Archive for January, 2008
With www.floatforhealth.net, I’ve spent a lot of time compiling what I think is the most extensive online resource on floatation tanks. As a result of all that time spent doing research, I sometimes feel compelled to archive some of the online information that I see slowly disappearing. Here’s an example:
A Stress Solution?
November 17, 2004 – Get your troubles to float away by simply giving salt water and isolation a chance. Float tanks are also known as sensory deprivation tanks. They were hot in the 1980’s and early 90’s. Now some people are taking another look at float tanks.
They are no longer seen as weird new-age toys or the creepy containers in the fictional movie "Altered States." Floating is now being sold as the latest in alternative treatment capable of melting away stress and relieving pain.
Few of us over the age of 5 have the luxury of hearing a good bedtime story and then taking a late morning nap. But, John Tolva says a one hour trip into one of these is the next best thing.
"My wife thought I was crazy locking myself into a chamber with water in it by myself in the dark," said John Tolva, floating enthusiast.
Actually there is no lock, and John, a busy dad and an over stimulated creative director for IBM, is constantly looking for a quick way to relax. So when several other young professionals recommended a dip in a sensory deprivation tank, he was game.
"I really couldn’t tell you what happens because the depravation of senses was so complete," said Tolva.
The idea is to literally shut out the world and give your brain and body a therapeutic rest. The journey begins by stepping into a tank that’s roughly 5 feet by 8 feet in size. Inside is about 10 inches of water with about 1,000 pounds of Epsom salts mixed in that’s what allows the body to bob like a cork effortlessly. The water has a silky feel and is body temperature. You can float with or without a bathing suit. Once you shut the door it’s dark and silent. The only thing you might hear is the beating of your heart.
"It’s awesome," said Tolva.
Debborah Hopkins is a floating enthusiast.
"If you float early in the day or early evening for the rest of the night you are in bliss and peaceful," said Debborah Hopkins, floating enthusiast.
Eric Polcyn is the co-owner of Spacetime Tanks, Chicago’s oldest and only float center. He says this is better than a nap because the tank eliminates gravity, which no mattress can do. So your head, neck, spine, muscles joints and bones are floating freely.
"It’s the one place on this planet that has the least amount of stimulus and strain on your body," said Eric Polcyn, owner of Spacetime Tanks.
In suburban Arlington Heights, one couple is banking on the belief that float tanks are making a comeback and people will use them as form of alternative treatment. Their center, called Aguasal, is set to open in about a month.
"The people who are going to come in here will be interested in improving their health or at least maintaining it," said Frank Rodriguez, Aguasal, Inc.
It may sound crazy and a little too out there, but numerous studies, including one from the National Institutes of Mental Health show float sessions can help treat hypertension and reduce stress related hormones.
Believers also claim it can improve everything from back pain to migraines. But, most mainstream physicians say it can’t hurt but there’s not enough science and it should not replace proven therapies.
Sleep researcher Edward Stepanski warns a soak in salt water will never replace a good night’s rest.
"It’s a type of relaxation therapy that for many people would probably be extremely effective, but the idea that by being in a tank or sensory deprivation will replace sleep and give you the full restorative benefits that sleep gives you that is the thing that has never been shown," said Edward Stepanksi, Ph.D., sleep specialist.
John Tolva can’t wait to go back. He says the effects of floating for one hour lingered long after he left the tank.
‘I think that I am doing some good. I am unwiring a little bit even if it is subconscious," said Tolva.
The water in the tank is not changed after each use. But owners say it is sanitized not only by the salt and hydrogen peroxide but it is also circulated through a type of chlorine filter.
Costs for a one hour float range from 40 to 65 dollars. And the newer tanks now include video monitors and speakers for those who don’t want complete isolation.
Thanks to archive.org for keeping this story alive.
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The floatation tank has definitely received its share of unbalanced coverage over the years. Anything that people don’t understand is an easy target for ridicule or fearmongering.
I’ve read and watched many media stories about the floatation tank and most of them approach it from a very "let’s look at the funny thing and poke fun at it" perspective. I guess it’s a natural result of the fast paced news industry that a reporter can take on the task of educating the public about a subject but not have a clue what they’re talking about because they haven’t done their research. It’s thought provoking when you consider the tremendous influence the media has over public opinion.
