Cloud 9 Float Spa

i had a groupon for my first time visiting this business. i couldn’t make my deadline of the groupon as i was out of town, and the owners were nice enough to let me extend the expiry date a full week.
i used the solarium room. it was super clean and beautiful. it would be ideal for floaters who are unsure about being enclosed in the tank as it is open to the air. still sensory deprived though. it was perfect, they offered me tea when i left, the waiting area is nice and inviting. great place to float.
recommended.
plus they have a medi-​plan, which i haven’t seen anywhere else, and if you meet the requirements you can float a bit cheaper.

My first float went fine and I was pleased that nothing bothered me inside the chamber. My neck took a while to finally relax but I found that turning my head to the right and left every 15 minutes or so helped a lot. I couldn’t believe how long an hour felt but didn’t fall asleep. My mind was fairly quiet and I did some positive affirmations several times. I enjoyed the feeling of weightlessness very much.
I enjoyed the float itself and will give this rating 3 stars, but there are things I didn’t like about the before and after experience. These are mostly easy fixes, if the owner cares to speak with his staff:
You have to pay in advance, which is fine, but I resent being asked for a tip (Interac tip option) before I know what I’m tipping for. I tipped 10% — better than nothing but not tipping them fully when I don’t even know if a tip is deserved. There was no acknowledgement of the tip, although I’ve stopped expecting one because tips seem to be expected rather than appreciated these days.
You’re asked to take off your shoes in the lobby, which left me barefoot for the rest of the appointment. No one offered me shower shoes or paper slippers so I had to walk down the hallway to the bathroom & mirror area in bare feet. Other clients were also bare-​footed and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was Athlete’s Foot or some other nastiness in these common areas, waiting to target my feet.
The spa room floors get a little slippery, and the bottom of the float structures are very slick. You have to sign a waiver stating that if anything goes wrong, in any way, you will not hold them responsible. Maybe better non-​slip flooring would be a good idea for them. If someone falls — especially a senior — negative word of mouth can be almost as bad as a law suit.
The shower stall is a tiny corner unit with very touchy taps. A millimetre too far to the right and you’re scalded. Overcorrect even slightly and you’ve got icy water falling on you and no room to escape it. I’m not a large person but found that I kept hitting the walls with my elbows and had to back into the corner in order to lather up my legs. How in the world would a man fit?
There is only one towel provided so you’re using the same towel to dry off the salt water from your hair (so it doesn’t run into your eyes on the way to the shower stall) that you use after your shower. Having a hand towel to protect your eyes on the walk between the container and the shower is a simple fix — assuming the facecloth you get for inside the container is already wet.
When you’re finished and have dried your hair, you’re offered a cup of tea. That was fine but I sat in the lobby sipping my tea, while the staff milled around and totally ignored me. No one asked me about my first float and I felt that they were finished with me. The website says that you’re there for 2 hours but after waiting for the staff to acknowledge me, I finally left without even a goodbye glance from them. At the 2-​hour mark, I was driving home after ordering Chinese food at the nearby restaurant and waiting 15 minutes for it to be made. The experience would have been so much nicer if there’d been a staff member dedicated to the front to interact with clients when they finished their floats. While I was sipping my tea, the phone rang and rang while staff scrambled to prepare the rooms for the next round of clients.
Overall, the float was nice but I’m not sure I’ll do it again. My aches and pains were only slightly better after an hour in the salt water, contrary to other people’s reviews, and the lack of customer service ruined the experience for me. Makes me wonder how people who don’t tip at all are treated.

