Floating is a practice where you enter into a float tank (also called an isolation tank or sensory deprivation tank) which is a well-engineered enclosed tub filled with 10″ of water that has 800 lbs. of dissolved Epsom salts in it. The individual lies down in the water and floats effortlessly in the nude. The water is heated to the same temperature as the surface of your skin so that when the water settles and you remain relaxed and still, you do not really feel the water anymore. The tank is light-proof, sound-proof and has a neutral smell.
All forces of gravity on the musculoskeletal system and nervous system are eliminated from the extreme positive buoyancy; so imagine a space where you don’t feel, see or hear anything. The tank’s extremely unique environment is designed to allow for a minimal amount of sensory input to enter into your nervous system. This environment then has a plethora of benefits and applications for health, personal development, spirituality, and well-being.
To many people this concept is completely new, however it has been around for decades. So what is flotation therapy / sensory deprivation / REST?
Flotation Therapy is essentially a way of achieving deep relaxation by spending an hour or more lying quietly in darkness, suspended in a warm solution of Epsom salt. Float tanks are also known as isolation tanks, sensory deprivation tanks & REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) chambers.
The Float Tank has a wide variety of uses/applications, deep relaxation and it’s benefits are just one of the reasons for floating – check out Why Float? for more information about the uses & benefits of float tanks.
The concept of Flotation Therapy is based on the theory that up to 90% of the brains normal workload is estimated to be caused by the effects of routine environmental stimulation (gravity, temperature, touch, light, sound). We are constantly bombarded with external stimulation as well as the incessant everyday background ‘noises’ & distractions that we may not even realise our minds are busily processing.
Floating in the tank, your senses are released from all these distractions, your body is weightless & you become a mind floating in space, enabling your body & mind to reach deep levels of relaxation/meditation that would normally take years of practice to achieve. The tank creates an environment where you can achieve pure sensory relaxation.
The weightlessness combined with the benefits of Epsom salts also creates an ideal environment for injury recovery as well as providing relief from muscular pain & tension.
Freed from external stimulation, your body can achieve a state of deep relaxation that is even more beneficial than sleep. Even when sleeping – your mind is receiving signals from those parts of the body that are touching the bed & covers, temperature on skin, sounds & gravity. By freeing the mind from all distractions it can get back to focusing on repairing & rejuvenating your mind & body.
Step into a pod or cabin filled with 10″ of water and 1000lbs of Epsom salt (MgSO4) and float effortlessly on the surface, much like a cork floats on water. The water is heated to the same temperature as your skin, so that you lose perspective of where your body ends and the water begins.
The effect of this experience is striking – with your body fully supported and unconstrained by gravity, your muscles, tendons, and ligaments stretch out, your spine lengthens, and with the body completely relaxed, the mind follows. To enhance the experience, turn off the music and lights, and float peacefully in quiet, calming darkness.
Flotation therapy is an experience like no other and a particularly fitting one for 21st century life where we’re constantly bombarded with light, noise, and information. Taking time away from our daily routines, shutting out sensation and reconnecting inwards allows us to step back into the world refreshed, restored, and better able to cope with the stresses of modern life with presence, grace, and poise.
The Basics
Flotation is an incredible means of achieving deep physical and mental relaxation as well as a whole host of other benefits from increased creativity to chronic pain relief.
When you float, you lie in a specially designed 8ft X 5 ft pod filled with a 10” salt-water solution. The water and air inside the tank are heated to skin temperature and, with over 1000lb of Epsom salt dissolved in the water, you are able to float effortlessly without the burden of gravity acting on your body.
Zero-gravity on Earth!!
The purpose of flotation is to free you from the often overwhelming flood of sensory input we have to process every second of every day. This unique environment allows your body and mind to experience a previously unimaginable level of relaxation in a weightless environment.
A Unique Environment
At Float Level, the rooms are soundproofed and, with the lid of the pod closed, you have an environment in which your normal senses of sight, sound, touch and smell are significantly reduced.
This creates an incredible and scientifically proven space for deep relaxation, which provides significant relief from stress and physical pain as well as access to, what scientists refer to as, primary process thinking which encourages enhanced creative thought patterns.
As neuroscience and flotation pioneer John C. Lilly M.D. said,
Flotation is the only environment on earth to let you experience how this astronaut is feeling... minus the fear and cumbersome suit obviously!
“(when you float) one has immediately freed up very large masses of neurons from the necessity of constant computations.”
— The Deep Self, John C. Lilly
Get a new perspective on that problem at work, rekindle that creative spark or just enjoy the peace and quiet. What you do with this spare capacity is up to you!
Floating has to be one of the simplest yet most rewarding activities you’re likely to encounter.
While your float session itself will last one hour, allow 90 minutes for the entire appointment as you will need to shower before and after. You will be provided with your own earplugs, quality shampoo, shower gel and conditioner, and a nice fluffy towel. There is also a hair dryer for you to use so all you need to bring with you would be your normal post-shower products… and yourself of course!
While the below describes a standard float session, longer sessions are also possible as well as the opportunity to play your own music during the float as you wish. If you have any specific requirements, just get in touch and we can arrange a float which is ideal for you!