Climbing into a float tank (or pod) has been described much like revisiting the womb – a peaceful, quiet, warm and comforting place. It is a place where one can relax, recover and remove oneself from their busy and stressful lives. Once settled on the surface of the tank (the water is saturated in Epsom salts so you float effortlessly) and the lights go out – the outside world disappears. No sight, no sound, and no sensation – even the forces of gravity drift away as you are suspended in perfect harmony. Your body/mind instantly begin to slow down as your reach Theta state (deep meditative state), breathing rate decreases, blood pressure decreases and stress hormones all naturally decrease (cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine). The decrease of stress hormones is because your sympathetic nervous system (“fight or flight”) is allowed to finally turn off (which is very rare). In return, your body is flooded with natural “feel good” chemicals – specifically dopamine, which gives you that happy “high” feeling. So the next time you feel overwhelmed or stressed – a float session may very well be the answer!
Erik Zaremba, www.floathousevictoria.com