Also known as floating or float therapy, the patient experiences floating in a specially-designed tank sometimes called a sensory deprivation tank, filled with 10 inches of warm water, 800lbs of Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) and a set temperature of 93.5 degrees, which is the body’s normal skin temperature.
A typical float session is 30, 60 or 90 minutes depending on a floaters preference. Lying back, you float effortlessly on the surface with all parts of your body perfectly supported by the water. Your body is no longer affected by the constant downward pull of gravity, which is the single greatest cause of wear and tear on bones, joints and body tissue.
As muscle tension melts away, you find yourself floating weightless and free. For first-time floaters, it is common to have an overload of thoughts in the mind and tension in the body for the first few minutes of the float session. As you continue to relax and breathe deeply, realizing that no effort is needed to stay afloat, your mind will begin to quiet and your body will begin to release its tension. This is when the real benefits of floating take place.
Floatation therapy is known for heightening deep mental relaxation. It allows the brain to produce a greater amount of theta waves, which is present during deep meditation and light sleep, increases mental clarity, creativity and memory function. Floating is also said to increase the release of the endorphins, which leads to elevated mood states and alleviation of anxiety, depression, and negative mental habits.
It has recently been discovered that there is a secondary effect which is important to floatation therapy. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin and this can correct magnesium deficiency which affects nearly 75% of Americans due to poor diet, over-cropping of food without adequate replacement of magnesium in a normal diet.