Floating at the
top
How depriving yourself can be a good thing
Sensory deprivation has been studied for decades. During extended periods of time, it is generally a significantly unpleasant experience for the subject. However, in shorter amounts of time, studies have shown that for most it provides a healthy elixir to rejuvenate and stimulate people both mentally and physically.
The more common way to temporarily deprive your senses is with a float tank where ten inches of water and Epson salts are contained within pitch black large canister. The salt water forces the body to float, therefore not feeling anything, the darkness deprives your eyes of sight, there is no sound, smell or taste. In Fresno, Sean and Carolina Carter have created Float Fresno. They have two tanks, manufactured by industry leader Float Lab, which are becoming increasingly popular as word spreads. The average floater will stay in the tank for two hours, however several of their customers will stay in for up to four hours. Because the Carter’s float tanks are the only ones in the Central Valley, people drive from Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo and even Sacramento just to get their dose of relaxation at Fresno Float. The couple says they stay affordable because they want people to be able to experience floating. The charge is $50 for 2 hours.
Sean Carter got the idea after experiencing sensory deprivation in Venice Beach. He explained, “I felt reborn. I emerged feeling appreciative of everything; all of my body parts working, appreciative of the people around me, family and friends. I felt almost obligated to provide a way for others back home in Fresno to have the same experience that I had. It started as a side business while I ran my construction company, but now it’s pretty much taken over as our main business.”
Reading their customer’s comments on their website and facebook page indicates that there are a wide range of reasons why people enjoy floating. Some people become more introspective and focused on themselves. Others, such as Sean’s grandmother, come out feeling no pain for days after when pain is a chronic problem beforehand. Some people feel more connected with God and enter the tank in order to pray. Fr. Gregory Beaumont from Holy Family Church in Kingsburg is a regular customer and brings people from his parish. Fr. Beaumont says, “The float tank provides an hour or so of complete and total privacy, relaxation, and peace. There are many aspects of the float experience that connect well with Biblical or Christian themes for meditation. When I float, I like to think about darkness and light, and about the death and rebirth of baptism, and the still quiet voice of God that speaks to us in silence. I led a float retreat once for four people from church. I think everyone should try it.”
I wanted to experience what it would be like to stifle my senses and tried the float tank. I started by showering to remove all dirt and oil from my body. Ear plugs are optional, and are offered in order to more fully deprive the sense of hearing. As I approached the chamber, I see that it is completely dark – I can’t tell how big it is by looking inside because it is completely black. As I climb in, I feel the warm water, about ten inches of it, around my feet and legs. As I lean back, I close the heavy door to the chamber and suddenly I am embraced by complete darkness. Not a ray of light anywhere. I begin by touching my surroundings to feel for how much space there is. It’s about 4′ wide, 8′ long, and 7′ high. I lay back and realize that no matter how hard I try, I can only float. There is 1,000 pounds of Epson salts dissolved in the water which is what makes my body completely buoyant. It would be difficult to drown in here. I start to experiment with tipping one way, then another, keeping my hands at my side, and then behind my head. Every movement feels differently than it would with gravity pulling at me. I was curious how stomach crunches would feel. They are much harder because you’re also struggling to keep your body still and upright while crunching, but it’s also easier to actually crunch without the pull of gravity. My hair floating feels weird. It’s like I have a thick mane surrounding my face. If I move my head back and forth I can feel it swaying as well. People talk about how they meditate, relax, talk to God or even fall asleep in here. I’ve experimented with movement and now want to see what total lack of movement is like. I lie perfectly still. I can hear my heartbeat. I slow my breathing down and begin to consciously will my muscles to relax. Admittedly, as hard as I tried, I could not shut my mind off. I created a to-do list, decided the dinner menu for the next week, mentally wrote a chapter in my book and developed the intro to this article during my chamber time. Was that normal, I wondered? As my hour ends, soft music is piped in to tell me that it is time to get out. Another shower to rinse off the abundance of Epson salt on my skin and in my hair and the experience is over. I thought this would have been great when I was pregnant. The relief of gravity from my belly would have been a welcome break, along with a nice soak for my then swollen feet. It was relaxing, fun and an unusual experience. I think people with any kind of physical pain would especially find solace here.
According to Sean, my experience was normal. The first time someone floats, they don’t know what to expect so they’re not really in their relaxation mode. The introductory hour is intended to get people used to floating so that the next time they try it, the novelty will not interfere with their experience. He estimates that 95% of those trying it enjoy their time and many will become regular floaters. What would you think or do in the chamber? There’s only one way to find out.
Find out more at www.floatfresno.com, 559-475-9727 or on facebook under “Float Fresno - Float Wellness Center, Inc.”
