🐸 Is your frog boiling? 🐸

Recently, I re-connected with a long-time friend to catch up. As we were chatting and I was explaining the state of my universe, the metaphor of the boiling frog came up. It seemed like the perfect way to describe my current state of mind.

The boiling frog metaphor

What is the boiling frog metaphor you may ask?  According to Wikipedia, the boiling frog is a fable describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog falls suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out. However, if the frog sits in tepid water and brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger. It will stay in the pot and slowly boil to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for our inability or unwillingness to recognize threats that build gradually around us. It also illustrates that Stress that arrives suddenly tends to get our attention quickly.

Ask my friends (or, apparently it’s is obvious if you meet me in person 🤣) I am someone who is always on the go.  Evidently, I like being busy and I make lifestyle choices that support this habit.

However, the past few months have shown me that is my frog was boiling. I had no idea and I didn’t see it coming.  All this from someone who owns a wellness centre.  I have the tools, I read the articles and I do my best to walk the talk of the wellness industry.  Nonetheless, I was still blindsided.

The pandemic has been hard on everyone.  What I realize now is that the constant drip of low grade environmental stress that accompanies caring for a family and a business in a highly connected digital world builds up to be something huge.   Stress is a sneaky beast and it bit me in the ass.  

You are not alone

My customers are teaching me that I am not alone.  More and more, I am hearing you tell me the same stories.  The volume of the background noise in all of our lives has been turned up just a little at a time.  It’s as if The temperature of the water is slowly increasing, and it’s not water designed to make you float.

So, my dear friends, if you are feeling overwhelmed, please pause and take the temperature of your own water.   Awareness of the state of your own physical and mental health is an important but very simple first step towarwds wellness.  We urge you to take time to connect in nature, carve out time to do something you love, or come in for a your float.  Trust me, it will be time well spent.💙

Stress relief is just one of the many benefits of floating. Come in and experience floating for yourself.

Infrared Sauna benefits

We adore our Infrared sauna and all its benefits. But what is infrared?

The sun’s rays include a broad spectrum of light and radiation:  visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light and infrared (IR). Each type of radiation is experienced in different ways and has different effects on the human body.  As you may already know, some of these types of radiation are more beneficial than others. Our sauna harnesses the Infrared spectrum of light.

Here are some reasons why we love our Infrared sauna so much:

1.  Heat without the Harm 

Sunlight has a broad spectrum of light, from Visible light, to UV light and Infrared.  There’s no question that the visible light from the sun has a wide array of benefits- from Vitamin D production to boosting your mood. In excess, however, visible light can also cause eye damage from glare, flashes, and over-exposure. 

We also know that the UV spectrum of sunlight, however, is not so friendly and can cause sunburn and is the leading cause of skin cancer. Infrared light is responsible for the warmth that you experience from the sun. It is comprised of Near (NIR), Mid (MIR) and Far infrared (FIR) wavelengths. Each of these wavelengths have their own wide range of benefits. Because Infrared saunas isolate this spectrum of light, you get to enjoy many benefits of sunshine without the harmful UV rays.  Our sauna uses the full spectrum of Infrared –  NIR, MIR and FIR.

2.  Anti-aging instead of age spots

 Accumulated exposure to UV rays can cause skin damage including hyperpigmentation, lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Near Infrared (NIR) is absorbed just below the surface of the skin, promoting wound healing, cell health/regeneration, skin revitalization and can mitigate inflammation. NIR has also been shown to help clear up acne lesions, improve fine lines and wrinkles, and encourages collagen and elastin production, all of which contribute to a more youthful appearance.  Let’s not forget that increased blood circulation from the sauna heat nourishes your skin from the inside out giving it that ‘dewy’ look.  

3.  Enhancing athletic performance

It’s not a surprise that training in high temperatures can be a challenge until your body gets heat-adapted.  As the temperature rises inside the sauna, your body acclimates to the heat, prompting increased blood flow to the heart and muscles. Over time, your body becomes more efficient in regulating temperature enabling it to perform better, especially during exercise.  So, sauna sessions can be a the perfect controlled environment to get your body used to the heat, fine-tune your temperature regulation and get your sweat flowing efficiently before training outside.  

Your sauna session also assists muscle growth.  In response to the heat of the sauna, your body releases heat shock proteins. Heat shock proteins help in degrading free radicals and repairing damaged cells in the body. The more available proteins there are in the body, the greater the chances for muscle repair and growth.

Let’s not forget the increase in blood flow during your sauna session. Mid infrared (MIR) penetrates deeper into soft tissue and can help reduce inflammation, improves blood circulation and therefore decrease overall healing time. All of these benefits lead to faster muscle recovery so you can get back out there.

4.  Weight loss and Detoxification 

The FIR penetrates your body the deepest of all infrared rays (up to 4 cm), causing heat, increased heart rate and blood flow and circulation throughout the body.  Let’s not forget about all that great sweat. This increase in heart rate can be equivalent to a mild cardio workout, burning up to 600 calories an hour.

The deep heat also helps to release stored toxins and chemicals that are trapped in fat.  Some of the toxins released come out in your sweat, and the remainder are pulled into your blood stream where your stimulated circulation system efficiently clears them from your body.  This is why it’s really important to drink lots of water during and after your sauna session.  

