Floating in Polish means flowing, floating. A person participating in a floating session is put on the water and kept on its surface all the time. She sees nothing, hears nothing, she does not feel the force of gravity, and this has a positive effect on her body. Read what floating is and what you can expect when you decide to use it!

Floatingthis is otherwiseRestricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy . This technique is also calledR.E.S.T.therapy or simply floating in a special deprivation booth. Under this name there is nothing else than a bathtub, but a capsule closed at the top, filled to a depth of 24 cm with water in which 500 kg of Epsom s alt (magnesium sulphate) have been dissolved. The high concentration of the solution means that the person participating in the floating session remains on the surface of the water and is not affected by the force of gravity. What's more, the capsule limits the impact of as much as 90 percent of external stimuli on someone in it. The person cannot see anything (when he enters the cabin, the LED lighting gently works, which does not need to be turned off if you are uncomfortable in the dark) and hears nothing because the capsule is soundproofed. Only at the beginning, soft music comes out of the speakers, which is supposed to bring you into a state of relaxation. The temperature of the water is around 35 degrees Celsius, which is close to the temperature of the human body, which is on average 36.6 degrees Celsius. Thanks to this, when participating in a floating session, a person has the feeling of "melting in the water". He doesn't feel the weight of his body and slowly relaxes, moving towards a state of sensory deprivation.

Floating: sensory deprivation

Sensory deprivation is limiting the inflow of as many external stimuli to a given person as possible. What is the purpose of this activity? This question was answered by the creator of the floating method, John C. Lilly, a neurologist and psychoanalyst. In 1954, he built a special cabin, similar to those used today in floating sessions, to study how the human brain behaves when it is subjected to limited external stimuli. His research shows that sound, light, and the force of gravity account for as much as 90 percent of the load on our nervous system. Whereaslimiting these stimuli has a soothing effect on the mind. During floating, the brain moves from the beta state, or wakefulness, to the alpha state - relaxed, and at the end of the session it becomes a form similar to that in which the mind is during meditation. The first effects - a feeling of relaxation, harmony - are to be visible after just one floating session, but to keep them longer, you need to use this method systematically. In Poland, you can sign up for floating sessions in any big city, a 60-minute stay in a deprivation cabin costs about PLN 100-160.

Floating: relaxation for the mind

There is a reason why people who are under a lot of stress or who are simply tired are advised to take a warm bath. Staying in water at a temperature similar to that of our body, in a quiet and dark place, causes relaxation of muscles and the release of endorphins, called happiness hormones, into the bloodstream, and a reduction in the body's stress hormone - cortisol. The person using the floating may not be able to concentrate their thoughts at first, but later their ability to focus on a specific task improves. All thanks to the synchronization of the cerebral hemispheres. People who use floating sessions also have less problems with sleep.

Floating: improving concentration

Peter Suedfeld is a professor of psychology at Princeton University who has devoted some of his work to studying the sensory isolation that a person undergoes during a floating session. According to the results obtained by him, floating improves concentration, makes a person observe reality more closely. It is accompanied by the so-called "hunger for stimulation", greater creativity and ease of problem solving.

Floating: regeneration

The fact that endorphins are released from the brain during floating also reduces the pain we feel. While floating on the water, we do not move, we do not put stress on the muscles, and the high concentration of Epsom s alt cleans the body of toxins and accelerates wound healing. The condition of the joints is also improved, swelling and tissue stagnation are reduced. Floating thus improves the regeneration of the body, which is why it is recommended especially after intense physical exertion. Floating sessions can also be used by pregnant women - especially due to the reduction of back pain - but the decision to sign up for the procedure should always be consulted with the doctor in charge of the pregnancy.

Floating: strengthening the body

Sessions in a closed cabin filled with water with dissolved English s alt (this is also called Epsom s alt) strengthen the respiratory system, the immune system and the circulatory system - the heart functions better, it lowersblood pressure. During the session, the level of magnesium in the body is replenished, and a bath in brine also increases the level of energy. A floating session increases the flow of oxygen, thanks to which a person begins to absorb nutrients better. These, in turn, improve the formation of brain tissue, which makes the mind function more efficiently. Floating also has a positive effect on the management of electrolytes and the functioning of the nervous system. Prolonged use of floating can help fight migraine.

Floating: action

Floating works not only on the interior, but also on the beauty. Being in the water softens and exfoliates the epidermis. Thanks to floating sessions, bruises and swelling on the body become less visible. Nails and hair are strengthened - the latter also become more moisturized, which is reflected in their greater shine. After floating, the skin is cleansed. According to Dr. George Murphy, a dermatologist at the University of Pennsylvania, stress causes the activation of mast cells located under the skin, which reduces its elasticity. Floating reduces stress by preventing the loss of firmness and the deepening of expression lines.

Worth knowing

Epsom s alt takes its name from a city in England from where it was originally mined. It is odorless and has a neutral pH for the skin. Epsom s alt is a valuable source of magnesium - an element found in all cells in the body - and of sulfur. It looks like table s alt, and for the benefit of the body, it can be used in many ways: prepare foot rinses, face masks, compresses, and also use as a laxative.

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