I originally planned to go to Float House in Gastown, but came to Cloud 9 Instead because of the lack of available appointments on the week I wanted to float. I had been planning to try a float tank for a few years now, but kept putting it off because of health issues or me being too broke (it’s $ 65 a single float, or you could get 1 float a month for $ 45 a float which is probably the best deal).
For those who are not familiar with floating, allow me to explain as brief as possible.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be drifting through space with no sign of a beginning or end? A float tank, also known as an isolation tank, is the closest you can get without leaving Earth or dying from the lack of oxygen. The water in the tank is kept at body temperature so you barely even feel like you’re underwater. There’s also 900lbs of magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) dissolved in the water so you will float regardless of size, weight, and swimming ability.
After the float, I didn’t go on a rampage unlike what happened at the end of the movie Altered States. Instead, I was feeling completely pain free (I’ve been having back and neck problems for a few years now) and in a state of total bliss and peace.
There is nothing else really quite like the float experience in the conscious, physical world. It was almost as if you had gone back being a baby in a mother’s womb. I highly recommend that everyone should try a float tank at least once in their lifetime.
I also did a 10 minute hydromassage after my float for some extra relaxation and tension release. Hydromassage is basically an automated massage chair/​bed that uses water pressure to massage your back, legs, and neck. The only complaint I found was that the setting it was on was a little too strong for my liking.
I do have some words of warning though. The high salt concentration seemed to irritate my sensitive skin leaving me with rashes on my upper back and around the neck area. If you have sensitive skin as I do, I would suggest bringing along skin soothing cream (I use either pure aloe vera gel or Aveeno Anti-​Itch) in case you do get that. I would also suggest asking them if you can bring along your own soap (make sure it’s unscented and doesn’t leave residue) as I found that the soap/​shampoo they provided in the shower irritated my skin.
They have several different tanks for you to try out. I tried the pod tank which looked like something out of a sci-​fi movie with the automatic door and sleek design. I would like to try either the standard box tank or the float tub (which is recommended for claustrophobics). There is also a couple’s float tank which fits two people inside for those who don’t like to float alone!
P. S. the complementary post-​float tea was delicious and really calming.

Been floating for about a year now. There’s tons out there about the floating experience in general and its benefits, so I won’t talk about that here.
The short story is that Cloud 9 is an excellent facility. It’s great for first-​time floaters, as well as floating regulars. They have a variety of floating options available, including couples floating. The staff is very attentive and helpful. The tanks, rooms, and equipment are all very clean and well-​maintained. Everything you might need is provided (see the other reviewer comments). Booking online is easy and straightforward, and there are several different package and membership options to suit most people.
Finally, in the same lot as Cloud 9, you’ll find some great apres-​float food options, as well as a Starbucks. Can’t go wrong!

Very first time floating the other day — excellent service, very friendly staff, prompt in returning phone calls, made me feel comfortable given that it was my first time. Very clean and pristine environment.
Loved having a private room all to myself to shower and change in. I used the tank and would use it again, had no issues with it. They provide little hair ties, q-​tips and Kleenex if you need it, nice touches. Earplugs, towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash are provided as well. Afterwards you can sit in the lounge area and sip some delicious chaga tea.
Afterwards I felt as if I had done a hot yoga class, that same sort of body high, but without having to have worked out ;) Very relaxing.
Will definitely be back!

Im so glad I came here for my first float experience ever. The staff are wonderful and the environment is conducive for fully relaxing.
I never wanted it to end. The float was like a cocoon. Like a conscious coma.
A Feeling of complete safety and warmth.
Weightless. All is at peace.
I forgot where I was. I never wanted it to end. M
The peace I have been searching for.
A safe place to Let Go and just Breathe.
Bliss. Melt.
I can’t stop grinning for no reason…
Joy? Yes, Joy.
Afterwards you can sit and have a free cup of tea and write in the journal of experiences.
They also have a hydro massage table, body treatments and a little oxygen bar.
I’m always thinking about when I can come back next…

Amazing! Beautiful, calm energy, helpful friendly staff. My first time float, and bought 3 more… can’t wait. Such an unique experience, you’ll have to try for yourself, indescribable…

Great experience. First time floating, very relaxing and enlightening. Friendly staff and clean place. + they have holiday special going on right now!

My Husband and I did a couples float here for the first time on Saturday.
We floated together in the couples tank. The staff were excellent! Very friendly and knowledgeable. The environment was clean, warm and inviting. The float was enjoyable and very very relaxing. Cloud 9 provided everything you could need such as showers, shampoo, conditioner, ear plugs and much more. We were served a very nice cup of tea after and were able to sit and relax after the float. And best of all. I had the best sleep I have every had that night!
I highly recommend that everyone try Cloud 9 Float Spa

Another amazing experience at Cloud 9. The pod is absolutely amazing, the staff are extremely warm and welcoming and the place is beautiful. I can’t wait to book again, and try out the couples tank.