To read more about detoxification in the sauna check out our blog HERE.

5.  Heart Health

Infrared sauna sessions raise your heart rate and increase circulation. This replicates a cardiovascular workout that can be called “passive cardio.” In fact, blood flow during infrared sauna use may rise from a normal rate of 5-7 quarts/minute to up to 13 quarts/minute.  For people with injuries or conditions precluding them from cardio activity, Infrared sauna use can help serve as an alternative for needed cardio benefits.

As with everything else that’s good in life, Infrared sauna benefits are cumulative. This means that a regular sauna practice is the best way to access all of the benefits above. We recommend sessions 3-4 times per week.

See you soon!

Infrared Sauna and Detoxification

Infrared Saunas have a wide range of benefits, including detoxification.  Research tells us that increasing body temperature by 2-3 degrees, 3-4 times per week is an effective protocol for detoxification. Thankfully, alternative medicine widely embraces sauna detox for treatment and researchers have long told us how the body sweats out toxin build-up.

The reason that we chose to purchase our Full-spectrum Infrared Sauna (NIR, MID and FAR infrared) from Sunlighten Saunas is due to the amount of scientific data that they can provide on the effectiveness of their products.  Check out the research portion of the Sunlighten website for more information.

Renowned detoxification expert Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt suggests using far infrared saunas in heavy metal detox protocol. He states that infrared mobilizes specific toxins in deeper tissues making infrared saunas an effective solution for toxin removal.

A Canadian study confirmed that toxic elements were found in blood, sweat and urine. The study found that many toxic elements, including nickel, lead, bismuth, manganese, aluminum, cobalt, chromium, uranium, thallium, arsenic, mercury, copper and selenium. appeared to excrete more through sweat than blood or urine.

The researchers also reported some toxic elements hide in tissue and come out in sweat, not blood serum. They also found that infrared sauna appears to be more effective at releasing for bismuth, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and uranium compared to regular sauna or exercise. You can find a deeper explanation of this study HERE.

A build up of Environmental toxins can affect energy, stamina, pain, insomnia, obesity, mental health and more.  Our liver, kidneys and skin naturally clear toxins through perspiration, respiration and elimination. Regular infrared sauna use supports and enhances your body’s ability to do this. 

Infrared is very effective at making you sweat while still leaving the overall air temperature comfortable. Because up to 80% of the heat in an Infrared sauna penetrates your body rather than the air, infrared Sauna users develop a more vigorous sweat at a lower temperature.  This can make sauna experience much more enjoyable, especially for people who are are sensitive to heat.  

For more benefits on infrared sauna use, check out our blog post about the benefits of infrared sauna.

Check out our NEW sauna protocol (12 x 40 minute sauna sessions). This specific protocol is designed for multiple sessions per week over a 45 day maximum period.  The credits expire 45 days after the first use (not after the date of purchase).  As an added bonus, sauna customers can bring a friend to sauna with them for only $10 per visit.  

Serenity Now! 5 ways that floating reduces anxiety

float therapy reduces stress and anxiety

Why I float

It is no secret that my very first float experience showed me that I needed floating in my life.   As someone who has lived with anxiety and depression most of my adult life, I remember getting out of my very first float thinking “So, this is what NORMAL feels like”.  I felt so light, so free, so blissful, and just at peace. I was able to ‘just be’ for the first time in a very long time.  My racing thoughts were gone, my heart rate had returned to normal and I just felt this overwhelming sense of calm – a feeling that was very foreign to me.  Clearly, I needed floating in my life.

Recently, I will admit, that I was quite overdue for a float.   My ego and my anxious thoughts are tricky beasts – they lead me away from exactly the self-care tools that tame their power.  My nerve endings felt like they were ’split ends’ like you would see in the ‘before’ picture of a Hair Conditioner commercial.  Not only was I was having trouble concentrating, but I had issues sleeping too. 

Finally, I convinced myself to JUST GET IN THAT FLOAT, even for a few minutes.  Well, instantly, like a muscle memory, I was transported back to that feeling of calm, bliss, and peacefulness.  I could literally picture my nerve endings being smoothed in the water as my racing thoughts slowed down completely.  My ‘few minutes’ easily turned into a little over 90 minutes, and I emerged feeling physically and emotionally lighter.  I learned a huge lesson that day. For me, floating is not a luxury but an absolute necessity for my mental health.  Now, my floats are the first thing that I schedule into my calendar. I have learned time and time again that my to-do list ‘magically’ sorts itself out.  

Emerging Float Research

As powerful as my own experience was, I am always curious to know exactly how things ‘work’.  So, I was inspired to review (again) the clinically proven benefits of floating, and would like to share them with you.  Dr. Justin Feinstein, of Laureate Institute of Brain Research, is the leading researcher into the world of Floating   The notes below are from his presentation at the 2017 and 2018 Float Conference in Portland, Oregon. His presentation showed the results of his study on the effects of floating on symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD.

floating is clinically proven to reduce anxiety

50/50 participants in Dr. Feinstein’s study on floating and anxiety experienced a reduction in anxiety symptoms.

