What is Floatation Therapy and its wonders and how is it being used in India
“Fresh off the float’’
What is Floatation Therapy?
Floatation Therapy is also known as True REST® (Reduced Environmental Stimulus Therapy).
In this therapy a person is suspended in a tank of warm salt water, typically in the dark, with limited sensory stimulation.
The tank has a zero-gravity environment which allows the mind and body to go in a meditative state leading to relaxation and rejuvenation of both mind and body.
There is usage of 1,000 pounds of Epsom Salts in the tank due to which buoyancy of the water makes floating on water feel like floating on air.
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This therapy has innumerable of health benefits.
By eliminating the forces of gravity pulling on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, one can effortlessly relieve pain, relax, recover, and get rid of insomnia.
What is a float tank?
A neuroscientist and psychologist John C Lilly. invented the first floatation tank in 1954.
Lilly designed the tank to study the origins of consciousness by cutting off all external stimuli.
The aim of this saltwater tank therapy was to map pain and pleasure pathways in the human brain, as users reported a feeling of tranquility while floating in the tank.
In the 1970s, commercial float tanks were created to study possible health benefits of a floatation tank.
These days float centers and spas offer float therapy all over the world.
As scientific studies have proved that time spent floating in a sensory deprivation tank has many benefits, such as muscle relaxation, better sleep, pain relief, and decreased stress and anxiety.
Float tanks also called a sensory deprivation tank contains around 1000l of water and 550 kg of magnesium and sulfate-rich Epsom salts which increases the specific gravity of the solution to around 1.27.
The water in the sensory deprivation tank is heated to skin temperature and then the tank is saturated with Epsom salts.
This density change adds buoyancy to the water and allows the flotation tank user to float.
Epsom Salts –
Usage of Epsom salt is done to help a float tank user to float and along with that helps the person to de-stress.
Epsom salts being rich in magnesium, help in bringing about good health and well being to one’s body.
Epsom salt solution even helps with lymph drainage and promotes the absorption of magnesium.
Float Process –
The tank is 7 to 9 feet in length. The tank has a space comparable to a king-sized bed, filled with a warm salt solution.
These pods are designed to block light and sound and maintain a consistent temperature; the water is calf-high, and buoyant because of the salt, which helps with the relaxation.
These floating sessions can stretch from 45 minutes to 2 hours.
People are asked to remove their clothes and jewellery, take a shower then enter the sensory deprivation tank or float tank.
After that they enter the tank and close the lid. They are asked to lie back and float with the buoyancy created by the water.
Music is played in the tank for about 10 minutes in the beginning of the session to help a person relax.
Once session ends a person has to shower again and then dress and go out
Once inside the tank floaters have no access to outside stimulation, including sound, sight, and gravity when the tank’s lid or door is closed.
As one floats weightless in the silence and darkness, the brain enters into a deeply relaxed state.
Sensory deprivation tank therapy affects brain activity leading to hallucinations and increased creativity. This therapy induces psychosis like experiences.
A person feels refreshed after the session and thinks with more precision.
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Benefits of Floatation Therapy –
Relieves backaches: Sedentary desk jobs can lead to a lot of back problems, muscle tension, lower back pain etc. Flotation therapy helps in relieving muscle strain and increasing flexibility.
Salts can heal: Epsom salt solutions which are used during the floatation therapy help in alleviating muscle aches and stimulating digestion. They also help in removing dead cells from the skin, unclogging pores and clearing breakouts.
Calming: The lack of external stimuli in the floatation environment without any hustle and bustle of the world people experience a zen like calmness of the mind.
The therapy helps in alleviating both physical and mental stress. This helps in stress management by lowering fatigue and anxiety.
Better sleep: The flotation therapy helps in improving sleep and getting rid of insomnia as one gets rid of anxiety and depression.
Helps in circulation: The weightlessness and the buoyancy created by the salty water in the tank allows muscles and joints to relax, helping blood circulate better.
Along with good circulation it also helps in quick repair of muscle tissues and healing of the body. This is quite beneficial for those suffering from injuries and chronic pain.
It helps people get relief from both pain and strain. People suffering from arthritis, rheumatism and fibromyalgia get immense relief from this therapy.
Release of endorphins– It helps in stimulating the release of endorphins and rejuvenates the body.
Improves creativity: The therapy helps in enhancing creativity, healing and visualization.
People get more focused and work with more precision. Mental clarity increases and people feel better.
The sensory deprivation leads to increased awareness.
Meditative state: Improves self-realisation and discovery and helps with phobias and addiction. It even helps with PTSD symptoms as it decreases pain perception.
Lessens pregnancy pain: The salts help pregnant women in lessening labor pain.
Helps Athletes: By producing less cortisol, adrenaline, and lactic acid, it reduces the risk of further injury and over-straining, resets their body’s chemical & metabolic balance and helps them synchronize their mind, body and emotions.
This can help them visualise their performance and achieve success.
Improves immunity: De stressing of the mind and body increases immunity.
One will need several sessions before one starts experiencing results.
A single session costs anywhere from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000
Floatation Therapy in India-
Floatation therapy is a new concept in India but is quite common abroad.
Liquid Sanctuary in Delhi and Mumbai; Shalom Float Mind Spa in Pune and 1000 Petals in Bengaluru are places in India which offer floatation therapy.
Liquid Sanctuary even has plans to set up float tanks for existing spas, gyms, airports, hotels or private homes.
Indian wellness industry is doing a lot to make this concept popular and the concept is being accepted in India.
It is useful from young to the old, from athletes to business and people having mental & medical issues.
It is a no pain, full gain therapy. So don’t think twice just float to stay afloat.
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Shalom float and wellness centre is the first dedicated float centre to open in India with a Relaxopod