JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — People must be purposeful about seeking moments of calm and silence in a society where we are continuously bombarded with information.
Sensory deprivation tanks are places where the lights are turned out and you float in Epsom salt-laden water. The salt holds you floating, enabling you to relax, clear your thoughts, and discharge your troubles into the ocean.
The proprietor of Be Still Float in Riverside claims that you obtain tranquillity without adverse effects. The studio’s focal point is four distinct private float tanks, which are essentially miniature swimming pools filled with almost 1,300 pounds of Epsom salt.
I went for a one-hour float session. The chamber is soundproof, the water is the same temperature as your skin, and I control the lighting. When I switched them off, I found myself floating in what appeared to be space. It does require me to give up control, and when I do, I lose all senses and enter a profound meditative state.
My entire body and mind felt calm as I walked out. My body felt incredibly tranquil, and I felt slower but not in an unpleasant sense.
A similar experience was reported by Dr. Dmitriy Model, co-owner of Avecina Medical in Jacksonville. He attempts to float once a week.
“It keeps you psychologically calm, like for two, three days after I’ve floated, I feel indestructible,” Model explained.
It helps Model with tension and relaxation, but for Kathy Day, who floats on a monthly basis, it addresses a deeper need.
“I was suffering a lot of anxiety, and I just needed to rest,” Day explained.
Day lost her mother two years ago and slipped into a depression, which she claims has been alleviated by floating.
“If I start to feel angsty, I remember how I feel when I’m flying, and I just focus on that, and I’m much calmer and much more focused,” Day explained.
Gina Schimpff, the owner of Be Still Float, became interested in floating after having children.
“Every time I had a kid, my anxiety was significantly worse and I knew it wasn’t reasonable, and I never experienced it before. ‘OK, okay, that’s typical,’ my OB said. You have this, here’s a prescription,’ and I said, ‘I’m breastfeeding. “I’m not going to take that,” Schimpff replied.
She felt there was a non-drug solution to her anxiousness. Dr. Justin Feinstein’s study piqued Schimpff’s interest.
Feinstein’s first research, published in 2018, looked at 50 individuals with anxiety illnesses, and after a one-hour float session, he discovered that all of them had less anxiety. A float session, according to the Cleveland Clinic, can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety disorders while enhancing emotions of optimism, helping you sleep better, and even lowering chronic pain.
Dr. Tracy Alloway, a local Psychologist, sees the advantages as well. However, she usually cautions that studies have shown that sensory deprivation chambers are not for everyone.
“It has also been observed to be less effective for people who have severe depression or clinical depression. Because, once again, “if you are not trained or do not have the toolbox to know what is healthy to put in place, you might then tend to go down a very dark path,” Alloway explained.
It’s essential to be aware of your limitations. Schimpff believes that when it works and you invest in yourself, a simple float may change your life.
“Oh, my my, it is I feel like it’s my calling. It truly is. I began by caring for my family. “I feel like I’m fostering the community,” Schimpff explained.
Erin Balsa is a highly skilled and knowledgeable health journalist with a passion for educating the public on important health and wellness topics. With extensive experience in both traditional and digital media, Erin has established herself as a trusted voice in the field.