Mizu Integrative Medicine
Clinic + Float Spa
5161 San Felipe St
Suite 120

I got to try this new v trendy thing (I mean, JJ Watt does it, sooo): Floating.

I’ve floated the river, the lake, and, occasionally Houston during some awful floods, but never had I ever floated in a salt water pod.

The objective: One hour in a personal pod (the size of a compact car) floating in body-temp, 10-inch-deep water that has 1,000 pounds of epsom salt dissolved into it.

The location: Mizu in Uptown Park. It’s a brand new spa and clinic with a real physician and consult rooms. It just so happens that they also have three float pods for you! Inside Mizu, the decor immediately starts calming you. You can smell one of their own teas brewing, and all of the furniture are custom made. Even the wall, which looks like a monochromatic mountain range, is peaceful.

Price: Your first float is $95, then $120 per float after that. Three floats are $270.

How to float

Step 1: Shower

The way the rooms are set up is that you walk into your private suite — with a vanity, robe and salon sandals. Then, there’s a small shower, and on the other side, is the pod. There’s also a service door in that room that’s locked. So, I undressed and washed away the day. You shampoo (skip the conditioner) and body wash. Then, I dried off and headed for my pod.

Step 2: Float

Float Center Pod

The set up is simple. You have:

• Wax ear plugs (for you if you plan on dunking your head in a little bit — avoid your face)
• A floating neck board (looks like a flat travel neck pillow — I used it 100% of the time to hold my head straight and above the water)
• Vaseline (for any cuts you might have — forgot to put this on my cut… ouchie)
• A small wash cloth and a spray bottle full of water (in case you get salt water in your eyes… OUCHIE x10)
• Two buttons in the pod (one for music and one for light — your pod room’s light turns off, and all you’re left with is the blue light in your pod. Turn it off for max relaxation.)

The hour felt like it went fast at the end, but I definitely felt kind of bored during some times. I assume that’s a thing that you get used to. I just didn’t feel comfortable SUPER relaxing into a nap or something. Napping in water shouldn’t be a thing, but it is only 10 inches.

On floating: It was pretty hard NOT to float. When I first stepped in, it just felt like normal, lukewarm water. I sat down, pretty easily, then I stuck my leg out to lie down, and up it popped. I leaned back with my neck board on and up my whole body popped! It was crazy. As you float, imagine this… you try to submerge your arm to touch the bottom, and it feels like you are trying to move it through a thick substance. As soon as you let go of trying to touch the bottom, your arm literally pops back up with a splash. That being said, if I wanted to sit up for a minute, I could. Also interesting, I tried to lift my leg out of the water a few times and it felt like it was 1,000 pounds (which it is NOT).

Step 3: Shower again

After an hour, a polite voice told me to GTFO before filtration started. I took my time, and YUP, filtration started. Parts of my skin that was submerged for a little bit but had dried above water had dried salt on it. My whole cheek was white with salt! And my hair felt like it was submerged in a bottle of hairspray instead of salt water. I showered again with shampoo and body wash, but added conditioner into the mix this time.

Side note: The Mizu products are clutch and smell amazing!

Step 4: Teatime 

You detox after the detox. Mizu has its own teas, which are super great. You can take a box home! Allow a few minutes to soak in your last few moments at Mizu with a delicious tea.