What if you let yourself be carried away by the water for a session in a floatation centre? Very common in the United States and Canada, floatation therapy is slowly becoming more popular in France. But what are the benefits?
A combination of two essential principles
The first principle of flotation is the sensory isolation provided by the hermetically sealed cabin in which the individual must immerse. Indeed, once the lid of the floatation cabin is closed, he is totally cut off from his senses. He sees nothing, hears nothing, feels nothing, not even the temperature of the water, which adapts to that of the body, and which becomes neutral after a few minutes.
This deprivation of the five senses is ideal and conducive to rejuvenation, but also to learning and exploring one’s imagination and creativity.
The second principle is the weightlessness effect: it is thanks to a large quantity of Epsom salt in the water of the cabin that you can float. This mineral salt has been used for centuries to relieve muscle and joint pain and to alleviate skin problems. It is a combination of two minerals essential to the body: sulphur and magnesium. Most of our brain activity is dedicated to balance against the force of gravity. Thus, by floating on a water solution saturated with magnesium salt, gravity is reduced by 80%, thus freeing our mental resources for other activities.
Benefits to the body
One or more floatation sessions will relieve muscle and joint pain, reduce oedema, reduce high blood pressure and improve sleep (which is why floatation is recommended for insomniacs who often fall asleep in the bath).
Benefits to the mind
Floating is akin to letting go, to deep relaxation. The body and mind are cut off from all external stimuli such as noise, pollution or social pressure. During a session, endorphins (pleasure hormones) are released and cortisol (stress hormone) levels are greatly reduced. Regular floatation sessions allow you to feel more relaxed and reduce stress and anxiety.
In our daily lives, we mainly use the left side of our brain, while the right side is often left asleep. This side contains our creativity and our power of visualisation. In a float state, we reverse the balance and the right side of our brain is activated. In addition, we can also notice an improvement in concentration and memorization.
The effects last for 10-14 days after the session and studies show that floating significantly reduces blood pressure and heart rate, as well as reducing the amount of stress-inducing chemicals in the body.
In conclusion, numerous studies have shown that floating can achieve a unique level of well-being. So don’t hesitate to try it!
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