20 Nov Time to Tank This Holiday?
Forty five percent of people surveyed preferred to skip the holiday season. Why? Well, it is the silly season loaded with stress for many. Work, family and friend obligations sometimes feel overwhelming. According to allonehealth.com, holiday stress statistics include not having enough time to get everything done(69%), not having enough money(69%) and the awkward pressure of deciding who gives/gets gifts(51%). The American Psychological Association supports this finding with nearly a quarter of Americans feeling “extreme stress” during the holiday season. So, how do we handle all this holiday hustle?
We were celebrating a simple vegan Thanksgiving in the Finger Lakes at the Farm Sanctuary this year when we drove past Inner Peace Floats in Watkins Glen, NY. As a wellness seeker, yoga instructor and occasionally stressed out entrepreneur, I was curious. A work colleague had recently visited a float tank and related a positive experience. I was reminded to check out the merits of this modality while meatless in the middle of NY state. Here’s what we learned:
- Float therapy is a luxurious, trending way to soothe and heal the body in a shallow pool. Rest is achieved in a fiberglass float capsule that is dark and soundproof to provide a deeply restful environment. The goal is to achieve weightlessness at zero gravity for complete benefits.
- These sensory deprivation tanks are generally about 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 4 feet high with enough Epson salts to keep you comfortably floating in water at a 94.9 F skin temperature. (Think 800 lbs of medical grade magnesium sulfate to keep your float on!). The more theta brain waves, the better, as this is the zen zone of best rest and creativity.
- Sessions in these isolation tanks typically last 60 or 90 minutes. Floats are reported to be a terrific way to eradicate a host of seasonal states like anxiety, overwhelm, jetlag, insomnia, muscle pain or high blood pressure. This is not an exhaustive list.
Float fans love the peaceful vibe and find the effects of being weightless free and relaxing. It appears that retail floating facilities got started in the 1980’s in the United States. Facility and service growth has been significant to keep pace with frenetic schedules. John C Lilly is the neuroscientist/researcher credited with studying the beneficial effects of sensory deprivation on the human mind. Floating is a holistic way to quiet a monkey mind to achieve a meditative state. Stress hormones like cortisol dissipate, along with issues in our tissues that cause tension and strain. We were too busy meeting rescued farm animals to tank during our turkey time, but float therapy may make its way to our holiday wellness wishlist. Learn more about local tank times if your season is stressful at The Float Studio in Ocean or at Tao Massage in Asbury Park. Live well and happy holidays!
DonnaLyn Giegerich MBA CIC RYT is the CEO/President of DLG Consulting, an integrated leadership training company that supports talent agility and skills development for professionals. Conference keynoter and executive coach, she delights in helping others develop resiliency and reinvention at www.DonnaLynSpeaks.com @DonnaLynSpeaks FB/Tw @DonnaLynConsults/IG