After reading so many news reports that treated float tanks like an oddity not worth taking seriously, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a little bit of deeper digging uncovered several serious attempts by the media to explain what a float tank is to their audience. I’ve linked to a few of those news reports on my Floatation Tank News page.
Here’s a rare exception – a TV show that profiles interesting Chicago businesses did the most glowing segment on floating I’ve ever seen. This was a huge relief for me since I wasn’t able to sleep the night before the filming of this segment due to fear of being misrepresented.
[Please note: This is a high resolution video that requires Quicktime. It's a big file so please give it a moment to load.]
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Thanks to pathfindertanks.com for this article about floating and the endorphins that result from it:
The discovery of the endorphin in 1976 was the first step in a revolution in scientific understanding of the subtle interplay between mind and body. As more and more neurotransmitters and receptors were discovered, and linked to major changes in body chemistry through the endocrine system, it became apparent that mental states profoundly effect the body, and vice versa.
Although this realization caused a paradigm shift in Western science, it was nothing new to advocates of holistic health practices or the ancient wisdom of such techniques as yoga or meditation … treat the person, not the symptoms.
By shielding the brain and nervous system from all sensation of gravity, temperature, and touch, floatation REST succeeds in reducing the traffic of signals through the autonomic nervous system by a factor of 95%. This remarkable reduction in nervous system activity has a direct and immediate effect on the hypothalamus, often referred to as the "link" between mind and body.
The hypothalamus – acting through the endocrine system – floods the body with endorphins and other beneficial hormones, while cleansing stress hormones from the bloodstream.
In an automatic chain reaction, a profound relaxation response encompasses the heart, cardiovascular system, internal organs, and brain, permeating body tissue down to a cellular level.
These chemical changes are experienced as emotional changes – a shift away from negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, towards feelings of empowerment, confidence, and well-being.
By changing your body, you change your mind.
In the tank, negative emotions and unwanted habits seem to melt away, along with the physical tensions that usually accompany them.
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My dear friend Heather was in her 3rd trimester when she first floated. This is what she said about the experience:
"I was eight months pregnant when I floated for the first time. Pregnancy takes a toll on every muscle in your body, especially your torso. Ironically, the times when you get a chance to rest is when the baby becomes more active and it’s weight continues to put stress on your muscles.
While floating, I expected the baby to be very active, but was pleasantly surprised. Since there was no pressure from any side, the baby didn’t feel the need to kick or roll around. It was the best rest I’ve had in several months. I would recommend floating to anyone, pregant or not, for a time of physical and mental renewal."
Something I noted with great interest and curiosity was the fact that of the 1000+ people who walked through the doors of our float center, men responded to the idea of floating significantly more often than women did. Before we opened, we assumed that more women would be interested in pampering themselves with a float session but we were wrong.
I don’t think there was a gender bias since my wife and I both worked with the customers pretty much equally. At first I dismissed the observation by saying that men are often more adventurous than women, and since the float tank experience is very novel in comparison to most other activities, a man’s sense of adventure would find the float tank a exciting opportunity for exploration.
But the more I thought about it, the more I was struck with how odd it is that women can get pregant and carry a baby in their womb. The float tank experience is very womb-like; warm, dark, wet, safe. So wouldn’t it stand to reason that women would understand the float tank better than men? My wife and I saw many women react with fear to the float tank. Maybe there was a lot of men who had initial reactions of fear too, but their pride didn’t allow them to show it to us. I don’t know, but I think it’s an interesting phenomenon. What are your thoughts?
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This is an old article from the British magazine Pregnancy & Birth
FLOAT THERAPY – What is it?
Floating is spending an hour or so lying quietly in the dark. Suspended on a warm solution of Epsom salt that is about 10 inches deep and so dense that you float effortlessly. You come as close to weightlessness as you can.
I went to the London Float Center when I was 22 weeks pregnant.
What happened?
I arrived for my float feeling tired, stressed and suffering from a bad back and indigestion. I left feeling relaxed, like I had had a really deep massage, a sauna and a good kip – and I had no backache or indigestion!
