John C. Lily, was an American physician, neuroscientist, philosopher, writer and the inventor of Isolation tank in 1954, wanted to test the effects of sensory deprivation. He deduced that he first needed to separate the brain from outside influence. This would be possible by reducing outside stimuli as much as possible.
In our modern world, distractions are at every turn, our brain processes more information now than ever before. Stimulation is at all-time high. We have gotten so used to the surrounding noise, being overworked, under constant stress from one thing or another, we don’t even notice it. People would want to free their mind and body from all the sensory input and really relax and that’s where Floatation Therapy became known for.
In the various float spas, floatation is experienced in different forms and environment; the float pod, floatation tank, floatation isolation chamber, tranquility tank, open float room and more. The sort after experience lies on original dark floatation tank, though additional features have been added to cater for different users.
How Floatation Works
The isolation tank serves to restrict the mind and body from all external sensory input. The tank is sound proof and it is filled with water and heated to 93.5 dregrees Fahrenheit to match the temperature of the body surface. The water is saturated with 1000 pounds of Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate to make the water denser and floating effortless. The body inside the tank decompresses, reducing many of its usual tensions.
What makes it works is that the brain has no stimulation from the outside world. You won’t have problems to solve logically and no new information to process. The tank works in many ways that forces you in the mindfulness of the situation. It becomes an ideal environment for mindful meditation as people claim to reach meditative state during floating even without trying.
It is claimed that floating transports the mind and body offering profound wellness, boost creativity, pain relief and relaxation. Some people experience a spiritual energy and some just enjoy the experience. Floating impacts everyone in a different way. It is a personal experience.
Floatation therapy is widely advertised as a form of alternative medicine. People suffering from pain related illness are advised to visit a float spa or float center, which have gained popularity in the last five years, and try the floatation therapy so that their muscles relaxes and interventions from the therapists can be more efficient. It is claimed that floating reduces a number of stress-related chemicals such as adrenaline, substances that can cause irritability, tension and anxiety. Floating experience on a daily basis would lead to physiological regulation.
Even though floatation therapy is popular, getting the tank has been a hurdle and they expensive. Some people offer the experience at home to areas where there is no float spa or centers around. And as demand for easy access to floatation increases, various people have come up with the Do-It-Yourself tank building has become popular as an inexpensive way to get floating.
Some of the main concerns of The Float Spa is the sanitation of the water in the tank and the air quality. Filter and various sanitation systems are used between each user. The tanks are not categorized as pools ensuring that public health codes are used in most places.
Conclusion
Relaxation comes from within and quieting the mind needs to be honed as a skill. You can get into the same level of relaxation simply by laying down in a dark room. However, I do think that floatation tanks have helped to invigorate a conversation around unplugging from a world rife with unnecessary stress-inducing stimuli in creating a more balanced, peaceful existence.