Flotation Therapy
Floating, floatation, float therapy...whatever you choose to call it, it is quite simply one of the most effective adjuncts to any healing therapy we offer. Floating helps the healing process in many ways. People suffering from injuries are amazed at how much it helps in pain reduction and it is the most incredible means of stress relief and relaxation available.
The Flotation Tank
A flotation tank contains 10 inches of super-saturated salt solution, creating an environment similar to the Dead Sea, which enables the individual to float effortlessly on the surface. The water is heated to skin temperature (93.5 degrees) so that once settled, it is virtually impossible to distinguish between parts of the body that are in contact with the water, and those that aren't, in effect "fooling" the brain into believing that the person is floating through the air.
Unless you are an astronaut, this is the only situation you will encounter where your body is completely free from the harmful forces of gravity ...every single muscle in the body is allowed to completely relax. With ear plugs in and the quietness and the darkness allow the mind to drift into the deepest state of relaxation possible. The buoyancy created by the dense Epsom-salt solution effectively removes the effects of gravity on the body, and brings the individual close to an experience of total weightlessness. A massive amount of brain-power is used every second in order to deal with the huge strain that gravity places on one's body. As the body is now totally supported, there is little for the brain to do and every muscle is allowed to totally relax.
With no commands needing to be sent out, the logical side of the brain is rendered redundant, and its activity slows down until it synchronizes with the creative side. This leaves the individual in a dream-like state, akin to the thoughts experienced just before you go to sleep. In this state, the brain releases vast amounts of endorphins.
While the state of relaxation may be deep and profound, the individual's brain stays dreamily alert. To get technical, the brain gradually shifts from its usual "alpha" state to generate theta waves, the state-of-mind that Buddhist monks try to reach through hours of meditation and years of training. You can achieve this in a matter of minutes just by lying down! Best of all, the effects of floatation are cumulative - the more regularly you float, the better it gets.
The Flotation Session
Each tank is situated in a lockable private room and changing area, equipped with an invigorating shower for use before and after the session. The door to the tank is fully controllable from within, allowing the individual to choose whether to float with the door open or closed.
After a quick shower, the individual enters the tank and ambient music is played for the first ten minutes. 50 minutes of golden silence follows, and as the session draws to a close, the music is played again to make the user aware that they should leave the tank. Another shower is now necessary to remove the salt from the skin. Shampoos & soaps are provided free of charge, and we provide a towel if needed for just $2. There is also a room for hair drying. Because of the saline nature of the solution within the tank we advise that all clients should not shave on the day of their float session.
Sportsmen and Sportswomen
Floating in the tank, every single muscle is allowed to rest and recover. While you may think that lying on your bed or sofa would have a similar effect, even in these circumstances gravity is constantly applying vast amounts of stress on various parts of the body. In the tank, gravity is not a factor. As such this total relaxation gives all muscles a much-needed break, and the benefits can be startling. Rate of recovery after physical exercise is improved beyond recognition. What normally takes a long period of time - usually days for recovery from a marathon - the tank compresses into a number of hours. By relieving the stresses of gravity, floating takes the weight off strained bones, joints, and muscles and increases the efficiency of the blood circulating through the body. Recovery time after an injury can also be shortened considerably.
More recently, athletes using the tank in conjunction with visualization techniques have found rapid improvement in their performances. As the individual enters the theta state, the brain becomes more open to suggestion. In effect the central nervous system can be trained to produce the "perfect performance". This technique has been used for many years both here in the U.S. and countries such as Australia and Europe, with names as widely recognized as Carl Lewis attributing part of their success to visualization within the float tank. For example, after years of under-achievement, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired a tank and went on to win the NFC championship. Their baseball-playing neighbors, The Phillies, noticed the tank in their dressing room. Many of their players began floating and the team went on to win its first world series in decades.
While we can't promise to make you a World Champion track athlete, or championship winning baseball player, we can provide a platform to maximize any training regime. This is not fuzzy logic. Experts from sporting and medical institutions such as Stanford and Yale have conducted hours of research in carefully controlled experiments. The results are quantifiable and indisputable, with some experts even claiming that an hour in the float tank using visualization and imagery is superior to 10 hours of repetitive field practice.
Pain Control
As already discussed, Floating causes the body to release endorphins, (the body's own painkiller), in particular the beta-endorphin. Released in times of comfort as well as pain they are far more powerful than many prescription drugs. Sufferers of migraine, back pain, arthritis, skin disorders and many other ailments can find particular relief from regular floatation. There is also indisputable evidence that floating lowers blood pressure and heartbeat rate, and can minimize the risks of heart attacks and strokes. Migraine sufferers in particular can find solace and relief within the tank.
