The reason we began offering floatation was not really the idea of offering spa services but more that it was in alignment with experiencing higher consciousness.
As Polarity Therapists we understand the connection to a deeper knowing, the limitations of the attachment to the physical body through the three principles of motion as taught in Ayurvedic philosophy; rajas, tamas, and sattva. Polarity and floatation therapies go hand in hand, an integration of these therapies is surely a path to enlightenment.
There is a mass mind awakening to higher level of consciousness. Our center is focused on providing the many paths to higher levels of consciousness through energy based therapies; polarity, floatation, also known as deprivation or isolation tank, energy systems clearing and aligning, as well as guided imagery through hypnosis. Anyone on this path of enlightenment to higher levels of consciousness will appreciate the combination of therapies to deepen this experience.
Read on:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flotation therapy
Flotation therapy is therapy that is undertaken by floating in a warm salt water in a float tank.[9]
Flotation therapy developed from the research work of John Lilly although he was not primarily interested in therapy, rather in the effect of sensory deprivation on the human brain and mind.
People using early float tanks discovered that they enjoyed the experience and that the relaxed state was also a healing state for many conditions including stress, anxiety, pain, swelling, insomnia and jet lag.
As a result float tanks were produced for commercial uses and commercial float centers offering flotation therapy opened in several countries during the period from 1980 to the present day when there are hundreds of flotation centers in dozens of countries. In almost all cases these float centers offer wellness treatments and in particular the release of stress. The San Francisco Bay Area has seen recent growth in such centers.[10]
Research into flotation therapy (as opposed to just the effect of isolation) began in the USA at Ohio State University where floating was shown to improve creativity in Jazz musicians, accuracy in rifle shooting, focus before academic examinations and stress relief, among others.[11]
Research in Sweden has demonstrated the therapeutic effect on stress and pain.[12]
The technique takes advantage of an innate, natural inclination to relax when floating at a comfortable temperature. The temperature is that which allows natural heat generation to escape without the need for muscle action to raise body temperature in homeostasis. The floating posture, usually the supine position (although the prone position with chin supported on elbows is recommended for pregnant women), allows all the postural muscles to relax. The water pressure on the immersed skin is lower than the blood pressure and thus blood flow continues in skin capillaries. This is in contrast to normal bed rest where local contact pressure inhibits blood flow requiring regular adjustment of posture. When people cannot adjust their posture in bed, e.g. in some illnesses, bed sores can result. When floating there is no tendency to adjust posture and a person can float immobile for many hours.
The natural tendency of the body in the floating posture at the correct temperature is to dilate the blood vessels, reducing the blood pressure and maximizing blood flow. The brain activity normally associated with postural muscles is reduced to a minimum. In this state, which we can call the floating state, natural endorphins are released reducing pain.[12][13] Lactic acid removal is accelerated. Flow in the lymphatic system is increased.
Effects[edit]
On stress[edit]
Perceived stress can be correlated with increased levels of cortisol and in flotation therapy there is a natural tendency for cortisol to be reduced.[14] For this reason, flotation therapy is one of the few noninvasive techniques available to manage stress when it is a factor in reducing a person’s ability to cope with normal life. Flotation therapy is a fast technique in this respect. The Swedish research was based on 40 minute float sessions. This compares well with other management techniques such as long vacations.
There are some similarities with the age old long hot bath. However, the main differences are that in floatation all sensory impressions are absent, temperature is maintained at the correct level and the bath is large enough to float without touching the sides of the float unit. These factors allow the individual to achieve much deeper level of relaxation, and therapeutic benefit, than would otherwise be possible.
Of the salt[edit]
Most float tanks use Epsom salt, magnesium sulfate, in high concentration so that the relative density of the solution is about 1.25. (Lilly recommended 1.3 but this requires operating very close to saturation with the risk of recrystallization). The density assists floating particularly making the head buoyant so that the nose and mouth are well out of the water for breathing.
