Sensory deprivation tanks/ float therapy 101

Sensory Deprivation Tanks/ float therapy 101

Sensory deprivation tanks are very well known as Float therapy, Float tanks, Floatation, REST (Restrictive environmental stimulus Therapy). Imagine being suspended in a bath of Epsom salt or magnesium sulphate. It’s dark ( You can turn the lights off from inside) , quiet, and the water temperature matches your body temperature so you feel like you are floating in space.

Sounds exciting right? Floating in a floatation tank is certainly calming but this therapy can offer more than just simple relaxation.

The History

Year 1958. A ' Far Out ' Scientist Named Dr. John C Lilly, was called in by NASA to understand a few things about space travel and Human body and mind. He was then to create an environment similar to space where there is no gravity and no sensory stimuli. He began his work and in a few years created an environment where there was no gravity and Low sensory input on the Human mind.
He achieved this by creating a tank filled with about 10-12 inches of water, Added about 800 KG epsom salt to achieve the buoyancy. He Himself and many other astronauts went into this environment till the year 1969.
Many studies were conducted at this time by Dr. Lilly and NASA to fathom the effects of zero gravity and zero stimulation on the Human body and mind.
In the year 1969, Dr. Lilly introduced the first ever Sensory deprivation tanks to the general populace. The Company was called "Samadhi" and yes it was for a specific reason. float regularly and find out why it was called  'Samadhi'.


*The original tank used to and still looks exactly the same

What are Floatation Tanks Anyways....

Sensory deprivation tanks or floating is a 0 gravity environment that allows the mind and body to completely let go, relax, and reset. Using about 700 to 800 Kg's of Epsom Salts, the buoyancy of the water makes floating on water feel like floating on air. By eliminating the forces of gravity pulling on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, you can effortlessly relieve pain, relax, recover, and improve sleep in this unique state.

Flotation therapy (aka sensory deprivation) offers reliefs and benefits which are cumulative (when done regularly as a process) —they build on themselves with each subsequent session. We like to say “the more you float, the better it gets”, as floats themselves deepen beyond the first session. Though flotation is an “effortless” therapy, the body and mind actually learn how to relax into the float with each session.. Stress, tension and pain have formed over time and will take some time to experience the greatest relief—luckily, floating is a relaxing, fun and effortless way to do so!

Types of floatation tanks around...

There are 4 types of float tanks around for you to experience your tranquil sessions in.

Float tanks which are primarily like the Samadhi tanks. float pods which are space age looking goblet like devices. Float rooms where the entire rooms are created to give us the similar sensory deprivation experience. 

Float pods

Benefits of Floatation tanks 

Through the peer research of over 50 years, there are over 3000 Research papers available over the internet for us to understand the benefits of Sensory deprivation tanks. Research states that Float tanks help us in 

• Insomnia and sleep problems
• Fibromyalgia
• Digestion
• Arthritis
• Autism
• Tendency towards diabetes
• Muscle strains
• Addiction problems
• Stress and anxiety Release.
• Pain management 
• Fibromyalgia 
• Jet lag 

And many many more.

Where to float in India? 

Though very scarce in India, the most pioneer float centres in India are run and managed by 1000 Petals. They are the largest float centre chain in Asia. in Mumbai, Bangalore and Gurgaon Delhi NCR. Other centres are, Shalom float and mind spa in Pune, Chennai floats in Chennai.