Your thoughts wander, but you don't really think about much of anything. In this stimulus-free setting, your heart and breathing slow down, muscle tension dissolves, and stressful feelings disappear. To achieve this state of bliss, all you have to do is sign up for a session in a float tank at a flotation center. The tank is slightly longer than a bathtub and contains very salty water that allows you to effortlessly float on your back. Float sessions last for an hour or so.
Flotation has benefits other than reducing stress.
Listening to instructional tapes while floating can sharpen learning skills. Flotation can help to control blood pressure. Regular flotation sessions can help to alleviate arthritic pain, other types of chronic pain, and nausea resulting from chemotherapy. Flotation may not be appropriate for everyone. Anyone who is being treated for a mental health problem should check with his or her therapist before considering flotation therapy.