A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of having a lovely self care treat when I was kindly invited to Balance Floatrooms to experience some floatation therapy by trying out one of their floatation tanks.
What I discovered most when I started practicing mindfulness was how unkind we can all be to both ourselves in expecting so much from ourselves mentally and physically without allowing ourselves the rest we need. As we all now know… self care is never selfish… it’s crucial but it’s not always easy. When we start to accept that doing nothing for a time is in fact doing something… it’s called resting…it can help us loose the guilt it often brings with it… the guilt we can give ourselves! Taking small moments just to check in with our breath during a busy day is in fact a little power nap for the mind and a regular meditation practice is like taking our minds to a spa.
As for the our bodies…the busy 21st century we live in can make us feel guilty for sitting down unless we’re either plugged into a laptop, our phones or learning a foreign language!
If you find it difficult to allow your body and mind to rest and have yet to start a meditation practice a good way to dip your toe into allowing your body to just be and float is to experience some floatation therapy. I’d heard a lot about the benefits of floatation tanks but had yet to try one out so I was looking forward to the experience. If you’re not already familiar with flotation tanks, they are basically tanks that are filled with skin-temperature water and epsom salt (magnesium) to allow your body to effortlessly float on the surface of the water so you feel weightless.
Just before I immersed myself into the purple light of the floatation tank. The colours can be changed or you can lie in complete darkness - it’s up to you. You can also see the shower behind me in this pic and also how spotlessly clean the place is!
“The energy used to fight the constant battle against gravity is now redistributed and increases blood flow and supports regulation of both the lymphatic and digestive system. The newfound source of vitality facilitates your natural detoxification systems and helps your body break down excess lactic acid and other toxins produced as a result of inflammation.
In addition, the reduced stimuli within the float tank allows your peripheral nervous system to transition into a parasympathetic state and achieve homeostasis through deep rest and relaxation.”
Balance Floatrooms
Combined with the excitement of having an hour to myself there was also a small bit of fear that it may not be a pleasurable experience due to my tinnitus. You see you never know with Tinnitus or what to expect as it might flare up in a confined space and end up ruining the experience - but that’s where mindfulness helps as it reminds us of how our thoughts are just that - thoughts - and to try to stay present and experience it moment by moment.
My first impression as I walked through the doors of Balance was the very warm welcome I received from the owner Patrick. As there are just two flotation tanks there (each in a separate rooms for privacy) there was also another person booked in for the same time as me so Patrick explained the process and the benefits of flotation therapy and what to expect in our experience.
some of The Benefits of Flotation Therapy
Floatation therapy is said to benefit sleep quality, stress and anxiety, chronic pain and muscle recovery and it can also be of great benefit during pregnancy and like I so frequently say about meditation - it it is also said that it can help with creativity and focus (as you are free from other distractions). On top of all these benefits, the one that excited me the most was that one hour in a flotation tank (the amount of time of each treatment) is the equivalent to 4 hours of deep sleep - now we all want that don’t we?!!
One of the other things I noticed before I even entered the tank itself was how immaculately clean the place was - especially as I visited during a pandemic - you tend to take more notice of these things and Patrick left noting to chance with the level of hygiene I witnessed during my visit. Apart from each tank being emptied and cleaned after each visit, everything else was also spotless and there was even a make-up room to go to afterwards where you had everything necessary to get yourself together again to face the world after you’d had your shower when you’ve finished your treatment. There are also inspirational quotes on all the doors - so I definitely felt at home! The showers themselves are in the room with the tank itself so again - this proves for a comfortable experience.
Once Patrick explains everything and shows you to the tank you lock the door and the experience begins. As I can be a little claustrophobic I decided to use the yoga block Patrick supplied to leave the tank open a bit but I think the next time I would shut it completely as recommended. As I have titanium rods fused to my spine it did take me a couple of minutes to totally relax and allow my body to just float but that’s where my meditation practice helped as I reminded myself that it was just my resistance to letting my body go so as I settled in I began to feel weightless and it felt like heaven. For those of you who also meditate regularly do you know those times when you have said “that meditation was so relaxing” - especially a good body scan when your entire body and mind have completely relaxed? Well this felt like one of those times.
Again, like meditation or going on retreats I’ve often been asked - do you not get bored? Or “Oh I couldn’t just lie there doing nothing” all I say is - try it and see because it’s never doing nothing - you’re lying there giving your body and mind the care and attention and nourishment it needs to do the best job it can on a daily basis. This is not just benificial if you’re an athlete or a professional sports person - our bodies don’t need to be pushed to their limited to be rewarded with time out - our bodies do so much for us daily - they deserve to be rewarded for all they do - as do our minds!
After the experience I did notice that my tinnitus felt a little softer than normal - a bit like it does after I cycle when the wind sounds adjust it - and my entire body felt so relaxed and as for sleep - lets just say that I ‘floated off’ and slept like a baby!
For further information or to treat yourself to floatation therapy visit www.balancefloatrooms.ie