We have a friend who absolutely swears by Float tanks and recently they experienced it at Float Nashville. But what is Float?

Don’t take it from us, from Float Nashville:

Floatation therapy isn’t new. Developed 60 years ago during research, the float tank showed surprising, promising, side effects that began a series of research. You may have heard floatation therapy referred to as REST (restricted environmental stimulant therapy). And you may know the tanks as Sensory Deprivation Tanks. But these days, we like to keep it simple and to the point and just call them float tanks. And they are changing lives.

Want to know more about what the power of salt, water, and sensory reduction can do for you? This is far from a complete list. Clinical research is currently booming in the field of floatation and we are excited to see where the journey takes us. And we’re even more excited to find out where floating takes you.

There is a deep relaxation that can’t be found anywhere else but in the float tank. With 90% of gravity off your body and very little sensory input, your central nervous system gets a break. During the float, your body decreases the release of hormones and neurotransmitters that have a stressful effect on your body and increase the beneficial chemicals such as those feel-good endorphins. Your body is completely supported, bobbing on the surface of the water and the result is profound relaxation.

People are finding relief every day from symptoms of Fibromyalgia, Low Back Pain, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scoliosis, and more. The Fibromyalgia Research Study is over, but you can see the results from the first study online. If you live with chronic pain, we will soon be launching our Float4Health program. Head over to our Float4Health page to see if you qualify.

Recent float research has been focused on anxiety and the results are promising! In a study released this year, research conducted at the Human Performance Laboratory at Karlstad University in Sweden showed statistically significant stress reduction, increased energy, decreased anxiety and depression when compared to the control group.  And six months later all benefits, except depression, were going strong. In an article in TIME magazine regarding floating and research, it was said, “The ongoing research is in its very early stages, but Feinstein and his team are seeing that floating tamps down anxiety in the brain in a way that rivals some prescription drugs and meditation.” *

*This study has been completed and the results are exciting! More information coming soon.

When you value the time you put into your goals in the gym or for an event, everything you do counts. Floating helps to speed recovery after peak output and helps decrease fatigue and that “post-race letdown”. From the Olympics to pro to college level athletes and weekend warriors, floating is used to focus the mind and recover from injuries and workouts.

During this important time, the float tank creates a nurturing, quiet environment where Mama and baby can enjoy a time to bond and prepare for birth. Floating is safe for pregnancy and can help alleviate backache, swollen ankles, and sore feet, joint pain, exhaustion, stress and anxiety. After birth, floating is a wonderful way to relax and recharge and can even help bridge gaps in a new mama’s sleep schedule. Have more questions? Start with our Pregnancy FAQ for answers.

Reaching a deep meditative state (the theta state) can be difficult. Most of us only experience it briefly before falling asleep at night. We know how good it is for our brains to disconnect from the constant noise and input of our digital world, but this same noise can make a regular meditation practice hard to achieve. In the unique environment of the float tank, brainwaves slow down and slide right into that theta state in even the most inexperienced of meditators. In fact, studies show similar brain activity happens in the tank that one sees in high-level meditators.

So often floaters tell us about the blissful night of sleep they have after their float. And there’s something to be said for the deep relaxing sleep to be had while sleeping, supported, in the float tank. It’s perfectly safe! When we travel across timelines, we always look for a float center. Floating resets our bodies and helps us avoid the not-so-fun side effects of jet lag. And we’re not the only ones feeling better rested. Check out this floating experience of a sleep specialist.

More and more stories are coming out of people using float tanks as part of their journey with PTSD. Clinical research has begun at LIBR in 2016 and we look forward to the results and certainly hope they reflect the stories we hear at Float Nashville of people finding relief from PTSD symptoms, less anxiety, and better sleep.

Artists and entrepreneurs, rejoice! Studies indicate that floating may suspend the dominance of the detail-oriented hemisphere of our brain, allowing the right hemisphere to run free without interference and giving you greater access to creativity, visualization, and imagination which can lead to solving problems. Float House has a great article on creativity and floating. Check it out!

For More information follow Float Nashville on Facebook and Instagram. Schedule your float via www.floatnashville.com. They have an open house coming up this December 4th!