Flotation Tank

I have always been intrigued by alternative therapies, but have never really tried any until recently. I have been feeling a little stressed out for a while and regularly have trouble sleeping. A few people had suggested maybe trying a session in a floatation tank. The idea when it was first approached to me, sounded completely bizarre. Always willing to try anything once, I though it couldn't do any harm and decided to look into it further.
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...A floatation tank is a bath like tank with a lid. The tank is filled with water and Epsom Salts kept at body temperature. The water is only shallow, being around a foot deep, and the lid is automatic so you can choose to leave the lid open if you wish.

The Purpose of a Floatation Tank

By lying on your back in the tank, the salt water allows you to float effortlessly. The experience of weightlessness enables both physical ... more

I have always been intrigued by alternative therapies, but have never really tried any until recently. I have been feeling a little stressed out for a while and regularly have trouble sleeping. A few people had suggested maybe trying a session in a floatation tank. The idea when it was first approached to me, sounded completely bizarre. Always willing to try anything once, I though it couldn't do any harm and decided to look into it further.

What is a Floatation Tank?

A floatation tank is a bath like tank with a lid. The tank is filled with water and Epsom Salts kept at body temperature. The water is only shallow, being around a foot deep, and the lid is automatic so you can choose to leave the lid open if you wish.

The Purpose of a Floatation Tank

By lying on your back in the tank, the salt water allows you to float effortlessly. The experience of weightlessness enables both physical and mental senses to be rested so you can achieve full relaxation. It has been described by some people as a return to the womb. (I personally cannot remember being in the womb, so cannot comment).

A session in a floatation tank should

 Relieve old injuries (especially back aches)
 Ease Arthritis
 Improve the condition of the skin
 Increase creativity and imagination
 Improve concentration and energy levels
 Regulate sleeping patterns - simulates 4 hours sleep
 Relieve stress

My Experience

I was getting rather keen to have a try at floating and managed to find details of my nearest Float Centre at www.floatationtankassociation.net

I was pleased to find out that a reasonably new centre had opened in Leeds called "Just Float". It's located in the City Centre and easy for me to get to, so I telephoned to book myself in for a session. The lady I spoke to booked me an appointment for a few days later and advised me to take my own towel (although she mentioned I could hire one from the centre for the cost of £2.50). She also advised me not to shave on the day (as the salt would cause irritation).

On the day of my appointment I arrived at the centre, and was greeted by the calmest woman I've ever met. She spoke softly and slowly and introduced herself as Emma. She handed me a bottle of water, for which, at the time I was extremely thankful (due to the walk and the heat, I probably looked as though I was ready to collapse). She checked I had a towel and then took me down to one of the Tanks, to explain how it worked. The Tank I was introduced to was like a tear shaped bath with a lid - quite similar to a large toilet seat without the hole in the middle. The lid was wide open, and I could see the water inside, there was also a light inside, which gave me some reassurance.

Emma gave me a run through of what the buttons inside the Tank did. There was one for the light and one to work the lid. There was also a "Panic" button. At the time, she mentioned that there was only us in the centre, so if, for whatever reason I needed help, just to press the "panic" button and she'd come straight in to help.

She asked me a few quick questions about how I'd found out about the centre and my reason's for coming (although, not in an intrusive way - more of a friendly way). I told her I had been suffering from anxiety and depression, and she assured me that I would find the experience very therapeutic. She advised me also, that the float sessions were helpful, if you were trying to quit an addiction such as smoking.

I would like to think that I'm not a huge sucker for marketing ploys and sales talk (hey - who am I trying to kid). Emma told me she used the tank regularly and I just kept thinking "damn - I want to be as calm as you, without the aid of drugs!"

The tank was in its own room along with a shower. There were beauty products available for me to use, such as baby wipes, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion. Emma advised me to take a shower before I entered the tank, and told me to shower wearing the earplugs provided, so water wouldn't get into my ears.

She told me I could leave the door to the room unlocked if I wished. As there were only ourselves in the centre, she told me she could quickly pop in if I had any trouble. She told me to relax and enjoy my float and then left me to it.

Left alone in the room I suspiciously eyed the tank with mixed feelings of excitement and panic. I opened a packet of yellow sponge earplugs and after a few attempts managed to settle them snugly into my ears. After undressing I hopped in the shower (I can't remember the reason for me showering beforehand - but I was following instructions). After a quick wash I dried myself off and applied a thick layer of Vaseline around my eyes. (I was advised to do this to stop the salt water from getting into my eyes). Naked and Vaselined up - I was now fully prepared to enter the tank!

I felt like a bit of a fool at this time when the realisation of what I was doing hit me. I began to giggle and think to myself "what the hell am I doing?" However, I managed to convince myself that I was "cool" and just trying something new. I confidently stepped into the tank, the water felt good - just the perfect temperature. I lay myself down in the water and started humming to myself as I balanced my weight with my hands on the bottom of the tank. I lifted my hands and then stupidly was amazed about the fact I was floating. At first I kept trying to see if I could make myself sink, purposely thrusting my body downwards. They obviously have a reason for calling it a floatation tank, and my efforts didn't work.

