A relaxed young woman floating in a sensory deprivation tank. This alternative form of therapy is supposed to relax and clear your mind.kali9/iStockPhoto / Getty Images
Float or “sensory deprivation” tanks have made their way into the mainstream wellness industry, with the epsom-salt-filled pools popping up in spas across the United States and Canada within the past decade.
With my aversion to enclosed spaces, I was nervous to try one. I had only seen them represented with unrealistic extremes – from a teleportation conduit in Netflix’s Stranger Things, to a hallucinogenic inducer in HBO comedy-drama series Atlanta.
Studies on float therapy and its benefits have been relatively small, so although some businesses promise it can support everything from sleep quality to post-traumatic stress disorder management, and proponents such as Joe Rogan have claimed the therapy helps to absorb magnesium through the skin (which is not proven by solid research), I approached it with some skepticism. But I was curious: Where does the mind go without a sense of touch and sight for a full hour?
As it turns out, it goes inward.
At H2O Float Studio in Toronto, I opened the door to a room or “float cabin” with a glowing blue light and a high ceiling, filled with room-temperature water to sit comfortably. It was more spacious than expected, at approximately eight by five feet. I turned off the lights and soft beach sounds, leaned back into the water – my entire body lifting off the floor, head floating on a small inflatable circle with my ears submerged – and closed my eyes. Soon, I was paying more attention to my breathing and the odd stomach grumble than the days’ conversations and to-do list.
The float cabin at H20 Float Studio.Zac Jackson/Supplied
Scientists call being more aware of the internal body as “interoception” – a new field of study in neuroscience that tracks how the brain is able to sense things such as your heartbeat, stomach and bladder sensations, hunger and thirst, says Dr. Sahib Khalsa, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research in Tulsa, Okla. One of his studies published in the Society for Biological Psychiatry journal found that flotation therapy advanced interoceptive awareness in people with high levels of anxiety sensitivity, while also increasing feelings of relaxation and serenity.
The float itself may not be the ideal way to relax for everyone at first. During mine, I started focusing on the ringing in my ears, wondering if I have some form of tinnitus, and the thought didn’t go away for a while. I imagine pain could also be enhanced in the environment, taking away from the enjoyment of the experience. The researchers explained that although there is a general decrease in stress, some apprehensive or uncomfortable thoughts in advance or during the float are not abnormal but will likely pass.
Available studies show these benefits, such as reduced short-term anxiety, often come afterward too. A study released this month tested six sessions with anxious and depressed individuals across the span of six months and found the positive side effects were more prominent than the negative: Participants stated an increase in energy, focus, relaxation and refreshment, says Dr. Justin Feinstein, president and director of the Float Research Collective.
“Many people will report the feeling of relaxation persists several hours, or up to several days,” says Khalsa, referencing another study of his that tracked the effectiveness for up to 48 hours.
After what felt like much longer than an hour in the tank, the world I re-entered seemed more vivid. I stared in awe at leaves blowing in a circle of wind, the birds’ chirps were brighter, the scent of fresh-cut grass and spring flowers sweeter. I plopped on my couch and fell into a deep sleep, and for days after, I consciously tapped into that feeling of floating.
The float cabin at H20 Float Studio.Zac Jackson/Supplied
How to get the most out of floating
Ease into it: “You can leave the music or lights on for your first time or leave the door open. You don’t need to be completely closed off the first time. There’s no need to rush,” says Feinstein.
Replicate it at home: Float sessions can be pricey. Instead, you can try lying on your couch, or a space where there’s no light or sound intrusion, turn your phone off, ask your kids or spouse not bother you, and you may get similar effects. “But as a parent of young kids, I know for sure I will be unable to be reached in the float tank, I can’t say the same for my home office or living room,” says Khalsa.
Try it again: “It takes several float sessions to acclimate,” says Feinstein. “The first one is very novel, so it takes two or three to feel safe, comfortable and get into a deeper state of relaxation.”