Floatation Tank Relaxation – Pj

Mental illness is so prevalent in our society today and it is likely to touch us all in some form or another throughout our life. The world we live in today is so fast paced and full of distractions, we can often neglect our minds. Being able to switch off your mind and truly relax is something people struggle with and can often affect other areas of our life such as relationships or work environments.

I recently saw an interesting program on TV about children and adults with mental illness (autism & post-traumatic stress disorder) and how brain activity is affected by water currents and buoyancy while in floatation tanks and the ocean. The program associated the two illnesses with high brain activity, so essentially the brain never rests.

Floatation tanks have been around since the 60’s and the idea behind the tanks is to disconnect the body and mind from everything in your life, a form of mediation and relaxation. I love the idea of mediation, however like most people I find it difficult to locate a place with no distractions to mediate.

I was really interested in the floatation tanks and after googling several places online I decided to take a drive to Mornington to a placed called “The Private Sea”. 350kg of Epsom salt is diluted in 700 litres of water, creating buoyancy for you to float (don’t worry you can’t drown). The room is kept at a controlled temperature so you don’t become cold and is also insulated from noise and light. The water is also at a controlled temperature and once you slide the lid closed you literally blur the line between your skin and liquid.

Initially I felt a little claustrophobic, however about 15 minutes of floating I became very calm and relaxed, to the point where I actually fell asleep and only woke as I had floated to one end of the tank. The magnesium in the water is absorbed through the skin and helps regulate enzymes in the body, helps with circulation, muscle tightness and muscle twitches (eyelid for example). 

Trying to get out of the water was a very strange sensation, the effects of gravity make you feel extremely heavy and I found it difficult to get out.

There are many claimed benefits from floating, however the benefits I have noticed within my own body include:

–  Longer/deeper sleeps (especially the night of the float)

–  Feel well rested when I wake

–  Increased energy

–  Lower back/neck pain relieved

–  Muscles are less tense

It’s important to listen to both our mind and body, make sure you time out from your busy schedule to relax and recharge the batteries both physically and mentally.