What is floatation and how it can be useful

What is floating

FloatingK. Jonsson, A. Kjellgren. Curing the sick and creating supermen - How relaxation in flotation tanks is advertised on the Internet / European Journal of Integrative MedicineFloatation is a therapy method in which a person lies on their back in a dark and quiet capsule of sensory deprivation, immersed in a solution of magnesium sulfate. There you can freely stretch your legs and even spread your arms to the sides. The temperature of the liquid is the same as that of the body, so there is a feeling of weightlessness.

How floating can be useful

The effect of being in a capsule is not fully understood. All research in this area has been conducted on small groups of people. Therefore, the results are not accurate. But it is possible that floating is useful.

Reduces anxiety

Researchers observedJ. S. Feinstein, Sü S. Khalsa, Hung-wen Yeh, C. Wohlrab, W. K. Simmons, M. B. Stein, M. P. Paulus. Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST / Public Library of Science one

over 50 people with anxiety disorders. It turned out that after 12 sessions of floating, the subjects began to experience negative emotions less often, stress decreased and anxiety. And for many, the effect persisted for seven months.

Relieves Depression

This showed the same studyJ. S. Feinstein, Sü S. Khalsa, Hung-wen Yeh, C. Wohlrab, W. K. Simmons, M. B. Stein, M. P. Paulus. Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST / Public Library of Science one. Participants with depression and burnout noticed that after the first session their mood improved. Scientists believe that this effect appeared due to relaxation and shutdown of external stimuli.

Reduces muscle pain

This effect has been studiedA. Kjellgren, U. Sundequist, T. Norlander, T. Archer. Effects of flotation ‑ REST on muscle tension pain / Pain research & management with the participation of 37 women and men suffering from chronic muscle pain in the neck and back. After 3 weeks of floating, people felt much better. Scientists linked this to a decrease in stress hormone levels.

Protects the cardiovascular system

Scientists suggest that such an effectA. Kjellgren, J. Westman. Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation ‑ tank as a preventive health ‑ care intervention - a randomized controlled pilot trial / BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies arises from relaxation in the chamber and reduced stress. To test this, 65 women and men underwent 12 flotation sessions. The researchers noticed that the subjects had fewer stress hormones in their blood, blood pressure did not jump, which meant that the cardiovascular system was not at risk.

Improves sleep

Muscle pain researchers have noticedA. Kjellgren, U. Sundequist, T. Norlander, T. Archer. Effects of flotation ‑ REST on muscle tension pain / Pain research & managementthat people, after floating, fell asleep more easily at night. In another experimentA. Kjellgren, J. Westman. Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation ‑ tank as a preventive health ‑ care intervention - a randomized controlled pilot trial / BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies the subjects reported improved sleep.

Accelerates recovery

In a small studyM. W. Drillera, C. K. Argus. Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy and napping on mood state and muscle soreness in elite athletes: A novel recovery strategy? / Performance Enhancement & Health 60 athletes underwent post-workout floatation sessions. Then the subjects answered questions about their mood and muscle condition. As it turned out, thanks to the procedure, people recovered faster physically and mentally.

Another experiment showed that resting in a capsule after exercise helpsP. M. Morgan, A. J. Salacinski, M. A. Stults ‑ Kolehmainen. The Acute Effects of Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique on Recovery From Maximal Eccentric Exercise / Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research remove lactate from the muscles, which usually causes pain and discomfort.

Helps mental and creative performance

After floating, some describeK. Carder. What is the Lived Experience of Floatation-REST? / Alliant International University his state as zeroing of consciousness, a feeling of reboot, which reveals creative abilities. Scientists suggestK. Jonsson, A. Kjellgren. Curing the sick and creating supermen - How relaxation in flotation tanks is advertised on the Internet / European Journal of Integrative Medicinethat staying in the capsule helps to distract from everyday thoughts and improve imagination, develop focus and intuition, even get out of the creative crisis and increase your creativity.

How to prepare for floatation

No special preparation or examination is required before the procedure. It is enough to adhere to the following rulesEverything You Need to Know about Sensory Deprivation Tank Therapy / Healthline:

• Not to drink caffeinated drinks four hours before the dive. They stimulate the nervous system and prevent relaxation.
• Eat something 30 minutes before the float. Otherwise, hunger will also distract.
• Do not shave or wax before the procedure. After all, salt water will cause irritation or burning.
• During your period, you can submerge yourself in the chamber if you use tampons.

How is floating done

First you need to take off all jewelry and clothes, take a shower. In the capsule, you will lie and relax for about an hour. Calm music signals the beginning and end of the procedure. If you feel bad or scared, you can press the panic button and call the administrator. After the end of the floating, you will need to take a shower again to rinse the salt from the skin.

How much does floatation cost?

The cost of one session starts from 1,500 rubles. Some centers offer an immediate subscription for 10 treatments with an additional discount, or combine floating with massage and other relaxation methods.