Written by: Nadeem

Floatation therapy, also known as sensory deprivation therapy, has been proven to have both mental and physical health benefits.

How does it work? Each floatation tank is filled with extremely dense Epsom salt water, heated to body temperature, causing your body to float effortlessly on the water. You close the door behind you and can relax in complete darkness and silence, allowing your body and mind to enter a deep state of relaxation. All five of our senses are completely deprived of stimuli, which is almost impossible to achieve in our busy lives.

This activates our parasympathetic nervous system – slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cortisol. Floating has shown great effects on reducing anxiety and stress, improving sleep quality, enhanced creativity, and easing pain. Floating is a great tool for anyone hoping to relax and ease their mind and body from our daily stressors.

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common health conditions today and not everyone is able to seek help. Psychotherapy can be daunting, and some forms of medication may not be for everyone. Float therapy is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people are able to find overall improvement naturally. Many people are not able to find stillness and quiet down their mind on a regular basis and floating in a sensory deprived environment can put you into a relaxed and meditative state that is otherwise hard to achieve.

When we can quiet the mind, we can lower our stress significantly, and less stress translates to less anxiety. Theta brainwaves occur during the early stages of sleep and deep relaxation. Scientists have found that this state offers many mind and body benefits, and that floating is a simple way to get there! This is also the state our brain enters when we can enter deep states of meditation. Our mind is able to achieve this in the tank – allowing us to reap the endless benefits of meditation including enhancing self-awareness, reduce memory loss, generate kindness, help fight addictions, and improve attention and focus.

There are also many physical benefits to floating and is widely used for pain and muscle relaxation. When an athlete is in the floatation tank, the actual rate of recovery post physical exercise is enhanced beyond recognition. With 800 pounds of Epsom salts in the water, it reduces the stress of gravity and the weight and pressure is taken off strained muscles, joints and bones. The magnesium we absorb from the salts is able to improve bone health, calcium absorption, heart health, migraines and so many more. It works as a “Master Commander” in more biological processes than any other mineral! Most of us are unaware of being deficient in magnesium, which is an incredibly important mineral for your body and your brain.

For more information or to try a float session please visit www.floatvalley.com.  They are in Markham right across from Markville mall and have 6 floatation units in their space.