It’s common to experience feelings of stress, overwhelm, and pressure in life. Whether it’s stress from your job, pressure to perform well in your athletic career, or just the general feeling of being overwhelmed that accompanies life changes, it can be a challenge to function well while dealing with these sensations. There are many ways to relieve stress, such as medication, natural supplements, and mindfulness practices.
In addition to these methods, float tank therapy is a relatively new method of stress relief that may be able to help. Float tank therapy offers a range of benefits for the mind and body and can help relieve exercise-related soreness and pain as well. If you’re new to float tank therapy, this guide has everything you need to know.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Float Tank Therapy, Anyway?
Float tank therapy is a form of relaxation therapy that takes place in a float tank. These tanks are also known as sensory deprivation tanks because they are completely soundproof, dark, and temperature proof as well. The water in a float tank is heated to around 95-degrees Fahrenheit, which is equal to most people’s body temperature, so when you enter the float tank, you won’t feel the temperature of the water.
The goal of float tank therapy is to eliminate external stimulation. This includes sound, light, and touch. The water in a float tank is packed with Epsom salts, which can help your body float effortlessly and are good for the skin. The water in a float tank is typically about a foot deep, and most float tank therapy sessions take up to an hour.
There are many ways water can be therapeutic for the mind and body. From swimming to taking ice baths, there are tons of ways water can help make you the best person and athlete you can be.
Let’s look at how float tank therapy is different from other forms of water-related therapy and how you can get the most out of this method.
Benefits of Float Tank Therapy
There are many benefits of float tank therapy, ranging from mental health to physical health and wellness. When you enjoy water-based therapy in a sensory deprivation tank, you can take advantage of all these benefits.
Here are some of the most common benefits to consider.
Relaxation
Probably the most popular benefit of float tank therapy is relaxation. Stress is often caused by a stimulatory overload. If you have too many thoughts, feelings, and external stimulants without time to process them, you can become overwhelmed and unable to relax.
If you feel stressed about work, school, family issues, or life in general, float tank therapy may be able to help. It does this by getting rid of all external stimulation and creating a feeling of being without senses-hence the term “sensory deprivation.” Your mind will have time to rest, relax, and enjoy complete silence, darkness, and lack of sensation.
Pain Relief
Float tank therapy may also be able to help promote pain relief. If you experience any form of chronic pain or acute pain from injury or muscle soreness, this therapy might be for you. Float tank therapy can help soothe pain from the body and promote relaxation in the muscles and joints. Plus, Epsom salts encourage the muscles and bones to relax while relieving pain in tense areas. It’s packed with benefits for the mind as well.
Cognitive Function
Float tank therapy offers a wide variety of cognitive benefits as well. In addition to being able to support mental health by reducing feelings of stress, overwhelm, and feelings of depression, this practice can help boost things like cognitive function, focus, problem-solving skills, and concentration.
Promotes Overall Health
Float tank therapy offers other benefits that promote overall health and wellness. For example, it can help improve sleep, promote the production and release of endorphins, support healthy levels of blood pressure and heart rate. It also supports circulation and immune health, boosts mood, eases pain, feelings of stress, and even boosts creativity and awareness.
Who Can Use Float Tank Therapy?
Float tank therapy is available to anyone who wants to benefit from stress relief and pain relief. Whether you’re a teacher, older adult, young adult over the age of 16, or an athlete, you can use float tank therapy to help relax your mind and body. However, it’s important to note that there are some health conditions that may prevent you from using a float tank.
For instance, those with kidney disease, epilepsy, asthma, psychosis, heart conditions, low blood pressure, claustrophobia, and more shouldn’t use float tank therapy. Be sure to talk to a medical professional about float tank therapy and whether it’s right for you.
How To Properly Use Float Tank Therapy
It’s important to be prepared the first time you use a float tank to relax and calm the mind and body. However, the process is different depending on whether you’re at home or visiting a spa.
Float Tank Therapy at Home
Float tank therapy at home can be a great way to relax after a workout and take care of your body and mind. It’s important to note that float tanks can be expensive to have and maintain at home. They can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 to own, not counting the cost of maintenance and upkeep.
Spa Float Tank Therapy
If you’re doing float tank therapy at your local flotation center or spa, here is how the process will go:
First, you will be asked to remove your clothing and jewelry before entering the float tank. It may help to wear comfy, athleisure-like clothes. These will be easy to take off and on and be comfortable to wear to the spa and back home from the spa.
Once you undress, you will be asked to take a shower and get clean before entering the tank. This is beneficial for you and will help keep the tank clean.
Next, you will enter the tank and close the lid. It will be dark and soundproof. Lay in the water on your back and allow your body to float. There may be music playing at the beginning of your session to help you relax.
You will stay in the flotation tank for around an hour. When your session has ended, you will get out of the tank and shower once again. After this, put your clothes back on and check out of the spa. It can also be helpful to wear clothing with moisture-wicking properties that will keep you comfortable going from a wet to dry environment.
Why Should You Try Float Tank Therapy?
There are many reasons to try float tank therapy. Not only does it help promote recovery, relief from stress and feelings of anxiety, mental focus and clarity, and physical wellness, but it’s also a soothing way to relax after a long week of working and working out. If you need a new spa routine and are looking for a new way to ease your body, float tank therapy may be able to help.
Sources:
Can Sensory Deprivation Floating Make You Less Stressed? | UW Medicine
Benefits of Float Therapy | Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Blog
(PDF) What is the Lived Experience of Floatation-REST? | Research Gate
Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST | NCBI
