BY PAM DELANY
Water has been a key ingredient in wellness practices for centuries and is renowned for its calm and therapeutic properties. Perhaps this is why people take vacations by the sea, soak in warm springs, and take hot baths after a long day. Water is essential to our existence, sustaining life and soothing the mind, making it a critical element of health and healing. Floatation-REST ( Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy ), or float therapy, has emerged as a holistic approach that combines the healing power of water and the practice of environmental sensory deprivation.
The research that led to the development of sensory deprivation therapy dates back to the 1950s, when neuroscientist Dr. John C. Lilly was the first to conduct experiments in isolation tanks to study people consciousness. His work explored the effects of removing external stimuli, revealing serious impacts on mental states, creativity, and stress reduction. Although originally regarded as empirical, Lilly’s innovations laid the groundwork for current float therapy.
With a 30 % solution of water and Epsom salts, one can practice floating in a pod. A 180-gallon float pod requires 1, 000 pounds of salt. Epsom salts, a licensed business that specializes in float therapy, make the water so stable that it becomes undemanding. This results in a sense of weightlessness while replenishing magnesium in the body. The water temperature is maintained to match the skin’s surface, giving the impression of merging into the environment. Floating is usually done without clothing to reduce sensory distractions. Inside the pod, outside stimuli such as light, sound, and gravity fade aside, providing a unique opportunity for the body and mind to relax.
For Martha Reed, Ph. D., owner of Real REST Float Spa in Glendale, Arizona, float therapy is a mission born from her own transformational experiences.
The profound relaxation and emotional clarity I experienced after only a few sessions were life-changing, she says.” I discovered floating during a particularly stressful period in my life. ” In a float tank, you are in complete darkness and silence, with the water kept at skin temperature, which helps your mind and body reach a state of deep relaxation and meditation”.
Reed established a float spa of her possess in order to let others experience the soothing effects of floating. Her clients often experience excruciating physical and mental relief. Reed emphasizes that float therapy can be significantly more than a one-time indulgence; it can also be a method with long-term benefits.
She says that” we normally advise a series of three to five sessions for clients to fully experience the deeper states of relaxation and recovery.”
The float pod’s zero-gravity environment relieves pressure on the spine and joints, making it perfect for those with ongoing muscle tension or severe pain. Magnesium absorbed through the skin during a float session reduces inflammation, improves circulation, and supports muscle recovery. Chery Lewandowski, a customer at Reed’s spa, began floating to address neck and shoulder pain after trying chiropractic and acupuncture treatments. treatments.
She says,” The staff has been very kind and really go out of their way to provide a nice experience,” noting that little things like a spa tour and an explanation of the process made a big difference in her comfort level. After three sessions, Lewandowski noticed a decrease in pain and is still able to float frequently to control her pain. Beyond just bodily health, float therapy also has benefits for mental and physical health. The Laureate Institute for Brain Research researcher and psychologist Dr. Emily Choquette believes that there is a strong evidence for the therapeutic effects of float therapy on stress and anxiety.
” The greatest body of evidence is the effect of floatation-REST on reduction of anxiety and stress in both clinical populations and good individuals”, she explains.
Choquette is especially interested in how it can help people with conditions like anorexia nervosa improve their body image and improve their physical health.
” With regard to floatation-REST as a therapy, I am hoping the subsequent stages of research will start to evolve into more purposeful and planned applications of floatation-REST. For example, float- assisted psychotherapy is a developing area in which mental techniques are integrated into the floatation-REST experience with the guidance of a clinician. She notes that this approach involves practicing particular medical skills while floating in order to possibly increase the medicinal benefits.
Although this field is still in its early stages, it has the ability to be useful for mainstream medicine. Reed shares this optimism, envisioning a future in which medical professionals would advocate floatation therapy as a form of pain management and emotional health. She makes the point that float therapy can be especially helpful for those who struggle with PTSD. The anxious system recognizes a healthy and natural state by removing physical stimuli, allowing it to reset and renew.
The growing body of scientific evidence and favorable patient outcomes, she says, could encourage broader acceptance and integration into typical healthcare practices, even though it may also be used alongside other homeopathic options.
Despite its many benefits, some people may hesitate to try float therapy. Reed points out that float tanks are large, and clients have complete control over the environment, including the option to keep the lid opened and the lights on. This can make people feel cramped while floating. Some people even believe they will be floating in sodium chloride or ordinary salt.
” In reality, we use magnesium sulfate, generally known as Epsom salts, which not only provides buoyancy but also offers benefits like muscle relaxation and improved skin health”, she explains. Also, the magnesium that is absorbed through the skin frequently results in deep restorative sleep the same night.
Health and safety are common concerns for first-time floaters, but present float centers like Real REST take sanitation significantly. A surgical environment is ensured by modern filtration techniques and the antibiotic properties of Epsom salts. Additionally, customers are instructed to take a shower before and after floating.
Through her work at Insights for Life, a complete health and wellness center she founded, Reed’s commitment to systematic wellness extends beyond floatation therapy.
” At Insights for Life, we offer a complete range of health and wellness services designed to support systematic well-being”, she explains.
These services include massage therapy, which complements the profound relaxation achieved in float tanks, hypnotherapy, guided meditation sessions, and life coaching focused on mindfulness, stress management, and personal growth.  ,
” Our goal is to create a holistic wellness center where clients can find the support and resources they need for their mental, physical, and mental health”, Reed emphasizes.
At its core, wellness is about creating space to reconnect with oneself and balance mind, body, and spirit. Float therapy, along with various natural wellness practices and therapies, all contribute to this goal. In our fast-paced lives, prioritizing wellness allows us to emerge with greater clarity, resilience, and vitality. Float therapy’s impact on wellness extends beyond the pod into our entire well-being.
