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By Blue Float
Floating Explained
By Blue Float
Floating is a luxurious escape from the constant stress of life’s daily pressures. Floating helps to stimulate the body’s own natural power of healing and regeneration.
Created 60 years ago by Neurophysicist Dr. John C. Lilly when doing research on brain waves and altered states of consciousness. Floating therapy involves lying a in specifically designed float room, the bath tub is filled to a depth of 25 centimeter with water the water is warmed to your skin temperature. Around 400 kgs of pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) is been dissolved in the water. This extremely dense solution is similar to the Dead Sea, allows people of all body types to float without any effort and free from gravity.
The float room is designed to reduce all distractions from the outside world; such as light, sound, tactile sensations, and due to the extreme density of the water - gravity, so you feel like your floating in space losing track of where your body ends and the water begins. Once you are settled in, it is impossible to distinguish between parts of the body that are in contact with the water, and parts that aren’t in contact, “tricking” your brain into believing that you are freely floating without gravity.
Because of this reduced stimuli it will refocus the your attention inwardly. Slowly both your mind and body are sinking away in a deep state of relaxation. This relaxation is further stimulated by the absorption of magnesium from the water that helps with the release of muscle tension. As the physical sensations are becoming less and less noticeable, mental activity can come to the fore. Eventually even thoughts start to subside and the mind enters a deep state of meditation.
Floatation Therapy is not just some new age theory but it is based in scientific studies. More then 80+ studies has been done both in the USA and Sweden and all studies shown significant benefits in reducing pain, stress reduction, helping with mental issues, physical recovery. All major sport teams in the US are using floating for their athletes. It is recommended to float three to five times to initially understand the process of floatation and begin to reap its long-term advantages. The benefits are cumulative, which explains why floatation devotees incorporate this therapy into their everyday lives.
Physical benefits
Ultimate Relaxation
During your float your brain will begin to create theta waves and suspend alpha waves. We experience theta state every night before falling completely asleep, but only briefly. While floating, theta waves exist in the brain for an extended time providing you with the best rest you’ll ever experience.
Speed up healing, promote muscle repair, and lower your blood pressure. 90% of your brain’s powerful resources are now focused inwards. The reduced tension lasts for days, or even weeks.
Pain management, pain reduction and tension release
By totally reducing the feeling of gravity on muscles, internal organs, and the musculature system, your body can be relieved of chronic pain by simply being suspended in weightlessness. You will often hear the sound of your joints and muscles relaxing.
Floating also will release tension stored in muscles and decompress the spine, which is both soothing and effectively relieves chronic pain
Healing ability and boost of immune system
Greatly accelerate the body’s ability to heal itself from the effects of stress, intense workouts, late-nights, and overstimulation Visual acuity, perception and other senses have notable increases after floating as well as a boost in immune function
Increasing blood circulation and lowers blood pressure
When the body is floating you are relieved of gravity in the weightless environment of a float tank, then blood flow is increased and can more easily facilitate the recovery of strained muscle tissue and effectively relieve chronic pain.
Recover faster (for Athletes, between work outs, Yogi's)
This particular benefit could also be listed in the mental benefit section too. Many high performance athletes are utilizing floating to recover between work outs and games to allow their bodies to rest and effectively recover.
Floatation therapy is such a simple idea that some of the benefits seem too good to be true. However scientific research has validated the health giving and performance enhancing effects.
Mental benefits
Entering a deep meditative state (of relaxation)
Floating is an amazing tool to achieve mental stillness, a state frequently sought through meditation. The practice often leaves people feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated. Your brain will cycle between Alpha and Theta brainwave patterns during a float session, very hard to achieve without the float tank.
Rapid stress release
High cortisol levels for prolonged periods has a negative effect on your health. Floating lowers stress hormones and your cortisol levels, replenishes neurotransmitters, and releases endorphins, which induces ultra-deep relaxation and provides a zen-like afterglow that can last for days.
Boost Problem-Solving And Creativity
Examine any situation uninterrupted as you free your mind from distraction. Every session trains you to get into a state of flow easily. Outside of the tank, it’s easier to focus and return to this state of mind.
Psychological Well-being
Due to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system through floatation therapy, the body is flooded with endorphins and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are responsible for pain relief, mood enhancement and a decrease in anxiety response. Perfect for stress management, depression and anxiety.