I was shown to a private room where I showered, and then in my own time went into the float room.
I switched off the light, lay down and began to float. For the first five minutes new age music is played. Which lulls you into a relaxed state.
It’s impossible not to relax when you’re floating. When I first got in I had wondered how I would manage an hour, and worried that I was too tense (I’m not the most relaxed person you’ll ever meet). But floating makes you feel like time is standing still.
At 22 weeks pregnant I hadn’t felt my baby move very much. But as I relaxed I became aware of every move. Strangely, all the time before and since the float I’ve been convinced I’m having a boy, but in my relaxed state I felt the baby might be a girl, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
The music came back on after what seemed like no time at all, but was in fact 45 minutes. I just didn’t want to get out!
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Here’s an old article I found in Pregnancy & Birth Magazine:
For real water babies, a flotation tank session is a pregnancy must. The tank is filled with water only 10 inches deep, but the high concentration of salt means that your whole body is suspended, giving you a feeling of weightlessness and soothing stress, aches and pains – great for pregnancy backs and feet. While you’re floating your mind produces slow theta brainwaves, which make you thought patterns clearer and more creative, as well as endorphins – the hormones responsible for happiness.
OK. So the thought of being shut in a dark tank of water sounds a bit scary, but you cam open the door or switch the light on at any time: therapists say it’s rare to feel claustrophobic. And the best news is that floating is safe throughout the whole nine months of pregnancy. Just imagine an hour to yourself, resting in warm water with gentle music soothing your senses and nothing to think about but you and your baby. Just lie back and enjoy…
"It was amazing to feel weightless. I was aware of tension draining from my body and my mind went into a state of complete relaxation. As I floated, I felt a strong connection with my baby. It left me blissfully calm."
"It took me awhile to relax but once I got used to it I felt as if I was half asleep. It eased my backache and and made me feel very chilled out, even afterwards when I was back tackling rush hour." – Zaza Patterson, 34 Weeks
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I just came across this Esquire magazine article from 1983 that had me shaking me head and wondering why float tanks aren’t as common today as massage therapy, yoga or chiropractic care. Read on and let me know what you think:
Isolation Tanks: The State of the Art
A recent body of research into tank experimentation in hospitals, clinics, and graduate psychology departments was made public for the first time at Denver, and from a welter of medical statistics and laboratory data emerged convincing evidence that even brief sessions in float tanks can cause mental and physical transformations.
Among the revelations: Indications that floating stimulates the brain to secrete endorphins, the neurochemicals called the body’s own opiates.
The endorphin effect would explain the pain relief and euphoria floaters experience. Anecdotal evidence and preliminary research showing that floating results in a spontaneous reduction or elimination of habits such as smoking, drinking, and drug use and counteracts addiction-withdrawal symptoms.
A report from St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin, where a yearlong statistical analysis of the effects of float tanks revealed solid success rates (70-85% improvement) in treatment of a wide range of problems, including anxiety, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular ailments, migraine and tension headaches, chronic pain, hypertension, and recovery from cardiac surgery.
Hospital administrators are so impressed that the hospital tank is now seeing heavy daily use, attended by two full-time stress-management specialists.
Tests of floating’s effects on hormone levels, showing sharp decreases, maintained over long periods, of sympatho-adrenal activity (including cortisol and ACTH, both associated with stress and heart disease); and evidence that floating reduces anxiety and stress.
Follow up:
I called St. Elizabeth’s but they no longer have a float tank and the person I talked to didn’t know of anyone still at the hospital who knew anything about the float research.
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My wife and I were recently interviewed for a podcast program about floatation therapy for AlternativesRadio.com, a talk show that focuses on natural and alternative therapies. We met the host Gary Joy at a concert where my friend Thom Ayres was performing. Floating came up in conversation and Gary invited us to discuss floating for the benefit of his audience.
Tere and I have been interviewed for TV a couple of times before, but those were short soundbites, whereas this was a long form, in-depth discussion of floatation therapy. I don’t get much practice with talking about floatation tanks for more than a couple minutes, so I was fumbling over my words a bit, but we had a good time revisiting a subject that dominated our lives a couple years ago when we were float center owners. Here’s a short clip of me summarizing what a float tank does:
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Benefits of Floatation Therapy
3:43 pmGuest article for About.com by Frank Rodriguez
Floatation therapy simulates zero gravity by dissolving 800-1000 lbs of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) into approximately 200 gallons of water in a small pool that is only 10 inches deep.
