Into the void

Vessel Floats (Greenpoint)

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Service

The idea of a sensory deprivation tank was, for me, both intriguing and terrifying. I knew it’d probably be good for my always-buzzing brain, but also, that I’d be closed in a tiny pod of dark, silent saltwater for an hour. Finally, the intrigue won out: I could no longer deny the appeal of the Vessel Floats’ promise to “experience nothing.”

That experience starts in a plush lounge chair in a sunlit room on the Greenpoint waterfront. You’re handed a menu that will shape your float, starting with an adaptogen-infused tea ritual and ending with time to sip a mocktail and reflect. If the sound of silence doesn’t work for you, there’s a selection of bespoke audio tracks ranging from ambient static to guided meditations on how to quiet an overreactive mind. Six sessions in, I’ve settled on this routine: start with a euphoria-inducing tea, then go for total sensory deprivation, followed by the There Was A Spark hibiscus and ashwagandha tonic.

These aren’t claustrophobic pods. Vessel has private float chambers with eight-foot ceilings and a variety of lighting options that range from total darkness to twinkling violet starlight. The 10 inches of water are loaded with two thousand pounds of mineral-rich salts, which means you’ll float without trying (then have the best sleep of your life that night)

It’s not quite an out-of-body experience. I’ve found that no two floats are exactly the same, except for the fact that I always feel calmer and more prepared to get into a flow state or make a big decision after an hour in the tank. Dedicated floaters can opt to extend their sessions for up to three hours, a level of focus I can barely comprehend. Individual sessions start at $85 for your first visit, with an unlimited membership at $220 per month for those who want to make doing nothing a regular commitment. –Carina Finn Koeppicus

→ Vessel Floats (Greenpoint) • 101 West St • Daily 8a-10p • Reserve.