First time Float
Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your appointment time at Blue Float Chiang Mai. We will greet you and give you a short briefing and answer any of your questions..
Precautions
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Do not float or reschedule your Float t if you have large cuts or open wounds, are experiencing an illness, or your session falls during your menstrual cycle
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Please wait a minimum of 48 hours after your hair treatment/coloring so as not to contaminate the water in the tub.
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If you are under the influence of drug or alcohol you will NOT be allowed to float.
Should I Bring Anything And What Do I Wear In The Float Tank?
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Birthday suit will provide the best experience, all of the float rooms at Easy Float feature a private shower and changing area, but you are absolutely welcome bring a swimsuit if you prefer.
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We also recommend bringing any hair products, deodorant, or anything else that you like to have after a shower. We provide lotion, shampoo, body wash and conditioner.
How do I get ready to float?
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Avoid tanning and shaving/waxing at east 4 hours before the session extra sensitive skin and salt water don’t mix. We provide Vaseline to protect small scratches from stinging.
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Try to skip caffeine for at least 4 hours before floating in order to access the most relaxing experience, but if you need that one small cup of coffee, it will be oke.......
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Don’t float on an empty stomach. A light meal or snack is helpful so that you aren’t distracted by your stomach grumbling while floating. Allow a little time to digest before floating.
And then the Floating
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Once you enter the float room, please remove all clothes and all jewelry. Shower (not too hot) to remove all oils, deodorants, and hair products; all shower and float essentials are provided within the room.
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Dry your face to avoid distracting water droplets, insert your silicone earplugs and slowly & carefully step into the tank..
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Enter the tank and gently lie back, avoid touching your face when your hands are wet; you will float effortlessly.
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The rest is really up to you.
Videos on Floating
Float Nation - Hour Long Documentary About The Rise Of Float Therapy
Joe Rogan - American UFC Presenter, Podcaster, And Stand Up Comedian
Stephen Curry On Float Tanks With The Business Insider
How Floating Is Used To Help Veterans Manage PTSD
Floating For Fibromyalgia
Articles on Floating
Beneficial effects of treatment with flotation as a preventive health-care intervention
Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014
This was a study of 65 healthy subjects, half of whom were given two float sessions a week over the course of two months. After a series of emotional and psychological tests, the researchers found that stress, depression, anxiety, and pain were significantly decreased. Optimism and sleep quality significantly increased for the flotation group. Read more here
Athletic performance
Floatation therapy research supporting the benefits for athletes:
Morgan P.M (2013) The acute effects of flotation restricted environmental stimulation technique on recovery from maximal eccentric exercise. Northern Illinois University – See Summary of research here
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Journal of Psychology and Health, 2005
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It has relaxing, mood and performance enhancing effects that seem to be more profound than those of other relaxation techniques. Especially in the field of burnout and chronic fatigue, floating can have practical use.
Stress management
Floatation therapy research supporting stress management:
A Kjellgren, F Lyden & T Norlander. (2008) Sensory Isolation in Flotation Tanks: Altered States of Consciousness and Effects on Well-being. Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden – See full research here
Chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis
Floatation therapy research showing how floating helps chronic pain and rheumatoid arthritis:
Fibromyalgia Floatation Project – The International Floatation Research Group (Ongoing) – Website
Borrie R & Dr T Russell (2011) Floatation REST Therapy Results in Pain Relief and Relaxation for Fibromyalgia Patients. London, Berlin, Colleyville & Rotterdam. – See summary of research here
Anxiety reduction
Floatation therapy research for reducing anxiety:
O’Toole P. & Barabasz M. (1997). Effects of Rational Emotive Therapy and REST on Social Anxiety. 6th International REST Conference. San Francisco.
Pudvah M.B. & Rzewnicki R. (1990). Six Months in the Tank: The Long-Term Effects of Flotation Isolation on State Anxiety, Hostility, and Depression. Restricted Environmental Stimulation: Research and Commentary. pp.79-85. Toledo, Ohio: Medical College of Ohio Press.
The Effect Floatation on Jazz Improvisation
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Journal of Music and Medicine, 2011
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Looking to improve your musical performance skills? In this study performed by the University of British Columbia, it was found that floatation therapy has a beneficial effect on technical ability in freely-conceived jazz improvisation.Read more here