny to most people but it was the absolute highlight of my experience. As I gently floated on the water with my eyes closed I felt as if I was floating among the stars, wandering aimlessly as I saw the beauty of the universe – or at least as my mind imagined it. And, before you ask, no, I was not under the influence of anything.

However it does start to get hot after a little while. Determined to complete the full hour without any breaks I tried to push through but had to give up. For first-timers this might be intense so I’d recommend you take your time and take breaks whenever needed. I eventually opened the door to get a fresh breath of air three times but it did not affect the experience at all. Getting out, however, was not easy as my legs were wobbly.

It turns out not having to work for about an hour made my legs lazy but I managed to stumble out of the tank just fine. However the experience did not end there. After the flotation session I was told not to rush home but to enjoy a little moment of calm in the chill-out area or, as Gavin called it, the ‘the area of zen’.

With massage chairs, a sofa, a private area, rustic décor, and calming music this was certainly a cherry on the top for me. If you do decide to book the experience I’d recommend you enjoy the area as much as you want.

All in all, the entire experience certainly left me better both physically and mentally at the end of it and, as a final offering, I was able to enjoy a good night’s sleep the moment I hit the bed. The hub also offers an option for infrared sauna to detox. To find out more about the experience, and book one for yourself, you can visit the Float and Wellness hub’s website here.