A Float tank is filled with about ten inches of water, into which a thousand pounds of Epsom salts have been dissolved. This solution, nearly saturated, is so buoyant that one can’t not float in it, even with effort. And the water is exactly at body temperature, obscuring the normal sensation of having discrete limbs in space; the floater’s ears sink just below the water line, leaving only two senses—smell and taste—untouched. Most people have not spent time without sight, sound, and feeling since leaving the womb.
Who Invented This Device?
In 1954, neuroscientist, Dr John C Lilly, invented the world’s first floatation tank, an enclosed saline bath designed for intensive study of human consciousness when deprived of as much external stimulus as possible.
Dr Lilly and his volunteer experimental subjects had some interesting discoveries. They found that far from the mind passing into unconsciousness, a world of creative experience can unfold when the distractions of the outside world are excluded.
“I knew nothing of sensory deprivation: I found the tank was and is a rich source of new experience… One is not deprived; one is rewarded,” he wrote.
Benefits of Float Therapy
The benefits of floatation therapy in float tanks are plentiful and can differ from person-to-person or session-to-session depending on the circumstances of the individual at the time of the float. Every float is unique. Over the years there has been a wealth of scientific evidence on the benefits of floating on the body and mind. It has turned up encouraging results in reducing blood pressure and cortisol levels, reducing blood lactate levels after intense exercise, and other physiological improvements. It’s been shown to help manage anxiety, and it appears to be useful in dealing with addiction. One study even found that competitive archers who floated for forty-five minutes before shooting arrows generally shot those arrows better than archers who did not!
There is far more research into floating than we can fit here, but here are some benefits in a nutshell:
Decrease Stress and Anxiety; Improve Your Mood
The Epsom salt solution is quite literally Magnesium, which is one of the most vital minerals in your body and is responsible for over 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body such as muscle and nerve functions, blood glucose control and blood pressure regulation, it is also required for cellular energy production and works in conjunction with calcium which contributes to the structural development of healthy bones. Magnesium is also a muscle relaxant that will leave you feeling deeply relaxed and vibrant as the tension in your body melts away and your body releases off any excess energy. There is simply no other technology or environment that can simulate these evolutionary effects. Additionally, floating also triggers the release of endorphins and dopamine in the brain, leaving you with all of those feel-good hormones!
Improve sleep quality & Decrease Chronic Fatigue
Float therapy is designed to be a powerful tool in sleep aid and reducing insomnia. By floating, your brain has the natural ability to drop into a theta state, making it easier to make the transition to delta waves that are necessary for REM sleep. The natural calming effect of floating in combination with soaking in magnesium will allow you to fall asleep better come bedtime… or even in the float pod.
Pain Management & Reduced Inflammation
Float therapy helps reduce muscle pain by increasing blood flow to the brain, organs and limbs. Floatation therapy’s features make it an excellent choice for treating physical pain, as well as assisting the body’s recovery from injury and pain-related disorders. Floating has proved to show relief of symptoms from pain disorders such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, bursitis and many more.
Float therapy can be the perfect complement to physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage therapy as it helps reduce inflammation in joints and muscles. The zero-gravity environment has helped individuals with fibromyalgia by increasing energy and assisting their ease of movement.
Boosts Creativity & Mindfulness
Floating provides an ideal setting for mindfulness and meditation. The float pod removes all physical and mental distractions, allowing you to focus much more deeply. It also induces a unique level of awareness that promotes communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. While you are floating, the brain can hold a theta state wave while the body is awake and calm, which is normally only achievable during sleep. This mindset, combined with fewer distractions, allows you to fully absorb new information and think more clearly. Musicians, writers, and creative performers have reported a boost in creativity after their float. Floating increased artists’ technical skills during jazz improvisation, according to a study published in the journal Music and Medicine.
How Often Should You Float?
The more you float, the better you’ll feel.
Like meditation or yoga, it is a wellness practice, and as you practice, your mind and body will grow more comfortable in that space and begin to build on each experience.
People feeling particularly overwhelmed in their personal or professional lives might elect to float once or twice a week, while others might be comfortable with scheduling floats around significant events like job interviews, presentations or pregnancies. It is strictly a personal preference.
Whatever your individual situation, it’s easier to enjoy and appreciate life when you’re calm, relaxed, and happy.