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Photo Credit: Pop Sci |
If you’re up-to-date with pop-culture,
you’ve probably seen the TV show Stranger Things and that episode where Eleven
was subjected to a sensory deprivation tank. Joe Rogan is trying it, all the
hippies are trying it, and now I’ve tried it too! It’s my duty to now report back
to you!
Sensory
deprivation tank (also known as isolation tank or float tank) was initially
invented to promote deep-meditative state, out-of-body experience, and a
pain-relief treatment. These tanks contain about 280 gallons of
water and 1000 pounds of Epsom Salt. In other words, the water is super
dense—as in, 5x denser than the famous Dead
Sea! This floatation tank is lightless and soundproof with the goal to
shut-off all five senses as a form to meditate, relax, and have an out of body
experience.
Back in 1954, John C. Lilly
examined the effects of sensory deprivation. He wanted to figure out how to
separate the body from the senses (refer to his book, “the deep self"). This
study was later revisited by scientists who later renamed sensory deprivation therapy to Restricted Environmental Stimulation
Therapy (REST). Today, the two most colloquial REST methods are Chamber REST
and Flotation REST. Both process involve sensory deprivation shutting all five
senses; except, those in Chamber Rest lies in a bed, whereas those in Flotation
REST lies in a buoyant liquid. For this experience, I chose Flotation REST for
a slightly more pizazz experience.
In
2001, scientists investigated whether REST therapy will
alleviate muscle tension to those experiencing chronic pain. They enlisted 37
subjects who were suffering from chronic pain, who were then randomly assigned
to a control (n=17) or an experimental group (n=20). Those in the experimental
group received 9 opportunities to use the flotation-REST techniques over a
3-week period. They found that the most severe perceived pain was drastically
reduced, whereas low perceived pain was not impacted at all by floating.
Ultimately, they found that such therapy can impact chronic pain suffers temporary
pain relief (Kjellgren et al., 2001).
A more recent study explored
the long-term effects of the flotation-REST 4 months after the treatment. They
recruited 70 participants (N=70; 54 women and 16 men) who were diagnosed with
stress-related pain. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a control group or a flotation-REST group. Those in the floatation-REST
group found a decrease in stress, anxiety, depression, and pain. Conversely,
there was an increase found in quality of sleep, optimism, and prolactin (a
hormone that plays a vital role in sleep). Despite the overall positive
outcomes of this study, researchers called out a few limitations in this study.
First, they didn’t follow-up with the control group due to financial
constraints. Additionally, the small number of prolactin measurement isn’t
sufficient (Bood et al., 2016)
Similar
to my other conquests, sensory deprivation tank is still considered an
alternative medicine. However, unlike the other pseudoscience-like trend that
I’ve tried, floatation therapy appeals to me on a meditation standpoint. Think
about it, we’re constantly glued to our phones and busy navigating our
day-to-day life, when’s the last time that you’ve seriously and consciously
shut-off from these distractions? Personally, I can’t recall. I’m hoping to
find myself in this process and get in-touch with my subconscious. I’m a very
anxiety-driven person and I overthink all the minute details of life. I wanted
to subject myself where I’m forced to not think
and embrace the silence, and distractions of life.
What to Expect
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Floatation at Apotheosis. Photo credit: Apotheosis |
Usually, float tanks are
chambers where it’s a lot more confined, coffin-like, pitch black darkness with
water filled-with epsom salt. The place I went to in Monticello, MN (don’t ask,
it was a drunk Groupon purchase, so I traveled for an hour… lol).... =P
Their float room is 8 feet long and 5 feet wide. It
features overhead lighting and underwater lighting (which most people turn off;
but if you’re afraid, you can leave it on). The water is also skin temperature,
so you don’t feel the water, it will feel like you’re simply floating in a near
zero gravity environment.
Before you get in the float tank, you’ll have to take a quick
shower to remove oils, makeup, and dirt from your body. You’ll do this before
and after your session. Once you’re finished showering, you can start your
session. Your spa should give you 6 minutes of prep time before they start your
session. During that 6 minutes, lights will be on and you can get ready. Once
the 6-minutes is up, lights will close and your clock will start. You can wear
your swimsuit or your birthday suit, it really doesn’t matter.
