What?
Floating, or float therapy, is a service which uses a float pod to create a weightless environment, free from any external stimulation. Float pods, also known as sensory deprivation tanks, were invented in 1954 by physician, neuroscientist, and writer John C. Lilly. Lilly wanted to test the effects of sensory deprivation on the human brain, thus the sensory deprivation tank was born.
It was discovered that spending time in an environment free from the effects of gravity and the over-stimulation of the outside world created tremendous psychological and physical benefits, as well as allowed individuals to explore inner realms that they never had before.
How?
The 5 foot by 9 foot float pod is filled to a height of 10 inches with water and about 800 to 1,000 lbs of Epsom salt, creating a solution that is more dense than the human body. So, if you can imagine an ice cube floating in water, the same principle applies here, and you are the ice cube.
In order to eliminate tactile stimulation, the water is kept at approximately 93.5 degrees, which is the average external temperature of the human skin. After about 10 minutes of stillness, the border between you and the water disappears, which can create the illusion of no longer having a body at all.
The pod is also light proof and sound proof so that visual and auditory stimulation are also eliminated. This leads float pod users to feel as if they are pure consciousness floating in a giant void.
Why?
The weightlessness in the pod is very beneficial for your muscles and skeletal structure by allowing total relaxation, taking strain off your joints and allowing your spine to decompress.
Secondly, Epsom salt is enormously rich in magnesium, in which about 80% of Americans are chronically deficient. It is responsible for over 350 enzymatic functions within the body. One of the best ways to supplement magnesium is through the skin, so soak it up!
And last but not least, we live in a world that constantly bombards us with stimulation. While some stimulation can be good, too much leads to stress, anxiety, and premature aging. The float pod is your reset button. When you incorporate floating into your healthy lifestyle, you give your mind a way to remove all the stress that builds up over time, which also helps to boost creativity, abstract reasoning, and memory.