There are several important benefits to creating this dense saltwater solution. The most immediately recognizable benefit is that a person floating in a floatation tank will float like a cork in only 10 inches of water, with their face and the top of their body actually poking out of the water. This is regardless of the person’s body type or their ability to float in a swimming pool.
Anti-Gravity
As opposed to a swimming pool where gravity is lowered, gravity in a floatation tank is essentially nullified by the extreme buoyancy caused by the dissolved Epsom salt.
This provides a rare opportunity for people who are suffering from various types of joint and/or muscle pain. Without the constant pressure of gravity, a person resting in a floatation tank is able to relax and unwind more thoroughly than even the most comfortable bed allows.
Floating Releases Endorphins
Taking a break from gravity in a floatation tanks also causes fascinating and significant changes in the brain. Endorphins are released. These are powerful natural pain relievers and mood enhancers that promote a sense of well-being while further enhancing the healing benefits of the zero gravity environment.
Meditative State of Relaxation
A person who has a high stress level will find it virtually impossible to maintain that stress level after a float session due to endorphins being released in the brain as well as their brainwaves shifting from beta to alpha and even theta. Theta is a rare brain state that is normally reserved for people trained in meditation. An important contrast to meditation is the fact that a person can achieve a theta brain state in their very first float session, making it a quick and easy shortcut to deep relaxation.
The benefits achieved in a one hour session are significant on their own, but when compared to other therapies, floatation tanks are in a category all their own.
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Floatation Therapy – All Stresses Simply Seep Away
By Kevin Sinclair
Floatation therapy is a quick and simple way to achieve intense relaxation. Stress is constantly being recognized as the cause of illness and physical problems and floatation therapy is an ideal way to unwind and release pent up tension.
A physician and neuro-psychiatrist named Dr. John C. Lilly originally gave birth to the idea of the floatation tank. His studies veered him in the direction of sensory deprivation and the impact it had on reducing brain activity. While Doctor Lilly was undergoing psychoanalysis training, he continued to find out as much as he could about isolating people from any external stimuli. His first tank was created early in the 1950’s.
Floatation therapy provides people with an almost instant feeling of well-being: As the brain activity lowers, any problems or stresses seem trivial and simple to overcome. Whether a person has been experiencing physical pain or aches or they have a stress related problem like insomnia, Dr. Lilly’s invention will prove to be invaluable. When the body and mind enters into such a relaxed state, more areas of the brain can work harmoniously together to provide healing and clarity of thought.
Most forms of such deep relaxation take a lot of time and practicing before any deeper levels can be reached. With floatation therapy, no learning or practicing is required and no energy is necessary. It is as simple as climbing into the tank and floating for a while. Even if it’s the end of a hectic, tiring week, mustering the energy to climb on in will be well worth it.
How do Floatation Tanks Work?
Of course the initial development of the floatation tank was nowhere near as comfortable as the modern day designs. They now have light, easy to open and close lids or doors, circulation fans, internal lighting and a very classy and new age look.
They have been created as a peaceful, comforting tank or room that contains approximately ten inches of water and a heap of Epsom salt. When water contains pounds of salt, it becomes much denser than the body and provides the floater with a feeling of weightlessness, making it easy to float.
Should the tanks only contain fresh water or water with chlorine in it, a person would have to constantly keep moving to keep floating. It wouldn’t be a very relaxing experience if worrying about sinking was the main agenda.
Using professional floatation therapy methods allows the body to become completely relaxed while floating on the surface without effort.
The water is always set to body temperature which means it quickly feels like the body and the water become one. It is a private, dark, temperate and moist environment that most people find to be very pleasant. For those concerned about feeling claustrophobic, the lid can be left ajar or completely open, but floatation therapy is more effective if it’s closed and completely dark.
Some people choose to wear bathers and others like to be naked for their floatation therapy. There is a shower to use before climbing in and whichever way makes an individual feel more comfortable will be best for them.
