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Floatation Therapy
Floatation Therapy is a unique method of assisting the body to become intensely relaxed and to release stress in the most efficient manner. Our spa offers float therapy in sensory deprivation tanks. In addition, floatation therapy provides an instantaneous sense of well-being for those who go through the process.
It consists of a float room or pool (also called an isolation tank or sensory deprivation tank) which essentially transforms into the perfect bathtub. They typically vary in size, but our rooms are all 8′ long and 4'9" wide. Air is allowed to freely flow in and out, and the door never locks or latches.
It holds about 10″ of water, which is saturated with 1200 pounds of Epsom salt. This creates a solution more buoyant than the Dead Sea, and you float on your back about half in and half out of the water.
The water itself is kept at the average skin temperature (93.5° F), which allows you to lose track of your body. The float rooms are soundproof and, when you turn off the light, completely dark.
No gravity, no touch, no sight, and no sound. Just pure nothing.
Curious about how it all works? Watch the video below
No Gravity.
No Touch.
No Sight.
No Sound.
Just Pure Nothing.
Floatation Therapy Benefits
Getting rid of all sensory input allows the ‘constantly-make-sure-you’re-not-dying’ part of your brain to relax, allowing the creative, relaxed part of your brain to come out and play. What are some floatation therapy benefits? Without the constant pressure of analyzing the world around you, your body lowers its levels of cortisol, the main chemical component of stress.
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, and trying not to get speeding tickets), which it gets to focus on things like healing and resting. Without old-man gravity pushing you down all the time, chronic and acute 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. There’s no need to readjust your position to get comfortable. Research shows that about 40 minutes into your float your brain stops producing its normal Alpha and Beta waves and starts going deeper into a Theta and even Delta state.
Even the magnesium-based Epsom salts we use in the tank feel wonderful on your skin. They’re also kosher, just in case you want to float in water that has the blessings of a Rabbi.
Does sensory deprivation increase creativity?
According to an article published in 2014 in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine, floating in a sensory deprivation tank, a handful of studies have shown an increase in originality, imagination, and intuition, all of which can lead to increased creativity.
Could attention and focus be improved?
Although most of the research that exists is older, there is some evidence that sensory deprivation may improve focus and concentration, and may also lead to clearer and more precise thinking. This has been related to better learning and increased results in schools and careers.
Here are some benefits that people enjoy from a Float Therapy session:
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Stress reduction
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Anxiety relief
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Sports recovery
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Pain relief
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To promote relaxation
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Reduce headaches
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Increased circulation
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For more restful sleep
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To learn to meditate
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For moms/dads craving a little quiet time
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Increased creativity
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Consciousness of oneself
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Sensory Deprivation Explained
by
Joe Rogan
Why Do People Float?
People float to relieve stress, recover from injuries, fight addiction, eliminate chronic pain, and much more.
Studies indicate that floating increases your dopamine and endorphin levels, boosting your mood and leaving you with a pleasant afterglow that lasts for days afterward.
It also indicates that floating can help you to increase your skills and performance, such as artistic and athletic abilities.
Without the need to fight gravity or take-in external information, you’ll likely experience the most complete relaxation you’ve ever felt.
Meditation
Everything you experience while floating comes from within yourself. It’s the perfect time to reflect on your life, and reports of creative and personal insights abound.
Float tanks can also be thought of as training wheels for meditation. After about 30-45 minutes of floating, your mind starts producing theta brainwaves, which are responsible for that ‘between waking & sleeping’ state.
After years of practice, people can enter theta state through deep meditation. Float tanks get you there effortlessly.
Self Improvement
People have cut strokes off their golf game, developed complex scientific theories, and drafted whole portions of books while floating.
For those who suffer from addictive and obsessive behaviors, floatation therapy can certainly help in alleviating them which will lead you to become a well-balanced individual.
With nothing to distract you, your level of concentration and knowledge absorption is astonishing and considered by some to be a perfect hyper-learning environment.
About Our Float Rooms
Our float rooms are taller than your typical float tank, allowing you to stand upright as you enter and exit. All four of our float rooms have glass entry doors to provide a more open float experience while still giving the benefits of sensory deprivation after you manually turn off the lights.