It has recently been discovered that there is a secondary effect which is important to flotation therapy. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin due to natural molecular diffusion. This tends to correct magnesium deficiency.[15] Magnesium is absorbed from the diet but in many areas of the world, over-cropping without adequate replacement of magnesium makes the normal diet low in magnesium.
The body naturally optimizes the levels of magnesium, so there is no overload effect from floating in the salts for extended periods.[citation needed]
It is noted that there is no “flotation therapist”, although there is a need to instruct the floater and need to maintain the equipment in a safe condition. However, flotation therapy is compatible with other therapies as a preparation or conjunct activity. Examples include massage, talk therapy, and hypnosis.
Definition[edit]
Latest research[edit]
Research undertaken at the Human Performance Laboratory at Karlstad University Sven-Åke Bood[16] concludes that regular flotation tank sessions can provide significant relief for chronic stress-related ailments. Studies involving 140 people with long-term conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and fibromyalgia found that more than three quarters experienced noticeable improvements.
Dr. Bood commented: “Through relaxing in floating tanks, people with long-term fibromyalgia, for instance, or depression and anxiety felt substantially better after only 12 treatments”. Research targeted the effectiveness of floatation treatment with regard to stress related pain and anxiety over the period of seven weeks. 23 percent of the participants became entirely free of pain and 56 percent experienced clear improvement.
Peter Suefeld at the University of British Columbia and Arreed Barabasz at the Washington State University have carried out several studies on the use of Flotation REST and the enhancement of human performance. Through their studies, they have demonstrated enhancement of scientific creativity, instrument flight performance and piano performance.[New York: Springer-Verlag 1]
Several studies of sports performance have produced positive results in sports such as basketball, tennis, skiing and dart throwing. The studies proved that Flotation REST always had a more powerful effect. Different Flotation REST conditions such as, wet or dry, or imagery vs. no imagery, all proved to be sufficiently powerful to affect a change in performance. “Barabasz suggests that because REST potentiates imagery while disrupting over learned psychological processes, the technique is especially suited not only for the acquisition of new im- proved skills but the unlearning of less adaptive ones.”[New York: Springer-Verlag 1]
Notable users[edit]
The physicist Richard Feynman‘s experiences in a sensory deprivation tank were documented in the popular book Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!. Feynman was invited to try the isolation tank at John Lilly’s home after Lilly attended one of Feynman’s popular lectures on quantum mechanics.
In a number of recent videos on YouTube and his own podcast, American stand-up comedian and television celebrity Joe Rogan describes his personal experiences with isolation tanks and shares his insights into using them for various purposes, such as exploring the nature of consciousness and improving health and well being.[17]
The British glass artist Jeremy Langford is a devoted user of the tank. In few of his interviews he mentioned the flotation tank as a tool for enhancing creativity.
Cultural references[edit]
In the episode of The Simpsons, “Make Room for Lisa,” Homer and Lisa Simpson embark on a sensory deprivation journey at a local New Age store.[18]
In the “Charlie Rules the World” episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dennis goes inside a sensory deprivation tank to answer questions about what reality is.
Using a metal Isolation tank in order to acquire an altered state of consciousness is the main plot event in the 1980 movie Altered States, an adaptation of the novel by the same name by Paddy Chayefsky.
It can be also seen in the video of the song I Need a Doctor by Dr. Dre.
In Tom Clancy‘s 1988 novel The Cardinal of the Kremlin, Sensory deprivation is used as a form of torture/interrogation. A Russian woman is placed in the tank while under sedation, and wakes unable to see, hear, or feel anything. Over the course of hours she comes to believe she has been buried alive, Until upon hearing her name called, confesses to everything she has ever done wrong, including unwittingly spying against the Soviet Union.
In the pilot episode of the TV series Fringe, Dr. Walter Bishop put FBI Agent Olivia Dunham in a sensory deprivation/isolation tank to let her gain access to the consciousness of her comatose former lover Agent John Scott.
The use of, and mention of, a sensory deprivation tank occurred on several early episodes of Frasier. It was one of Maris’ few hobbies.