Don’t be afraid, climb into this dark chamber, gaze at the twinkly lights and let the world fall away…. Is this a scene out of Soylent Green or am I just being paranoid?
Isolation chambers or “float tanks” have gained popularity in recent years for their massive benefits and ability to separate us from the busy lives we lead. While the concept may seem like some futuristic torture technique, the reality is quite the opposite.
What is flotation therapy?
A float experience involves you and your own personal (giant) bathtub. This tub is totally private and pumped full of epsom salt. This means that your body becomes totally buoyant. Even a 400 pound person can float like a feather. The water matches your body temperature so you do not have a sensation of heat or cold. You may choose to turn off all the lights and shut off your sense of sight.
The idea behind flotation therapy is to limit the senses, therefore shutting off external stimuli and allowing your body to instead turn to the work of healing itself.
You can float for 1-2 hours, which on a cellular level is equivalent to getting a full night of sleep.
Benefits of Floating
The immediate relaxation effect that comes with effortlessly floating has numerous benefits. A single session can have many of the following effects, most of which are enhanced by floating on a regular basis (information re: benefits sourced from St. Pete Salt Works)
Less stress and anxiety
Relief from pain and headaches
Better quality sleep
Sports Recovery
Faster rate of healing
Injury Prevention
Relief from the strain of gravity
Relaxation and meditation
Increased visualization, problem solving and creative inspiration
Proper alignment in the body
Improved athletic performance
Improved mental performance
Increased levels of serotonin
All of this sounds pretty good. But we decided to give floating a first-hand look. Follow us at the LooM as we share the experience…
Maeby Floating
My first time floating was incredible. I am a regular meditator / trier of all things wellness. But I had yet to try flotation therapy. Even though this has existed on a consumer level since the 1950's, we didn't have too many options in this area until recently. I had always heard of float tanks and pictured this futuristic (claustrophobic) pod which may or may not induce a panic attack.. I was surprised to find that the tank I was to float in was wide open, with a high ceiling and settings within my control.
My experience took place at St. Pete Salt Works. I arrived with no expectations, no caffeine in my system and an open mind. My room was totally private, calm, dim and inviting. Gentle music seeped in through the speakers. As I stepped into the water I was met with the curious sensation of… no sensation. The water was neither hot nor cold. I sat down in the shallow pool and “assumed the position”. Flat on my back with a comfortable floating ring to support my neck - I floated to the surface.
Floating in a tank filled with epsom salt is FAR easier than floating in the ocean or in a pool. You don’t have to DO anything to stay afloat. (When in your life are you ever instructed to DO NOTHING?) I experimented with my buoyancy by lowering my arms to the bottom.. they popped right back up to the top.
I opted for the full sensory deprivation experience and shut off the twinkly lights at once. No more music. No light. No feeling of touch. No smell. Just blackness and my own internal experience.
Did I panic? Did I feel trapped? No. Surprisingly I felt very safe and secure, held by the water as if this gravity-less world was precisely what my body needed. Within 10 minutes I was focusing on my breathing, noticing that my thinking mind was quieting and my body was fully relaxing. I felt that my skeleton was finally in proper alignment. My usual physical complaints had significantly quieted.
Thus began a period of about 40 minutes of pure, detached, relaxation. What a relief! I enjoyed the experience of watching my thoughts disappear and feeling my internal sensations on a deeper level. I believe my already fine-tuned self-awareness grew even sharper that morning.
At the end of the float the lights came on gently, the music quietly trickled into my waking dream, and I climbed out to rinse off the salt in a warm shower. I prepared myself to re-enter the world of over-stimulated, bright, noisy life... thinking… Can I get another hour?
While you can’t shut off real life, floating is an effective way to turn the noise down. Integrating this practice into your wellness routine will ensure that you occasionally press the pause button on external stimulus and stress. Alternative healing methods like flotation therapy offer real and tangible results.
Want to know more about the science behind flotation therapy? Follow this link to read more.
If you live in the Tampa Bay area in Florida, check out St. Pete Salt Works.
If you live in St. Louis, check out Radiance Wellness.
Or simply search for “Flotation Therapy near me.”
If you are searching for a way to ease your pain, calm your nervous system, clear your mind and inspire creativity, give floating a try! As you become more experienced with floating and with mediation, try combining the two. Sensory deprivation opens doors within your mind that may be difficult to access when in a normal environment. Floating is a healthy, substance-free, easy way to “escape”. The healing effects are realized on a physical, mental and even spiritual level. Plus it just feels nice!
Written by Maeby Lopez, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Professional Organizer
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