How depriving yourself can be a good thing
Sensory deprivation has been studied for decades. During extended periods of time, it is generally a significantly unpleasant experience for the subject. However, in shorter amounts of time, studies have shown that for most it provides a healthy elixir to rejuvenate and stimulate people both mentally and physically.
The more common way to temporarily deprive your senses is with a float tank where ten inches of water and Epson salts are contained within pitch black large canister. The salt water forces the body to float, therefore not feeling anything, the darkness deprives your eyes of sight, there is no sound, smell or taste. In Fresno, Sean and Carolina Carter have created Float Fresno. They have two tanks, manufactured by industry leader Float Lab, which are becoming increasingly popular as word spreads. The average floater will stay in the tank for two hours, however several of their customers will stay in for up to four hours. Because the Carter’s float tanks are the only ones in the Central Valley, people drive from Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo and even Sacramento just to get their dose of relaxation at Fresno Float. The couple says they stay affordable because they want people to be able to experience floating. The charge is $50 for 2 hours.
Sean Carter got the idea after experiencing sensory deprivation in Venice Beach. He explained, “I felt reborn. I emerged feeling appreciative of everything; all of my body parts working, appreciative of the people around me, family and friends. I felt almost obligated to provide a way for others back home in Fresno to have the same experience that I had. It started as a side business while I ran my construction company, but now it’s pretty much taken over as our main business.”
Reading their customer’s comments on their website and facebook page indicates that there are a wide range of reasons why people enjoy floating. Some people become more introspective and focused on themselves. Others, such as Sean’s grandmother, come out feeling no pain for days after when pain is a chronic problem beforehand. Some people feel more connected with God and enter the tank in order to pray. Fr. Gregory Beaumont from Holy Family Church in Kingsburg is a regular customer and brings people from his parish. Fr. Beaumont says, “The float tank provides an hour or so of complete and total privacy, relaxation, and peace. There are many aspects of the float experience that connect well with Biblical or Christian themes for meditation. When I float, I like to think about darkness and light, and about the death and rebirth of baptism, and the still quiet voice of God that speaks to us in silence. I led a float retreat once for four people from church. I think everyone should try it.”
I wanted to experience what it would be like to stifle my senses and tried the float tank. I started by showering to remove all dirt and oil from my body. Ear plugs are optional, and are offered in order to more fully deprive the sense of hearing. As I approached the chamber, I see that it is completely dark – I can’t tell how big it is by looking inside because it is completely black. As I climb in, I feel the warm water, about ten inches of it, around my feet and legs. As I lean back, I close the heavy door to the chamber and suddenly I am embraced by complete darkness. Not a ray of light anywhere. I begin by touching my surroundings to feel for how much space there is. It’s about 4′ wide, 8′ long, and 7′ high. I lay back and realize that no matter how hard I try, I can only float. There is 1,000 pounds of Epson salts dissolved in the water which is what makes my body completely buoyant. It would be difficult to drown in here. I start to experiment with tipping one way, then another, keeping my hands at my side, and then behind my head. Every movement feels differently than it would with gravity pulling at me. I was curious how stomach crunches would feel. They are much harder because you’re also struggling to keep your body still and upright while crunching, but it’s also easier to actually crunch without the pull of gravity. My hair floating feels weird. It’s like I have a thick mane surrounding my face. If I move my head back and forth I can feel it swaying as well. People talk about how they meditate, relax, talk to God or even fall asleep in here. I’ve experimented with movement and now want to see what total lack of movement is like. I lie perfectly still. I can hear my heartbeat. I slow my breathing down and begin to consciously will my muscles to relax. Admittedly, as hard as I tried, I could not shut my mind off. I created a to-do list, decided the dinner menu for the next week, mentally wrote a chapter in my book and developed the intro to this article during my chamber time. Was that normal, I wondered? As my hour ends, soft music is piped in to tell me that it is time to get out. Another shower to rinse off the abundance of Epson salt on my skin and in my hair and the experience is over. I thought this would have been great when I was pregnant. The relief of gravity from my belly would have been a welcome break, along with a nice soak for my then swollen feet. It was relaxing, fun and an unusual experience. I think people with any kind of physical pain would especially find solace here.
According to Sean, my experience was normal. The first time someone floats, they don’t know what to expect so they’re not really in their relaxation mode. The introductory hour is intended to get people used to floating so that the next time they try it, the novelty will not interfere with their experience. He estimates that 95% of those trying it enjoy their time and many will become regular floaters. What would you think or do in the chamber? There’s only one way to find out.
Find out more at www.floatfresno.com, 559-475-9727 or on facebook under “Float Fresno - Float Wellness Center, Inc.”