In this float room, I decided to float facing the door since
it’s a lot narrower that way. I like being coccooned in the corner and bumping
in the edges once in a while. Floating in sensory deprivation tank is not the
same as floating in a pool. Floating in a pool requires conscious paddling and
effort whereas, floating tanks allows you to flow naturally due to the 800-1000
pounds of epsom salt.
The Main Experience
Lights off. Ear plugs in. It’s pitch black. My body naturally
floated. It made me anxious for a solid 10-minutes. I was definitely
overthinking too much. I was fascinated how I’m actually floating without
trying. I tried forcing my weight down but I just keep going back up! It was
entertaining, I thought. But I really have to get serious. I took a long and
deep breath and attempted not to think.
My arms supported my neck as I float. I was flooded with worry or questions. I was thinking about why I’m doing this. When should I let go of thinking? Will I actually feel tired after 60 minutes? After 5 minutes of excessive worrying, my mind switched to talking to myself. (lol). Logically, I thought, hey, it’s too quiet. Let’s talk. So I tried just talking about my life and what I want and essentially, I figured I should stop talking or thinking for that matter. (If you know me, I’m a chatterbox so quietness intimidates me a little).
It's not until 20-minues of floating (I’m guessing) since I was
finally able to let go. All of a sudden, the natural movement of my body no
longer bugged me. I forced myself not to open my eyes, and not think. Many
equate their floating experience analogous to being in your mother’s womb.
Except this time, you’re an adult and have consciousness. You can think of
floating as a vacation for your thoughts. Your body will float ever so
naturally. As you lay in absolute tranquility, and your muscles/joints/overall
body at ease.Essentially, you won’t think about anything. You’ll sleep while
floating even. For the first time, your entire body will be completely rested
and at ease.
Post-Float
Apotheosis located in Monticello, MN |
There were times during my 60-minute float where I was
overthinking about how much time I have left. At one point, I thought, shit, I
have to do this for 60 minutes?! Once you get into floating however, the time
will go by relatively quickly. The blue light will turn back on to signal that
your session is over. Since your body is not used to floating—sitting, standing,
and opening your eyes will take a while to readjust from the pitch black
darkness and weightlessness. Veterans of floating claimed hallucinations or
psychedelic like experience. I’ve never really done psychedelic drugs in my
life but I could see how veterans of floating experiences this. I’d say, I’ve
experience mild-form of out-of-body experience. To me, floating is such an
eye-opening experience. It allowed me to let go of all my problems, worries
about life, and just…let go. Shutting-off from the world for an hour without
seeing or hearing anything sounds terrifying. Though in reality, it’s
rejuvenating. After my post-float shower, you walk into this meditation room
where you can sit for a while and reflect. I took advantage of that to soak
every moment of my post-float high experience.
The Verdict
HIGHLY
RECOMMEND. I genuinely have never felt so clear-minded in my life.
After I got out of the tank, I was shocked. I was so elated and full of joy. It’s
partially due to “I can’t believe I just did that” and also, I’ve never had a
chance to reflect/meditate to that extreme. Floating usually cost about
$70/60-minute session. But you can get it for cheap (as low as $49) on Groupon for Minneapolis ; (Float with Apotheosis here). I CANNOT
wait to go back and do it again. I’m hoping that for my next session, I will be
able to relax a lot quicker. It takes a while to adjust, but the more you do
it, the easier it gets. I legitimately had the best sleep that night and
clearest mind the next morning. I am not endorsing floating as an alternative
medicine with the hope of curing whatever ailment you have. I am endorsing it
as a mental break from the busy world. Our problems and stresses is mostly
mental, but that’s usually the hardest part. It’s worth every dime in my
opinion. So if you’re currently stress and need a vacation ASAP but only have
$50, this is what you need! I recommend it for everyone! Majority of floaters
claims that it’s best to float at night vs day (I floated at night). It
definitely calms you down and gets you ready for some good night’s sleep! DO
IT!!!!! J
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