The company we keep: Floating into the unknown

By Blake Dyason

Have you ever floated?

That’s the question Gill Goodwin asked me while we were hiking in the Cederberg. Not floated in water — floated floated.

She tried to explain it to me. Almost like an out-of-body experience. A kind of super deep meditation with all sorts of benefits for the mind and body. I’ll be honest, I didn’t fully buy into it at first. But I loved her passion, and I’m always curious. I’m in, if there’s something new to learn or try, especially if it might add value to my health.

So when the opportunity came to experience floating for myself, I said yes.

What is a flotation tank?

A flotation tank (also known as a sensory deprivation tank) is a lightless, soundproof pod filled with shallow water highly concentrated with Epsom salts. The water is heated to skin temperature, allowing you to float effortlessly in a state of weightlessness. The idea is to minimise external stimuli and create an environment that promotes deep relaxation, stress relief and muscle recovery.

Sounds simple. Slightly strange. Definitely intriguing.

Pitching up (unprepared)

I arrived at Seven Circles with absolutely no idea what I was in for. In fact, as I walked in, I realised I hadn’t brought shorts, a towel or anything. Turns out, I didn’t need to.

Seven Circles is a beautiful, calm space with hot desks, therapists, a flotation tank and a very cute café. I was welcomed by Gill with a hug and a quick tour, filled in some paperwork, and then stepped into the unknown, still very sceptical, but open.

Before floating, Gill suggested I try the Hugo machine. Picture an electric blanket on a bed that sends PEMF (Pulse Electro-Magnetic Field) waves through your body. It’s designed to stimulate mitochondria and aid recovery, helping with everything from anxiety to injury rehabilitation.

After 12 minutes and a very strange sensation in my stomach it was time to float.

The float

The pod looks like something out of a sci-fi movie: a bath with a roof that closes. You’re alone in the room. Shower first. Step into the pod. Lie back and float.

The first few minutes were weird. Floating. Lying completely still. Alone with my thoughts.

I opted for a guided meditation, yes I’m still alone but there is a speaker. Gentle music started, followed by a calm voice guiding me through deep, conscious breathing, relaxing my eyelids, then slowly every part of my body. At some point, my body felt heavy, yet completely supported, as if the water was hugging me.

I’m not really sure what happened for the next 40 minutes. I wasn’t asleep. I knew I was in the tank. But I was in a state of relaxation I’d never experienced before, deeply meditative, deeply calm.

Then something shifted.

I became energised and alert again. Breathing consciously. Thinking clearly. And suddenly, I felt deeply connected to my mom, who passed away three years ago. Memories started flowing from childhood to more recent moments. There was no sadness. Just gratitude. Gratitude for her courage, her love and her support.

And then I started laughing. Proper, uncontrollable laughter. Remembering the time my mom cut my hair and accidentally shaved a line across the back of my head and the embarrassment we both felt, and how funny it was in hindsight.

Next thing I knew, my hour was up.

After another shower and a moment to re-ground myself, I walked out feeling lighter, calmer and strangely clear.

More than anything, the experience reminded me of the importance of curiosity, to be willing to try new things, to stay open, and to learn.

That’s what The Company We Keep is really about. The conversations that spark new ideas. The people who challenge our assumptions. And the experiences that gently nudge us out of our comfort zones. Sometimes into a flotation tank.