Sanitation in our float rooms
We start with proper chemistry...
We rigorously measure and maintain the water levels, specific gravity, and temperature of the float rooms. The float room water is filled with about 30% Epsom salt, which is a difficult environment for a lot of bacteria to live in (the Dead Sea is named that for a reason). Our tanks are likely to have some of the cleanest water you’ve ever been in.
Filtration
The entirety of the water is filtered through a 1-10 micron filter 8 times after each float. Skimmers are used to keep the surface completely clear.
UV / Hydrogen Peroxide
High powered UV lights combined with Hydrogen Peroxide are used to treat and sanitize the water between every person.
The History Behind Float Therapy
In 1954 a neuroscientist named John C. Lilly needed to eliminate incoming sensory information to create a control group for his neurophysiology experiments for the US Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Corps.
He ended up discovering that sensory deprivation has a load of benefits that far superseded what seemed to the public to be a wild experiment that he was doing.
During this time R.E.S.T. was conceptualized. Written out it stands for Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique. This is a whole new level of REST or should I say old.
By the 1970’s, the tank’s design had evolved from Lilly’s original laboratory chambers to the comfortable commercial tanks that we have now.
FLOAT THERAPY FAQS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Answers You Need To Know
Do I need to bring anything?
Nope, just yourself. Towels, robes,
earplugs, and everything else
you need are provided.
What if I’m claustrophobic?
People with claustrophobia consistently
report no problems with floating,
all of our rooms are over 6ft high inside and also have glass doors.
Can I drown if I fall asleep?
Not at all. Some people fall asleep, but the
water is so buoyant you stay afloat. The
worst that can happen is getting woken
up by a bit of salt water in your eyes.
How are the tanks kept clean?
The highly sterile salt water is fully
filtered a minimum of five times between each float session and is sanitized with combination of Peroxide, Ozone and UV light.
Can I bring a friend?
Absolutely. You can’t float in the same room together, but we do have a total of four rooms so you can book up to four floats simultaneously.
Is this new-agey mumbo jumbo?
Floating has been around for over 60 years, and has oodles of published research to
back it up. No mumbo or jumbo here.
Can I float if I’m pregnant?
Like a pickle covered in maple syrup, pregnant women love floating! There is even a special position you can float in that relieves all of the weight of the baby off of the mother’s body. If you are in your third trimester, or have any concerns, please consult with your physician before coming in.
Is this like Stranger Things or Altered States?
Yes, but you’re not submerged in water, you don’t turn into proto-human monkeys and only a small percentage of floaters see the Upside-Down.
Is there anything I should do to prepare?
Don’t drink coffee for several hours beforehand (it can make your system jittery). Also, don’t shave or wax since the salt water can irritate your skin. Eating a light meal about an hour to 90 minutes ahead of time stops your stomach from sounding like an angry monster while you float. Other than that, there’s no specific preparation needed.
Can I float if I just dyed my hair?
While there is no guarantee that the salt won’t strip some color from your hair, we recommend that you check if the water running through your hair in the shower at home is fully clear. If there is still some color coming out you should wait a couple of more days/showers.
I just got a tattoo, should I float?
Floating and fresh tattoos do not mix! Not only could floating with a fresh tattoo be painful (salt + open wounds = ouch) but the water solution could cause fading or discoloration of your tattoo and permanently ruin its aesthetic appeal. How long you should wait before floating depends on the tattoo and how quickly it heals, but tattoo artists/floaters we have talked to have suggested waiting 4-6 weeks.
Do I have to stay in the whole time?
There aren’t any latches on the tank doors, and you can get out anytime. That said, the 90-minutes usually goes by waaaay faster than you’d expect (our average customer usually says it felt like 30-45 minutes long).
How long have float tanks been around?
The first float tank was developed in 1954 by Dr. John C. Lilly. These involved full submersion in water and a breathing device that completely covered your face. The first lay down, commercial tanks were invented in the early 70’s.
Do I get dehydrated from soaking for so long?
No- your skin doesn’t even prune up, but it does become silky soft afterwards.
Have questions not listed on here? Contact us today, our team is always ready to help. You may also be interested in our Salt Cave Therapy.