Soon enough some "soothing music" started playing. I was baffled at first when I heard it, and couldn't understand why I could hear music whilst I was wearing earplugs. Anyway, I soon stopped questioning, and began to relax. After 5 minutes or so, I began feeling a bit cocky and thought "hey - I can do this with the lid down!" I stood up to pull down the lid, it wouldn't budge at first, so I yanked it harder - then the lid suddenly came loosely crashing down at an angle." At that moment I became trapped. The lid wasn't down fully enough for me to relax - but it was shut at an angle so I also couldn't get out of the tank. There was a gap just big enough to fit my head through. This event was nothing new to me, as I seem to have many "Frank Spencer" moments. I soon after remembered that the lid was automatic - and there was a button to lower it. Oh dear - I'd managed to break this expensive piece of equipment!

I realised that I couldn't stay there forever, so there was no other option but to press the panic button. Emma came rushing downstairs to see if I was ok. She banged on the door and asked me what was wrong. "I'm stuck" I shouted. "Can you come in and help me please?" She entered the room, to the beautiful sight of her expensive tank looking quite "f****d up" and me with my head poking out of it. "Oh no, how did this happen?" she asked, still in her calm manner. I thought about the cost of the tank, and wondered whether to lie or not. My conscience told me to tell the truth. "Erm….I forgot about the button" I said embarrassed. "I'm really, really, really sorry - have I broken it?"

I had to love Emma. She had obviously been overdosing on the alternative therapy and must have made an oath to some god that she would never lose her cool. "Oh, it's ok" she said "that's for me to worry about - don't let it concern you. There's nobody in the tank next door so you can go in there." She lifted the lid so I could scramble out of the tank, trying to cover my modesty. I grabbed my towel and she told me to get my things together and she would settle me in the next room.

There were only two tanks in the centre, so I reassured Emma that I'd get it right this time. She took me to the other tank and left me to settle in the room. The music started playing again, so I got into the tank and lay down. After a couple of minutes of swishing about in the water, I decided to lower the lid. Thankfully remembering the button this time. As the lid lowered slowly, it eventually stopped shut and left me floating in a dim pink light. I felt reasonably calm at this time as the music continued to play. I had been told, that whilst in the tank my mind would empty. The music stopped. (I was told beforehand that the music would play for 10 minutes at the start, then would come back on when it was time for me to get out) Always being one, to prove people wrong I started thinking about work and running over the things I needed to do. Being cocooned from the rest of the world, after about 20 minutes or so (I lost concept of time so this is only a guess) I eventually stopped thinking and just began to exist.

I began swishing my hair around in the water imagining I was a mermaid. I started to think to myself - I can't just think of nothing, just to prove to myself my brain was still active. It became too much so I gave up and just continued to float, occasionally floating towards the side of the tank and bashing my head in the process. Too relaxed to even think "ouch" I pushed myself back to the centre, and continued to exist just floating. The music seemed to come on quite suddenly and made me jump out of my comfortable state. I figured it was time to get out and get back to reality.

I have to say getting out of the tank took a lot more energy than getting in. My legs felt like lead weights, and getting into the shower seemed like an extremely difficult task. Once in the shower I began to wash the salt off, my hair felt incredibly straw-like so I piled on the conditioner.

After drying and dressing myself, I felt very calm. I wandered up the stairs slowly and went to see Emma at the reception. She asked me how I felt. It seemed like a bit of an effort to talk at the time so I just replied saying I felt relaxed. I paid for my session, and she suggested maybe booking another one. My brain was completely switched off at the time, so I told her I'd think about it. She told me to maybe go to the coffee shop next door and have a herbal tea. I said I had already arranged to meet my friend in town for a coffee but she told me to avoid caffeine for 24 hours. She suggested a white wine and soda would be acceptable. I liked the sound of that, so headed out to enjoy a relaxing drink.

The After Effects

After my float I went to meet my friend for a drink and then caught the bus home. As soon as I got home I still felt a bit salty, so decided to have a bath. After bathing, I collapsed on my bed and fell into a very deep sleep. It was about 4.30pm when I fell asleep, and I was only awoken hours later at 8.00pm when my phone started to ring. Slightly confused, I awoke thinking it was the next morning. My friend Karen explained it was still the same day and tried to tempt me into a few drinks that evening. Far too tired and relaxed, I refused and told her I'd catch up with her when I was feeling stressed again.

The following day, although I'd slept for England, I did find my energy levels had increased. I was up and ready to face the world at 7am, and I noticed that my skin also felt incredibly soft.

Would I do it again?

Yes, I would do it again. Ideally, it would be good to do on a Sunday morning, just to revive myself before heading back to work on Monday. The only downside really is the price. My session cost £32, which is ok to do once a month, but weekly sessions would leave me broke.

Details of the centre I visited are as below, to find details of your nearest centre log on to www.floatationtankassociation.net

Just Float
64 North Street
Leeds
LS2 7PN

Telephone number: 0113 2433 800
Email address: just.float@btconnect.com
Web site: www.justfloat.co.uk

 

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