Stressed Out? Try a Flotation Tank

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The first experience I had with a floatation tank was in Provo, UT, and it was a package deal, 45 minutes of massage followed by 45 minutes of floating. Heavenly, it was. After a massage, you are ready for the jello state, and the floating experience can be done without a cover, which lets you see the room, hear noises, be exposed to the air conditioning. I chose to use the closed lid, which shuts out light and noise, so I could experience the weightlessness and drift into total relaxation. The next day I took a college exam, and did much better than I expected to do, primarily because my stress was gone and I was not blocking my responses. It created what might be the Zen state experienced by serious and experienced yoga practitioners, or meditators, but for me, it was pleasurably revealing. Extreme relaxation, balance, and confidence was mine. Now, I am looking for float centers wherever I go. It is easier to find in Europe and Asia, but near our national capital region, the massage therapists seem to be unaware of this wonderful technique, and not one even thought of offering a massage with the float or float after the massage. Most don't know what floatation therapy is. I have to travel to New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington state, New York and further if I want the same benefit. Then, unless I have business there, I have to drive home. Wonder if the Congressional sessions would be more productive and less contentious if they all had this floatation therapy before they met.

Danny of MD 10:39AM September 20, 2012

Floatation is great, it really does relax the body as well calming the mind and is a great general mood enhancer.
To those people outlining the causes for any nauea that people might feel, personally I think the most likely cause in most case is the detoxifying effects of the epsom salts.
Sulphur is a potent detoxing agent and being in the tank for an hour in a very high concentration of Magnesium Sulphate will mean that a lot of toxins are moving throughout the body for someone who has a high toxic load to start with, I really don't believe that this has much to do with emotional factors and is pretty much a purely physical effect.
I can see how some people might initially be put off by the look of some of the floatation tanks out there but the i-sopod floatation tank which is now out on the market should take care of that.
It's much bigger than the other tanks out there and just looks so much more inviting, I know a couple people who were reluctant to use those smaller plastic looking tanks or the coffin things but were happy to try out this one because to them it looked appealing and was a lot bigger inside.

Matt 10:43AM November 24, 2010

I tried floating and SOOOO glad it wasn't like the one pictured in this video as I might have been claustrphobic too. I did experience a bit of anxiety beforehand - however it was immediately alleviated once I stepped in. I would highly recommend it to people with chronic pain - personally since I can't afford both a massage and float I'll stick with the massage. However, if I had any kind of chronic pain or could afford more than just the occassional massage I would do both.

CynKC of KS 11:09PM April 16, 2010

I've been floating now for over 7 years and it still is an amazing a breathtaking experience that just keeps giving........ no two sessions are ever the same and each session is nearly always better than the last - I'd recommend it to anyone
http://www.floatfinder.com
http://www.i-sopod.com
http://www.floatforhealth.net

Wavey Davey 6:20PM September 30, 2009

I have one in my house in Baltimore but I'm packing up and moving to Alabama. Of course I'm taking the tank with me and setting it up down there. If you like floating and you can handle the thought of having one of these weird things in your home, I bet your life would change. Being able to float whenever I want for however long I want is great. My friends love it too. Most have only tried once of twice but have benefit greatly from their experiences.

Paul of MD 8:41PM June 25, 2009

A few years back a very good friend of mine told me about floating, and that I had to try. Lucas was a smart man so I went floating. What a feeling....
I did it a few times and liked it a lot. I passed on my love for floating to a friend of mine, who later started the first floating center in Norway. One day he gave me the keys and I did a 2 hour session while he went to see a movie. I had a superhappy time in there, tears was coming out of my eyes and I was sooooo happy.
I was hooked, and knew that I could not live my life without floating. I live on an island called Utila of the north coast of Honduras. There was not a floating tank in this country so I have now built my own floating room 8 x 8 x 6 feet. The feeling of not only floating but also gliding around in space and get lost is great.
The size does matter!

Float Utila 12:51AM May 25, 2009

and thought sadly that floating was dead, because of an inability to find a place to float closer than the next state. Now, when I absolutely need it, I've found a new spa close enough to go for it. Due to limits in my finances, I will only be able to float about once every other month, but it will feel like I've found Nirvana again. It's such a deeply emotional experience for me--without your external senses working for you, you can peer inward and let your mind wander to so many things you haven't had much "real" time to ponder. With the free association floating can contribute to, you can find solutions, peace and tranquility, and will likely and reluctantly return to the hectic and chaotic world we all must come back to.

Mary of MA 4:39PM November 21, 2008

I live in the MD DC VA metro area and would like to find a center that provides this service. Do you know how I could find one?

vanessa bright of MD 4:12PM October 31, 2008

I have suffered with ADD all my life along with other symptoms that go with it such as depression, anxiety and social anxiety, since I started floating I have noticed each and every time I float all my symptoms disappear for vary amounts of time after floating.
Thanks to The Float Center in Oakland, Ca for turning me on to Floatation Therapy.

May of CA 1:42PM June 29, 2008

The feeling of nausea is part of the de-stressing process - I suspect that you are an extremely stressed individual and you hold this as a ball of stress in the pit of your stomach.
When freeing yourself from the effects of gravity you are able to truly let go. When letting go of the tension and stress in your stomach in such a profound way can sometimes cause a feeling of sickness, this is sometimes seen in massage too.
As someone who has run a floatation centre for over a decade I’d recommend you give it another go, as there's a certain amount of learning process involved.

of 3:29PM June 28, 2008