Another good idea is to wear ear plugs because usually the ears are in the water the entire time.
Lying on the back is not the only option and many people like to try different positions whilst floating. It feels almost like laying on a bed and there is freedom to move and float in different ways.
An hour of floatation therapy is equal to four hours of deep sleep. Usually there will be a light to indicate that an hour has passed, or the tank water may vibrate as the filters start to self-clean. It isn’t recommended to spend more than an hour inside and this is seen as the ideal length of time.
The Epsom salt makes skin soft, smooth and silky to touch. The prune look normally seen after bathing is caused by water leeching salt from the skin and because the tank water is so salty already, this doesn’t happen. Many people go straight from a floatation session onto their next appointments.
Important Features of Floatation Tanks
Today’s floatation tanks have been designed with safety in mind, which is why it is impossible to ever be trapped inside. It is completely okay to climb in and out any time so users feel in control.
Modern tanks aren’t air tight and also have their own fans circulating the air and keeping it fresh. In the rare event that something did go wrong with the fan, there would never be a shortage of air.
Advanced filtration mechanisms keep the tank and water clean. This means there are no concerns about picking up an infection or catching a disease.
Currently floatation tanks and floatrooms cost anywhere from $7400 to $24000. This is the price of the units only and doesn’t include any delivery charges or extra accessories.
Not many people can afford to install there own tank at home. It’s much more affordable to visit a local salon that offers floatation therapy and many will provide package deals offering discounts for more than one visit.
The First Floatation Therapy
There are some important points to consider before the first float, whether planning to use a tank in the home or visit a salon that offers the service:
* Because of the high salt concentration of the water, metal items can be damaged during a float. For this reason even wedding rings should be removed.
* To avoid damaging contact lenses if water goes into the eye, they are also best being removed.
* It’s an excellent idea to spray some liquid skin or liquid bandage onto any cuts or abrasions. This is because the salt water will sting rather intensely for some minutes if there is any broken skin, so even shaving nicks should be considered.
* It is a courtesy to take a shower and wash your hair. Conditioner shouldn’t be applied and the entire body should be washed and rinsed before floating. This prevents unnecessary pollution of the water in the tank.
* For those who have a specific issue on their mind, it’s suggested that focusing on it while preparing for a session is beneficial. As soon as the body hits the water, asking for universal guidance towards finding a resolution is usually very effective.
Precautions to remember when in the tank are:
* It is pitch black when the lid of the tank is closed and it’s not uncommon for someone to initially panic when the doors appear to be stuck. This is impossible and it’s simply a matter of them being disoriented because it’s so dark. If this happens, simply feeling around for the lids location will solve the problem and keeping any panic at bay.
* On initially entering the tank, it is best to take a minute to orient the mind to where the lid is in respect to floating.
* Another thing to find when first entering the tank is the light switch. Nearly all tanks have interior lights and knowing how to find it can also help prevent a panic attack.
Anyone attempting floatation therapy for the first time needs to remind themselves that they are safe and calm. The doors are designed so they can not be locked or stuck and there is always plenty of air. Any problems will only be related to locating the doors and that is not so hard to do as long as calmness is maintained. It is sometimes a good idea to find the light switch first and then find the door. If panic does start to set in the best solution is to lie back in the water, breathe, relax and then look again for the lid.
* If salt water does make its way into the eyes it can sting very badly. This is because the salt concentration is so high, so it’s important to remember these points:
- As soon as the hands become wet they must be kept off the face and eyes.
- Any time the hands are raised over the head for a change of position, they should go outside the head, not over the face. This avoids water dripping into the eyes.
- The hair needs to be carefully pushed away from the face anytime the floating position is changed and especially when sitting up.
- In case water does get in the eyes, there should always be a towel near the door of the tank for immediate use.
It only takes a single floatation therapy session to fall in love with the feeling. It provides a natural pathway to health and wellbeing and is a wonderful feeling everyone should experience.
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of [http://www.my-personal-growth.com ]My-Personal-Growth.com, a site that provides information and articles for self improvement and personal growth and development.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Sinclair http://EzineArticles.com/?Floatation-Therapy—All-Stresses-Simply-Seep-Away&id=902293
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