The Method: Float your way to better health
If you feel there are few places in the world where you can go to escape the constant ping of emails, the clamour of the kids and the stress of work, we might just have the solution for you.
Imagine floating your cares away, suspended in stress-reducing saltwater with no-one able to interrupt for at least an hour.
It’s not too good to be true – it’s called floatation therapy and the benefits are incredible: a calmer mind, reduced blood pressure, heightened creative thought and more supple skin.
And it’s coming to R.Iconic for residents who need a recharge.
What is it?
Floating isn’t new. In the ‘70s it was popular with alternative lifestylers seeking a ‘far out’ experience and to open new creative streams. It fell out of favour in the ‘80s but has recently found a resurgence in alignment with the rising mindfulness movement.
At the centre of the floating experience is a clamshell like tank that is both sound and light proof and partially filled with salty water that is extremely buoyant – you can’t really sink – and heated to outer skin temperature. All in all, it makes you feel like you’re floating through space – some users report that it’s hard to tell where your body begins and ends.
The reduced stimulation in the float tank refocuses your attention to internal stimuli, making the sensations in the body become more salient. At first the physical experience can loom large, but eventually it drops away and mental activity comes to the fore.
What are the benefits?
Float therapy is similar to a deep form of meditation, with impacts on the body and brain.
In fact, clinical neuropsychologist Justin Feinstein PhD, director of the Float Clinic and Research Centre at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, who is studying what floating does to the brain told Healthline:
“We we’re finding in our research is that floating is a form of sensory enhancement. It becomes an ideal environment for mindful meditation. For anyone who may have trouble focusing on their breath outside of the tank, floating makes it a lot easier to enter into a meditative state.”
The absorption of magnesium from the salt can have benefits for athletes and weekend warriors, relieving muscle tension, which is great for post-workout recovery. Among the athletes known to use floating in their recovery are former England soccer captain Wayne Rooney, Brisbane Bronco’s Corey Oates and Australian CrossFit champion Amanda Allen.
For the insomniacs out there, floating can also help with sleeping. A range of studies have found a link between floating and sleep, as it can help switch the mind into a deep state of restfulness. You might just need to do it regularly: one study found sleep improved after 12 sessions over seven weeks.
Lucky for R.Iconic residents, there is one in the building. Float on.
