Floatation Therapy: All Stresses Simply Seep Away

Floatation therapy is a quick and simple way to achieve intense relaxation. Stress is constantly being recognized as the cause of illness and physical problems and floatation therapy is an ideal way to unwind and release pent up tension.

A physician and neuro-psychiatrist named Dr. John C. Lilly originally gave birth to the idea of the floatation tank. His studies veered him in the direction of sensory deprivation and the impact it had on reducing brain activity. While Doctor Lilly was undergoing psychoanalysis training, he continued to find out as much as he could about isolating people from any external stimuli. His first tank was created early in the 1950's.

Floatation therapy provides people with an almost instant feeling of well-being: As the brain activity lowers, any problems or stresses seem trivial and simple to overcome. Whether a person has been experiencing physical pain or aches or they have a stress related problem like insomnia, Dr. Lilly's invention will prove to be invaluable. When the body and mind enters into such a relaxed state, more areas of the brain can work harmoniously together to provide healing and clarity of thought.

Most forms of such deep relaxation take a lot of time and practicing before any deeper levels can be reached. With floatation therapy, no learning or practicing is required and no energy is necessary. It is as simple as climbing into the tank and floating for a while. Even if it's the end of a hectic, tiring week, mustering the energy to climb on in will be well worth it.

How do Floatation Tanks Work?
Of course the initial development of the floatation tank was nowhere near as comfortable as the modern day designs. They now have light, easy to open and close lids or doors, circulation fans, internal lighting and a very classy and new age look.

They have been created as a peaceful, comforting tank or room that contains approximately ten inches of water and a heap of Epsom salt. When water contains pounds of salt, it becomes much denser than the body and provides the floater with a feeling of weightlessness, making it easy to float.
Should the tanks only contain fresh water or water with chlorine in it, a person would have to constantly keep moving to keep floating. It wouldn't be a very relaxing experience if worrying about sinking was the main agenda.

Using professional floatation therapy methods allows the body to become completely relaxed while floating on the surface without effort.
The water is always set to body temperature which means it quickly feels like the body and the water become one. It is a private, dark, temperate and moist environment that most people find to be very pleasant. For those concerned about feeling claustrophobic, the lid can be left ajar or completely open, but floatation therapy is more effective if it's closed and completely dark.

Some people choose to wear bathers and others like to be naked for their floatation therapy. There is a shower to use before climbing in and whichever way makes an individual feel more comfortable will be best for them.
Another good idea is to wear ear plugs because usually the ears are in the water the entire time.
Lying on the back is not the only option and many people like to try different positions whilst floating. It feels almost like laying on a bed and there is freedom to move and float in different ways.

An hour of floatation therapy is equal to four hours of deep sleep. Usually there will be a light to indicate that an hour has passed, or the tank water may vibrate as the filters start to self-clean. It isn't recommended to spend more than an hour inside and this is seen as the ideal length of time.
The Epsom salt makes skin soft, smooth and silky to touch. The prune look normally seen after bathing is caused by water leeching salt from the skin and because the tank water is so salty already, this doesn't happen. Many people go straight from a floatation session onto their next appointments.

Methods Of Reducing Stress

When you are stressed, it may seem improbable that breathing can alleviate some of your stress. You, of course, breathe every moment of every day. However, studies have shown that proper breathing techniques can reduce your stress considerably.
One of the most popular breathing techniques to release tension is to use a straight chair and take deep breaths that reach right down to you stomach. This is similar to meditation; as you breath in, silently speak the phrase "Breathe in peace and relaxation." Hold our breath and when you release it again silently speak the phrase "Breath out stress and tension" Do this several times pausing in between each repetition. It is very important that you are aware of any tension that is in your body. Any place in your body that is tight or sore is where the tension is affecting you. When you use this technique, you will actually feel more relaxed and calm.

Another technique that is used for relaxation will relax every muscle in your body. It can show you the difference between what relaxation really is.
Often times, people are so busy with their chaotic lives that they do not realize that they are even tense. When you use the progressive relaxation technique, you will find that you will be able to recognize stress and be able to get rid of it with simple and effective techniques that do not take a lot of time.

When you start the progressive technique, you start from your toes and work your way up to your head and neck. To begin with, you must lie down on a sofa bed, or even the floor. Take your right foot, raise it and point your toes toward your head. Tense it as much as possible and then release it. Do the same thing again; only point your toes downward. Next, press the heel of your right foot into the surface you are lying on and hold it than release. Do the same with your left foot.

The next part of the body, staying in progression is the calf. Tense the muscle until you cannot hold it any loner and slow relax it, making sure that it is totally relaxed. Alternate legs and work your way up the body until you get to your buttocks.
Tighten your buttocks, count to ten and relax. You will be alternating back and front, so when it comes to your abdomen, suck it in and count to ten and slowly relax the muscle. Working on the back is next; arch and count to ten and relax. At this point, you will need to take a deep breath hold it and count to ten and slowly exhale. It is here that you will notice if there is any more tension in your body.

It is important that you take the time to recognize when tension is gone. When you exhale all of your tension away. One way that you can teach yourself to recognize tension is to make a tight fist. This is what tension feels like. When you relax your fist, you will know what it is like to let go of tension.
As you work your way up the body, to work on your biceps, you will need to bend your elbow and squeeze your bicep muscle hold it and count to ten and then relax. Repeat it with the other arm.

It is time to work on your shoulders, and this is very important. Shrug them so they touch your ear lobes. Count to ten and slowly release them and scrunch up your face as tight as you can. Again, count to ten and release. Remember that proper breathing is very important throughout the progressive procedure.
When you have finished the progressive procedure, it is important that you let your whole body relax, almost feeling like Jell-O. This is what you should feel like when you are done; it is an excellent feeling to be so relaxed.

If your time is limited, and you cannot do the entire procedure, it is possible to work both sides of your body at the same time. When you do this, you will be able to complete the procedure several times a day.