It’s something straight out of a science fiction movie. People suspend themselves for an hour — or all night — in a massive tank of high density water, floating until their paid time is up.

Why?

According to Keith Gardner, owner and operator of Iso Float Center in Whitefish, the benefits are numerous.

“Pressure points are removed from your body, but blood continues to flow,” he said. “Arteries are dilated, blood pressure is lowered and cortisol levels are lowered.”

Many people use Gardner’s large isolation tank to relieve stress. The owner, however, got into the world of floating as a last resort.

“I had a bad back injury about 10 years ago,” he said. “I had done the gamut and was just in constant pain. Bozeman was the closest float center, so I went and tried that. My pain levels went down to zeroes and ones” on a pain scale of one to 10.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Gardner came to Montana for the same reason many transplants have.

“I was sick of the city,” he said. “I came out to snowboard a season and just stayed.”

At the Iso Float Center, located on Railway Street in an office building, visitors are greeted by Gardner at the front desk before being escorted into the float room. With arm tattoos and flip-flops, the owner of the new business is the picture of taking things easy.

According to Gardner, floating in an isolation chamber helps with anxiety, pain or even speeds learning.

Pioneered by physician and neuroscientist John Lilly in the 1950s, the benefits from floating have been shown to help with things as far-ranging as stress hormones to nerve pain to jet lag.

A client lies down in the water, 200 gallons mixed with 1,000 pounds of pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salt, and float for a pre-determined amount of time. Gardner’s rates are $45 for an hour, $55 for 90 minutes and $65 for two hours.

“I tell most people if they are looking to treat something like chronic pain, it takes a few times for the whole effect to take place,” he said. “Many come here and just test the waters to see if they like it.”

The water, kept at 94 degrees — “skin temperature” — is full of enough salt to kill bacteria and germs, Gardner said. Clients shower before and after their floats, and can choose whether to have the hatch open or closed, with LED lights or in total darkness. Music can be hooked up to an iPod dock as well.

“For the first 30 minutes you are just relaxing and getting used to the float,” he said. “After that, your brain starts to transition to theta waves.”

Gardner said theta waves are a pattern of electricity your brain emits when it approaches sleep. He said the brain becomes more suggestible when in this state, and some of his clients have been students trying to get a supercharged study session.

“I get people looking for total sensory deprivation,” Gardner said. “And a lot of young mothers who just need an hour or two to themselves. Also people with chronic conditions.”

Many of Iso Float Center’s referrals come from massage therapists. For further exposure, Gardner attended the Montana Health Care Fair in Kalispell on Saturday to answer questions about the unique health treatment.

The machine cost $20,000, which doesn’t include the annual maintenance and tons of Epsom salt required to keep it clean and functioning. Since he opened the Whitefish location earlier this year, business has been brisk, Gardner said.

For appointments or questions, prospective clients can call 871-2370 or visit the office at 525 Railway Street, Suite 103B, in Whitefish.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.