Most people arrive not quite sure what to expect. That's fine.
You don't need to be able to swim. You don't need a swimming costume. You don't need to be flexible, or calm, or any good at meditating.
You come in shorts and a t-shirt, you lie on a floating bed, and someone else looks after everything else. Ninety minutes later you get out feeling like you've been somewhere.
That's a quarter of an hour settling in, around an hour in the water, and time afterwards to sit with a drink before you drive home.
What happens
You arrive and we say hello properly.
You come a quarter of an hour before you get on the bed, so the winding down starts before you're anywhere near the water. We explain how the session runs and answer anything you're wondering about.
We help you onto your bed.
The beds are doubles, and 28cm deep, so you're well clear of the water. You're helped on, and helped off at the end. Nobody is left to work it out for themselves.
You float.
Tanya Haigh guides you through a floating meditation. Nothing is asked of you. You lie there and let the water hold you.
Then the sound.
This is the part people find hard to describe. Tibetan singing bowls, quartz crystal bowls, an ocean wave drum, a shamanic drum and Chinese gongs — played around and above you while you float. Sound travels differently through water. You don't just hear it. You feel it move through you.
Then quiet.
Time to come back slowly, in your own time. No one hurries you out.
Then something to eat and drink.
You're invited to sit in reception and rehydrate — drinks, and fruit, biscuits and cheese to pick at. A few minutes to sit before you head back into your evening.
Wear shorts and a t-shirt
Not a swimming costume.
Partly it's comfort — you'll be lying still for a long time and we want you relaxed rather than fidgeting. And partly it's because nobody should spend the first ten minutes of a session meant to unwind them feeling self-conscious about what they're wearing.
You'll barely get wet. The beds sit well above the water and most people finish the session dry.
Bring a towel for drying your feet. Just for drying your feet. We have spares if you forget.
If you'd rather change here than travel in your shorts, we've got changing facilities on site.
The water is 33 degrees
Which is warmer than most pools you'll have been in.
We keep the air in the pool hall at the same temperature. That matters more than it sounds — lying completely still for an hour, in a normal pool, you'd get cold. Here you won't.
The practical bits
- How long
- 90 minutes
- Cost
- £40 per person
- Where
- Ogden Hall, 24 Causeway Foot, Ogden, Halifax, HX2 8YB
- Parking
- There's a large car park on site, and it's free. You won't be hunting for a space.
- What to wear
- Shorts and a t-shirt. No swimwear needed.
- What to bring
- A towel. Just for drying your feet. We have spares if you forget.
- Getting changed
- Changing facilities on site.
- Swimming ability
- None needed. The pool is 1.4m deep and you're helped on and off your bed.
- Age
- 16 and over
- Spaces
- Deliberately limited, so everyone has room to float properly.
- Before you come
- We'll send you a short questionnaire when you book.
Who leads it
Tanya Haigh
Tanya Haigh runs the sessions. She's qualified in aquatic wellness, reiki, chakra balancing and sound healing.
She does this because she loves the healing side of it — helping people leave feeling better than they arrived.
Both dates are full
Our first two sessions filled within two days. We're setting new dates now.
Leave your email and we'll tell you the moment they're released — before they go anywhere else.
We'll only email you about wellness dates. Nothing else, and you can stop it any time. The button opens an email to ogdenotters@outlook.com — just press send.
Questions people ask
- I can't swim. Can I still come?
- Yes. You're on a floating bed the whole time, you're helped on and off it, and the pool is 1.4m deep so you can stand up in it. Plenty of people who come aren't confident swimmers.
- Do I have to put my face in the water?
- No. You're on your back on a floating bed, well above the water. Most people finish the session dry.
- Do I need a swimming costume?
- No — shorts and a t-shirt.
- Can I come on my own?
- Yes, and most people do. It's a quiet session, and you're not expected to talk to anyone.
- Can I come with a friend?
- Yes. Book two spaces and tell us on your form that you'd like to be near each other — we'll sort it.
- How warm is the pool?
- 33 degrees, with the air kept to match. You won't get cold.
- What if I don't like it?
- You can get out whenever you want. Nobody will make a fuss.
- Is there an age limit?
- 16 and over. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian needs to sign your form and we ask that you come with an adult.
- Do you need to know about health conditions?
- Yes. We'll send you a short form when you book, asking about a few things that would change how we look after you. Almost nothing on it stops you coming — it just means we might have a quick word first.
Ninety minutes. That's all it takes.
You'll spend longer than that scrolling this week.
Hear about the next dates