Portland Therapists Float Clients

Dana Highfill operates Float North in Northeast Portland, where she guides clients through a sensory deprivation experience designed to lower stress. The facility uses tanks filled with skin-temperature water and nearly a thousand pounds of dissolved magnesium. This high concentration creates a dense solution that keeps the human body buoyant, preventing it from sinking.

Nia Linbravo, a project manager who also referees women’s basketball games four to five nights a week, sought this treatment after a herniated disk and persistent sleep issues. Linbravo described the physical and mental strain of her dual careers as a barrier to relaxation. She consulted her doctor about different strategies for managing her condition, including a recent diagnosis of depression and anxiety. Her physician suggested the therapy could be helpful, a prediction Linbravo says has proven accurate.

During sessions, participants lie in the tank for at least an hour. They can choose to turn off all lights and block out sound. Linbravo described the sensation as a form of release, noting that the weightlessness allows her to let go. She uses the time to talk to herself and reflect on her life, aiming to calm her mind and stay in the moment.

Highfill, a massage therapist with 17 years of experience, explained the physical benefits of the treatment. She stated that the lack of gravity allows joints to open up, which helps reduce inflammation. Clients often report feeling as if gravity has been turned off, providing a deep physical relief that supports their mental health routines.

The operator noted that the experience reduces stimulation to the nervous system. This shift moves the body from a fight or flight response, which many people experience daily, into a rest and repair state. Highfill addressed common fears about the environment, clarifying that the tanks are not as small as some imagine.

A single tank at the facility measures eight feet long and four feet wide. The interior has a seven-foot ceiling, and the water level sits at approximately 10 inches deep. This space provides enough room for movement while maintaining the supportive properties of the magnesium solution.