What is Floatation Therapy, and How Can it Benefit You?

Floatation therapy takes place in a floatation tank, also known as a sensory deprivation tank. The tank is dark, wholly soundproofed, and contains less than a foot of saltwater.

The idea behind the tank is that it completely cuts you off from all external stimuli. Usually, you will enter the tank nude, and when it is closed, you will be cut off from sound, sight, and gravity as you float in the saltwater. This experience induces a state of complete relaxation.

In healthy people, the experience of sensory deprivation can promote several health benefits.

What are the benefits of floatation therapy?

There have been numerous scientific studies on the benefits of floatation therapy, showing that the experience can promote positive health outcomes for healthy people who take part.

Just some of the benefits of floatation therapy that have been reported include:

  • Increased creativity. Some people who have undergone floatation therapy have experience greater creativity and imagination. In some cases, being in the sensory deprivation tank has also been known to induce hallucinations, which have inspired creative thought.
  • Better focus and concentration. The relaxation induced by the floatation tank can ultimately help improve focus and concentration.
  • Helpful for anxiety. Floatation-REST therapy is beneficial for people who suffer from anxiety and mood disorders like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Just a single session is reportedly enough to see an improvement in mood and an anxiety reduction.
  • Improved sleep. A one-hour session in a float tank is equivalent to sleeping for six hours, which is why people feel so relaxed after a float therapy session. This state of relaxation can help combat the underlying causes of sleep problems like insomnia, which are often rooted in anxiety and depression.
  • Relieves muscle tension. The muscles can completely relax in a floatation tank, which means they can be highly effective for people dealing with health problems like arthritis, tension headaches, and other muscle-related problems.
  • Some people who used a floatation tank reported that they felt much happier following their session, experiencing greater wellbeing and even a sense of euphoria in some cases.

Is there anyone who shouldn’t have floatation therapy?

Floatation therapy may not be suitable for people who are likely to become disturbed by experiencing altered states of consciousness.

In addition, it’s not advisable to use a float tank if you have any of the following conditions:

  • Claustrophobia
  • Open wounds that may not react well to the saltwater
  • Epilepsy
  • Kidney disease
  • Low blood pressure

It’s also not a good idea to use a float tank if you have any kind of contagious illness such as diarrhea, as although float tanks are usually very clean, there is a risk of you passing it on.