This is the first in a series of recovery tools.
I strongly believe that recovery is more than half the battle of training hard for anything. This could range from weightlifting, to the chess championship. You need to rest your mind, and your body.
Life is full of stressors, and we need to do what we can to mitigate that damage. Stress to your muscles, or your mind is detrimental and will keep you from performing at full capacity.
What you need to know:
- Isolation tanks have a vast array of benefits, and can help you recover from a tough workout, or a shitty day at work.
- You can find one going to http://www.where-to-float.com/
I first heard about isolation tanks listening to a Joe Rogan Podcast. He talked it up quite a bit. Saying things like it’s the most important tool he has ever used for developing his mind. I immediately searched for the nearest isolation tank to me, turns out it was in Colorado. Something I would try while visiting, but nothing that I could actually use. Fast forward a couple of years and Salt City Float opened. I was ecstatic and one of their first customers when they opened up. They warned me that the more you go the better the experience is, but even after my first float I could tell that this was something that I was going to be hooked on.
When you enter the float room you have the float tank, a shower, and a bench. If you haven’t already showered I suggest you hop into the shower real quick just to rinse off. They provide you with ear plugs, and some A&D in case you have any cuts as the salt will burn the hell out of you if you don’t cover those up. The tank has a blue LED light on it, see the picture I posted for an example. Once you get into the tank and close the lid you can either leave this on or turn it off. I opt for turning it off so I have no visuals.
It takes me about 15-20 minutes to get settled, when I first get into the tank there is music playing for 10 minutes, and I take that time to calm my mind. All of my stresses, worries, problems, and issues seem to surface at this time. Also any pain you’re having that you may not have noticed seems to come up. My ankle, or wrist, joints ache for a moment.
Sometimes I think that I’m going to spend the entirety of my time in the tank going over different issues or thoughts I’m having. Sometimes I have ideas and I get super excited about them, and worry that I’ll forget about them. So far it never fails though roughly 20 minutes in I just fall into this deep state of meditation. I can hear and feel myself breathing but everything else seems to disappear. The only way I can explain it is zen. I feel myself floating away, my thoughts, my mind, my body becomes light. There are no problems in the world when you’re in the tank. Nothing is wrong.
After you’ve delved into this zen like state, if something does surface in your mind you can just accept it and let it go. If it’s a problem, can you solve it? No, so let it go. Let it float away. Don’t worry if it resurfaces. Sometimes it’s good to just explore options until you let it float away without even realizing it.
This to me is one of the ultimate forms of recovery. So many of us struggle with day to day stresses in life. So many of us could use an hour away from the entire world.
You feel lighter, more vibrant, calm, a zen like state.
What is an isolation tank?
An isolation tank is pretty much what it sounds like. A giant dark, soundproof tank full of salt water. When you get in you’ll experience sensory deprivation. It’s an amazing experience, and a great tool to add to anyone’s recovery toolbox.
What are the benefits of floating?
While you’re floating all the pressure of gravity comes off your joints and muscles. When I float I initially can feel spots where I have pain but haven’t noticed because of the run around of daily life.
There are a lot of benefits supposedly associated with floating, but what I’ve personally experienced after a float is only what I can describe as a zen like high, everything just seems more relaxes, and I feel mentally better. Physically I feel much more loose, and while injuries remain, the floats definitely help my body recover from DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness), and just letting the muscles relax back into place. Now I don’t know the exact science behind that part, but that’s what I feel like happens, so it’s strictly anecdotal and I suggest you try not only for relieving DOMS but also for mental benefits that come along with it.
Other benefits you’ll more than likely find in a sales manual at a float spa are:
- Eliminates fatigue, promotes total calm, relaxing, alleviates stress – mental and physical.
- The experience is truly rejuvenating, and that’s all true.
- Stimulates left/right brain synchronisation; shifts brain waves from Beta to lower frequency Alpha, Theta and even Delta; creates mental clarity, alertness; increases creativity, problem solving; heightens visualisation; deepens meditation; expands awareness, intensifies acuteness of all the senses, accelerates learning.
- Improves athletic performance and helps prevent sports injuries and speeds the healing process.
- Enhances hypnotherapy, increases motivation, diminishes depression, anxiety and fear; facilitates freedom from habits, phobias and addictions.
- Decreases the production of Cortisol, ACTH, Lactic Acid and Adrenaline; increases production of endorphins; quickens rehabilitation and recovery; relieves pain- arthritis, migraines, injuries etc; boosts immune function.
- Improves circulation and distribution of oxygen and nutrients; reduces blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, and oxygen consumption.
As you can see there are many benefits to floating, and it’s not limited to just mental.
Source for benefits: http://www.i-sopod.com/