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Floatation is the art of floating - lying still and quiet while you bob like a cork on the top of a pool of water. Floating is also known as floatation therapy, restricted environmental stimulation therapy (R.E.S.T.), and Epsom salt hydrotherapy. Floating is done in a floatation tank which is also called a sensory deprivation or isolation tank.
Currently Just Relax Floatation has two different float tanks available. The float tanks are approximately 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall. The floatation tank is a soundproof and lightproof unit in which you float like a cork effortlessly on the surface of about 10 inches of water. The float waters are infused with approximately 800 pounds of Epsom salt. The salts increase the density of the water, causing your body to be buoyant. This buoyancy creates a zero gravity environment in which anyone floats - even non-swimmers. The Epsom salt solution helps rejuvenate and detoxify the body, leaving floaters skin smooth and silky. The salts create a sterile environment; however the waters are filtered after each use to ensure water purity.
The temperature of the float water is maintained around 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which is average skin temperature. Maintaining this temperature allows your skin to "rest" as you become unaware of the feel of the water. The float tank can be experienced in complete dark and silence or you may listen to relaxing music and allow light to come into the tank.
Floatation was developed in the 1950's by the American neurophysiologist Professor Dr. John C. Lilly while working at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Dr. Lilly and his associate, Dr. Jay Shirley, were intrigued with the origins of conscious activity within the brain - asking the question "does the brain need external stimuli to keep its conscious state going". Restricting external stimuli led to the development of the first floatation tank in which the floater was suspended upright, entirely underwater, head completely covered by an underwater breathing apparatus and mask. As Dr. Lily continued his experiments he continued to improve the design of the float tank - simplifying it. The simplified design used today is still very similar to the designs developed by the early 1970's. Prior to 1983, float tanks were primarily used by scientists and researchers. The use of floatation tanks increased in popularity and can now be found in health spas, fitness centers, professional sports centers and private homes. The International REST Investigators Society (IRIS) was formed in 1982 to give researchers a platform to share their research findings. Floatation tanks have appeared in the media for decades - on the movie "Altered States", as well as episodes of the Simpson's, Absolutely Fabulous, CSI and FRINGE. Sensory deprivation tanks are always something to talk about!
www.floatdreams.com
