Float On: My experience in a Sensory Deprivation Tank
The irony of a sensory deprivation tank is that in order to think outside the box, you must first go inside one.-Ryan Lilly
I spent an hour today inside a float tank, also known as a sensory deprivation chamber. A float tank is a large enclosed fiberglass chamber that looks like a bathtub heated to 93.5 degrees farenheight, skin temperature. 1,100 lbs of medical grade epsom salt are dissolved into 300 gallons of water. The spa where the session was held, Souler Float in Melbourne, FL, touts that the benefits include alleviating stress, improving sleep, increasing creativity and problem solving, improving athletic performance , and relieving pain.
I took a step into the tank. Plop. And another. Plop. I lowered the lid of the tank and sat in the epsom solution. Music began to play , a soft drumming. Lights illuminated the pod: blue, green, red , and yellow. I laid back and lifted my feet. I would hear the music still, muffled now. I lifted my arms above my head .
After a few minutes, the music stopped and the lights faded to blackness. I fought the sudden urge to sit up and open the chamber door. My thoughts raced : I was now inside a pod in total darkness and the only sound I could hear was my heart beating rapidly. I told myself I was safe and could open the door anytime I wanted . I let my body simply float. I drifted around the tank, occasionally brushing up against the sides. I wiggled my toes just to make sure my legs were still there. I focused on relaxing the different muscles in my body. I told myself I no longer had to tense my neck to hold it up, I could let it go and the water would support it.
First my thoughts drifted to my to-do list after I left but after a few minutes of forcing myself to return to focusing on relaxing my body into the water, I was able to let go and my mind quieted.
I floated until I hear the music begin to softly play again. I had survived the 45 minutes of complete darkness. The lights began to flash, making the opening of the pod to bright light less harsh. I opened the lid and stepped out to shower.
I felt relaxed and tired. My shoulders were no longer up by my ears . My muscles didn’t feel as sore from my recent workout.
After the session I went to a southwestern restaurant. The lights in the restaurant seemed a little brighter. The crackle of the steak and chicken on the grill seemed a little louder. My steps as I walked up to the counter seemed a little lighter on the ground.
Many people fall asleep on their first session but for others it may take several sessions to feel comfortable enough to completely drift off.
When you stop struggling, you float.
