We first heard of floatation therapy/float tanks when we received a call from Anton, the owner of Auckland’s Float Culture, back in 2018. Anton was keen to buy, serve, and stock our kava at his centre. We had never heard of floating before and were quite perplexed by the concept. As Anton explained, floating was about experiencing an environment with minimal sensory input. This could be achieved in a water-filled, pitch-black, light-proof, soundproof tank/pod heated to the same temperature as the skin. In theory, as argued by Anton, this environment could induce a pleasant state of relaxation and focus, assist with pain, and be generally quite enjoyable.

We were quite curious, and Anton invited us to visit Float Culture, which is conveniently located in Grafton, just up the road from the University of Auckland.

To be honest, we were quite skeptical at first. The idea of going into a soundproof, pitch-black pod filled with salty water didn’t sound particularly relaxing. But the promise of an experience akin to zero-gravity floating sounded fun, so we gave it a go. At first, it was a fairly odd, maybe even uncomfortable, experience. Our minds and bodies are used to constant distractions, whether natural or man-made (Alan Watts had a terrific take on this issue, which is also a fantastic thing to listen to before you embark on a floating experience). In a way, our minds are addicted to being busy and constantly triggered by various stimuli.

When you suddenly find yourself surrounded by nothingness, feeling nothing other than your own body, it can be a pretty uncomfortable experience. You are finally left alone with yourself and nothing but yourself—a very unusual experience. After the initial discomfort, though, things shift a bit. Compulsive thoughts fade away, and the floating experience starts resembling a light dream, where we felt like we were observing our thoughts rather than actively thinking and worrying. It was a surprisingly deep experience. And yes, it was relaxing.

Anton explained that he thought kava would be a good addition to his centre since a small shell of kava can make the initial “tuning” into the float a bit easier, especially for new floaters (not sure if that’s the right term…). He also thought many of his customers would welcome the option to purchase kava to take home after their floating experience, given their interest in healthy lifestyles and natural ways to unwind. This is how our kava ended up in Float Culture. In addition to people coming for their floating sessions, many just go to Float Culture to pick up some kava without needing to wait for NZ Post to deliver it. Float Culture is one of our two Auckland-based official retailers (the second being the Four Shells Kava Lounge).

Today we’ve asked Anton to share more about his journey, floatation therapy, and synergies with kava. We hope you enjoy the short interview:

Hi Anton, thanks for agreeing to share your story and talk about kava and floating, as well as your own journey with kava. First of all, could you please introduce yourself and tell our readers a bit more about your story and the story your float business?

Kia ora! I'm Anton, the founder of Float Culture here in Auckland. My journey into the world of wellness started with a personal quest for stress relief and mental clarity. I was drawn to floating after experiencing its profound benefits firsthand. It helped me manage anxiety, improve my focus, and enhance my overall well-being.

Inspired by my own transformation, I wanted to share this incredible experience with others. That's how Float Culture was born. We started with a simple vision: to create a sanctuary where people could disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with themselves. We've grown over the years, but our core mission remains the same – to provide a space for deep relaxation and personal growth.

Can you tell us a bit more about your float center? What's floating, how does it work, what does it do, why people do it? who are your customers? Tell us as much as you can about floating.

At Float Culture, we offer a unique experience centred around floatation therapy. Imagine lying effortlessly in a pod filled with skin-temperature water saturated with Epsom salts. The high salt concentration creates a buoyant environment, allowing you to float weightlessly. With external stimuli like light and sound minimized, your mind and body can enter a state of deep relaxation.

Floating offers a wide range of benefits, from stress reduction and pain management to enhanced creativity and improved sleep. It's like hitting the reset button on your nervous system.

Our customers come from all walks of life – busy professionals, athletes, artists, and anyone seeking a break from the daily grind. They float to de-stress, alleviate pain, overcome creative blocks, or simply enjoy a moment of tranquillity.

And how does kava fit into your business? How did you discover kava and why did you think it might be a good fit for Float Culture?

My introduction to kava happened during a trip to the Pacific Islands. I was fascinated by its cultural significance and the sense of calm it promoted. I saw a natural synergy between kava and floating – both offer gentle, yet powerful ways to unwind and connect with oneself on a deeper level.

We decided to introduce kava at Float Culture as a pre-float ritual. It helps to further relax the mind and body, preparing our clients for a truly immersive float experience.

Does floating and kava really go together? What's your experience? How do you customers perceive the synergy between the two? Do people actually enjoy some kava before the float, or do people simply buy some kava after their float and the connection is mainly that both appeal to the same demographic?

Absolutely! The combination of kava and floating enhances the overall experience. Kava's calming effects help to quiet the mind, making it easier to let go of thoughts and fully embrace the float. Our customers often report feeling a deeper sense of relaxation and mental clarity when combining the two.

Any future plans and ideas for Float Culture?

We want everyone to experience the truly life-changing benefits of regular floating. This means making floating and other wellness practices not only available but accessible and affordable.

We are working on creating a worldwide network of automated self-service wellness facilities. We aim to help every single human being achieve their true wellbeing.

If you happen to be in Auckalnd and want to give floating a go, you can book your session at floatculture.co.nz . WELLBEING code will give you a one off 20% discount.