Floatation what?
You may have first heard about float tanks from the series Stranger Things but they've been around since the 50's and the benefits are way less creepy than being brain melted into the upside down. Here we'll share with you a brief history and introduction into the world of floating!
Float tanks (aka: sensory deprivation tank, restricted environmental stimulation tanks, or isolation tanks) is a tank filled with approximately 10 inches of water that is super saturated with epsom salts, in the 900-1200 lb range. This allows a person to float, with zero effort, on the surface of the water. The water is kept at skin temperature so you can't tell where your skin stops and the water starts. It's sound and light proof which helps create an environment that allows our bodies to be free from gravity and our minds from all the stimulations of the outside world. Talk about some epic meditation zone!
Types of float tanks/pods
FLOAT FACT
Float tanks can be between 10 and 12 times MORE buoyant than ocean water. No floaty's needed here friends!
Float tanks were originally created in the 50's for consciousness experimentation. Many scientists believed that if our brains were deprived of stimulation, they would shut down into a coma like state (sure had to be a brave or woke person to be a subject in those experiments!). Scientist, John Lilly, decided to find out. Floating has come a long long, looooong way since then. In it's infancy, you were fully submerged so had to wear a divers helmet to have air piped in. Floaters were even told to take fuller, deeper breaths to help float better!
Aside from the not so comfortable state like today's tanks, the results were incredible. You guessed it, no one went into a coma! In fact, Lilly found that more people were coming out feeling amazing with reports of self discovery and actualization. How ya like them apples??
For years, floating was found only in lab settings until in 1972 when Lilly partnered with Glenn Perry to create the first commercial float tank, the Samadhi. The Samadhi is still around and found in float centers across the world. There was a decline in the 80's attributed to the AIDS epidemic was rampant and the fear of communal water was widespread. The pool & spa industries as a whole were hit really hard. So the regrowth began, the 90's showed little sign of hope with no record of any new centers opening and only a few strong holds keeping tanks open albeit at a reduced capacity. By the 2000's floating began it's come back and is growing a strong and steady pace! Bring on the salty goodness!!
If you've never tried floating, or heck, never even heard of it, you may be thinking "what's the point?" Well, I'll tell you...
Benefits include
Pain relief for arthritis, scoliosis, fibromyalgia
Faster recovery time from injuries & general physical activity
Spinal & Structural alignment
Lactic acid reduction
Improved reaction time
Relief during pregnancy
Visualization
Strengthen Immune System
Stress relief
Addiction recovery
Emotional pain relief
Better sleep, less insomnia
Decrease Jet Lag
Superlearning
Enhanced creativity
Better skin & hair health
Muscle and joint soreness
Overall Well being
If there isn't anything on that list you can't relate to or find relief from, shoot me an email, I want to talk...
One of the amazing things about floating is that it can truly benefit everyone. Also, the more you do it, the better you feel, it's effects are compounding.
I can hear some of you now though..."that all sounds great, but I'm claustrophobic, there's NO WAY I could do that." Yes, yes you can. It's important for you to have the willingness to let go and see what happens. You're in complete control of your entire experience. Leave the lights in the tank on, the door cracked or fully open. You can even have music played during your sessions in some tanks. Saying you "can't" do something, just means you won't (which is fine, just calling it like it is).
To sum it up is pretty simple...floating is amazing! It is a therapy where you can, once comfortable, gain some of the deepest physical and metal rest and relaxation. Give it a couple goes before you decide it's not for you. I promise more of you will love it than not.
