I was fortunate to find a float center advertised in a Chicago newspaper back in '99. I fell asleep for a little while and when I got out, all the colors were richer, the sunlight was softer, and I felt like I was walking on a cloud when I walked back to my car.
Two years later, I was nearly paralyzed with sciatic pain. I went to see a chiropractor and he put me in even more pain, so I went to the float center again. I thought it would help like standing in a heatedswimming pool helped, but the float tank did much more. It quickly relaxed my super-tight muscles and the stabs of pain completely stopped within 45 minutes. This is no small thing - I hadn't slept in almost a week because of the constant shooting pain. The last time I had an episode like this, I was in California, nearly paralyzed for 2 weeks. I floated 16 hours over 3 days at SpaceTime Tanks in Chicago and was back to work and off the pain meds - totally pain free.
Even though my sciatic pain was getting progressively worse (more frequent) for 6 years, I didn't float again for 9 months after that initial 3-day period. I do maintenance floats every year or so when I start to feel a twinge of pain, but I float much more often for the pleasure of it. Massage is wonderful, but nothing releases endorphins like floating.
Please don't judge floating based on the negative reviews here. There are 100s of float centers around the world. They don't all look the same, so opinions will vary. The one thing that is constant about all flotation tanks is the high degree of Epsom salt used. This is what causes you to float above the water. By the way, floating above the water is the reason why a float tank must be enclosed. Otherwise, the air temperature would be much cooler than the water temperature and you wouldn't relax as deeply due to your muscles remaining tense. Having the air and water at skin temperature (94 degrees) creates the kind of comfort that we all enjoyed when we were in our mother's womb.
Getting back to Epsom salt - Epsom salt is magnesium sulfate, a natural antiseptic. I encourage you to do a web search for the health benefits of magnesium sulfate. Epsom salt prevents the growth of bacteria, making flotation tanks a cleaner environment than any swimming pool or hot tub. In addition, Epsom salt is also a mild muscle relaxant. If you float for an hour and then get a massage, you'll get far more value out of the massage because your muscles will already be warm and relaxed.
I've compiled the best information I could find on the subject of floatation therapy and posted it at floatforhealth.net. I also compiled an up to date directory of all the US floatation centers, with Europe and the rest of the world to follow.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
We know that spending an hour in a tank of water might sound at first like a David ... more
Blaine-style stunt - but in fact this experience is about total relaxation. You'll lie in a quiet, darkened room in a warm solution of Epsom salts, about 10 inches deep ...
Postage & Packaging: £3.91 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Apr 10th, 2007
(Jan 14th, 2008)
very helpful by (25%):
helpful by (69%):
somewhat helpful by (6%):
