Minimising sensory input allows your brain to relax for a while, allowing the creative, relaxed part of your brain to step up. Without the constant pressure of analyzing the world around you, your body lowers its levels of cortisol, the main chemical component of stress, and you release elevated levels of dopamine and endorphins. Here are some of the benefits:
Relaxation, Healing, and Recovery:
Floating is a great way to bring greater awareness to various patterns of behavior and has been shown to have beneficial effects such as decreased anxiety and depression, increased calmness and a sense of well-being. Floating has shown fantastic results towards anti-smoking assistance as well as positive effects.
Sympathetic nervous stimulation (fight or flight) is suppressed during a float session and parasympathetic stimulation takes over which is responsible for relaxation, healing, and replenishment. This results in decreased muscle tension; blood pressure; and stress hormones, and increased endorphins.
Immune function is enhanced by suppressing stress hormones which not only weaken the immune system but also suppress the digestion and reproductive systems, and regeneration processes.
Research indicates increased visual acuity, improved tactile perception, improved auditory sensitivity, and increased taste sensitivities after floating.
The floatpod environment eliminates as much external input as possible and our nervous system gets a break. In this modern life we live with constant noise, our systems rarely experience the isolation and silence that the tanks environment provides.
Floating can be refreshing, nourishing and healthy for our bodies and minds.
Floating increases circulation to extremities, promotes greater elimination of metabolic by products, decreases the forces of gravity to help promote greater muscular relaxation, and can prevent adrenal fatigue.
Although floating is not zero-gravity, the density of the Epsom Salt solution creates the nearest thing to it. Rigid postures and chronic muscular tension from daily life can cause back and neck pain, shallow breathing, high blood pressure, etc. The anti-gravity environment of the float tank decreases gravity-related stimulation to the minimum, providing relief to these specific areas.
Arthritis, back pain, neck pain, tendinitis, bursitis, inflammation, and psychosomatic pain relief have all been documented after tank use.
Magnesium Absorption:
The extremely high concentration of Epsom salts are absorbed through skin and can actually supplement your diet for a mineral that has been shown to be deficient in the average diet. Mg can prevent cardiovascular disease, regulate high blood pressure, prevent osteoporosis, relieve menopause symptoms, provide PMS relief, create healthier bones and teeth, and is involved with detoxification.
Meditation, Visualisation, and Learning:
Floating is a unique in its ability to help you cultivate mental stillness. It often generates a sensation of being intensely awake yet extremely relaxed. It can induce theta-state brainwaves and allows for you to remain conscious in this instead of falling asleep. Floating may induce an altered state of consciousness.
The combination of being extremely relaxed while intensely awake allows techniques of visualization to become very powerful. From athletes preparing for competition to public speakers rehearsing a presentation, the tank can induce the calm needed to perform at ones best.
With the brain being held in a theta state wave-length the mind becomes hyper-suggestible. With fewer distractions and greater resources the mind absorbs new material readily; research shows improved performance in memory and recall activities.
Poor Sleep and Insomnia:
90 minutes in the tank can feel like 6-8 hours of sleep. It is extremely therapeutic, refreshing and rejuvenating. If you suffer from insomnia or have issues falling or getting off to sleep, floating can help make up for the lack. Not having to fight gravity lets your muscles, joints, and bones take a well-deserved break. Your body suddenly has loads of extra resources (usually spent supporting your weight, regulating temperature etc), and it gets to focus on things like healing and resting. Without gravity pushing you down all the time, your spine lengthens, chronic pain is relieved, and your muscles get to fully rest. Unlike lying on a mattress, lying in water allows blood to flow freely all throughout your body.
