Every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our senses are being stimulated by light, sound, and other sensations. Our muscles and bones are working hard against gravity to support us with each movement that we make. If we are not careful to take care of our bodies, we end up with aches and pains, muscle stiffness, difficulty sleeping, and other stress-related chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and insulin resistance.
But what if there was a holistic therapy that had the potential to reverse these chronic issues and alleviate stress with no prescription necessary? Enter “sensory deprivation,” the practice that literally deprives your senses of all the usual disruptions while allowing you to connect with your body and the true essence of your being. Sounds a little out there, but bear with me! With “float” therapy you feel light and weightless, like you’re floating in zero gravity, instantly alleviating the pressure on your joints.
After hearing some amazing reviews about floating; I had to try it out for myself!
So with much anticipation I made an appointment at Float in Marlton, New Jersey. Upon arrival I discovered a small store-front with a spa-like, ‘hipster’ vibe that was both relaxing and welcoming. The owner was a cool and quirky gentleman whose energy quickly eased my “first time floater” anxiety. He showed me around and introduced me to my own private float tank. Each tank had a theme with slightly different colors and designs. I chose The Galaxy tank because who doesn’t love the idea of floating amongst the stars? Other tanks include The Grotto and The Water World, which are a bit more neutral in look and feel.
The tank itself sits inside a private changing room behind a huge door, which upon opening reveals a warm (body temperature) shallow pool of Epsom-salt-infused water, so dense with salt that your body literally floats right on top. It takes a little while to trust your weight against the water and fully relax; however, relaxing my body was a piece of cake in comparison to relaxing my mind. For a while I took in the sensation of weightlessness and enjoyed the starry lights and calming music. The salt water was surprisingly slimy against my skin and hair.
I then tried a gratitude exercise to get myself into a positive state of mind, giving thought, one-by-one, to the things that I am most thankful for. After my gratitude practice I was ready to finally “let go.” I turned off the lights and music to get the full ‘sensory deprivation’ experience. There I hung, weightless in the water- No stress, no responsibility, no deadlines, no clothes fitting tightly after too many holiday celebrations- just me. And it was nothing short of amazing.
Before my time was up I discovered how fantastic it was to stretch in a weightless state. The tank was large enough to fully extend my arms and legs in every direction. I could bend my body in ways that are difficult to do against gravity. The stretching helped to further release the tension in my muscles. By the end I felt like a million bucks and discovered a deeper state of relaxation that I had not felt in a very long time.
After my float, I spent some time in the recovery room where I found journals filled with the positive experiences that others have shared about floating. I was not ready to enter back into the real world just yet, so I read through the books while sipping on some herbal tea. I felt calm, clear-headed, and relaxed. It is safe to say that I will be making another appointment at Float and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new way to practice some self-care.
If you are interested in trying sensory deprivation, here are a few bits of advice:
- Go with an open mind and leave your worries at the door. Floating is not the time to try and solve all of life’s imminent problems. It is a time to “let go” and be present in the moment. Neither the past nor the future exits, and worrying will do nothing to change either.
- Use the ear plugs! I had salt/water in my ears for weeks!
- Do not- I REPEAT- do not get salt in your eyes! They do have a spray bottle with fresh water inside the tank that can be used to flush out your eye, but take my word for it and proceed with caution. It stings!
- Be patient with yourself. If you are unable to fully relax during your first session you may need to go back multiple times to experience the full benefits. Just like meditation, it takes practice.
Want to try a float? Use our discount code for 10% off at Float SNJ in Marlton, New Jersey!- INNOVATIVE10