Here are 5 clinically proven ways on how floating helps reduce anxiety.

  1. Floating reduces muscle tension.  As your stress level and anxiety level increase, do you notice yourself clenching your jaw, holding tension in your neck and shoulders?  Holding tension is part of a vicious cycle – muscle tension increases feelings of anxiety, which then brings about even more muscle tension.  During your float, you can’t help but unclench your jaw, drop your shoulders from your ears. You may even release tension in places that you didn’t even know that you were holding it.  Try taking a deep breath, paying attention to all areas of your body with a slow body scan, and release tension from all of those hot spots.  By interrupting the cycle of muscle tension, there is a good chance that your anxiety will melt away with it.
  2. A 20 hour post-float glow.  You know that post-float feeling – Calm, peace, bliss –  words don’t do it justice.  If you check in with yourself the day after floating, there is a very good chance that you still feel pretty blissed out.  Perhaps crazy drivers in traffic don’t make you mad or your kids or spouse seem less demanding.   Even your cranky boss seems to be nicer today.  Did you know that the Calming effects of a float have been proven to last up to 20 hours after your session?  If you compare these effects to the 4 hour average effectiveness of most anti-anxiety medications and their long list of serious side effects. floating is a clear winner. .
  3. A training ground for your mind.  Not only does floating help you shut out the chatter of the outside world, but it also helps you look inward.  Interoception is is a lesser-known sense that helps you understand and feel what’s going on inside your body.  It can be said that floating allows for Internal Sensory Enhancement rather than sensory deprivation. You can really pay attention to your body, your heart beat and your breath during your float.  As a result, it is easy to observe what your body feels like when it is resting, peaceful and calm.  By noticing, paying attention, and practicing this deeply relaxed and meditative state, your mind captures this feeling and remembers it.    With a regular float practice, you can train your mind to revert to this float state while outside the tank.  Feeling stressed out in traffic?  Tap into this stored feeling.  Kids are being hooligans?  Take a breath and remember how peaceful you feel in the tank.  Your float training will bring you great reward in the outside world because floating trains your brain to be cool in the face of a stressful environment.
  4. Avoidance.  Anxiety is the 6th leading cause of disability in the world, with less than 1/3 of people suffering seeking treatment.  Why you may ask?  Anti-anxiety medications often come with significant side-effects. Many talk therapy treatments used in treating anxiety involve re-visiting the source of your anxiety.  If you are already in a highly anxious state of mind, chances are the last thing that you want to do is re-visit the source of anxiety.   Floating reduced anxiety levels in 100% of the 50 participants.   And, not by just a little bit – by more than half in many cases.  The more severe the anxiety at the beginning of the float, the greater the decrease in anxiety. Gender or the type of anxiety that the patient was suffering had no impact on the results.  Did I say that the success rate was 100%?  No re-visiting your anxiety.  No drugs and no major negative side effects.  Just a pure, natural body and mind response.    Trust me, I am a fan of talk therapy, but doing it in a post-float state has been much more effective for me.
  5. Serenity now!  Are you are a Seinfeld fan? You may recall this hilarious episode where the characters use the mantra “serenity now” when faced with stressful situations and experience mixed results.   Dr. Feinstein’s study has also shown that not only does floating reduce your feelings of anxiety, but it also enhances your levels of serenity.  All 50 patients in his study reported increased feelings of serenity after their float session. Again, this was a 100% success rate! This is an important mirror effect in the pursuit of reduced anxiety. Not only does floating decrease symptoms of mental illness, but it also increases the state of mental wellness -something that a lot of other treatments for anxiety don’t offer.  

There are so many other findings that I could share with you.  I highly encourage you to book a float and experience the difference for yourself.  

For more information on the impacts of floating and anxiety, and for full articles of Dr. Feinstein’s research and additional scientific references, please visit www.clinicalfloatation.com.

Interested in trying floating? Book your appointment HERE

Floating through a Pandemic 🙃

Even though we’ve spent the past two years floating through a pandemic, we are still committed to providing a clean and safe space for our customers.  As you would expect, we are following all Public Health Office guidelines, doing even more deep cleaning in our space, and are asking customers who feel unwell to please stay home.

The Centre for Disease Control has confirmed that COVID-19 is not transmitted through well maintained pools or spas. We take our water quality very seriously year-round.   Ozone, UV light as well as High concentration Hydrogen peroxide super-charge our filtration process after every single float.  We also wipe all inside and outside surfaces of our float rooms with a medical-grade cleaning solution.  

In a time when so much media is serious and heavy, I thought a bit of humour was in order.  It occurred to me that my float practice has prepared me very well for times like these.  Here is my light-hearted take on how floating has prepared us for these crazy times:

Do NOT touch your face.

One of the first things you learn as an avid floater is, do NOT, under ANY circumstances touch your face during your float.  Those of you who have ever had epsom salt in your eye know exactly what I’m talking about, right?  The burn, fumbling in the dark to get out to shower, the relief when the clean water hits….. This is a lesson that unfortunately took me a couple of lessons before it really stuck, but believe me I’m a pro now! This habit also serves me well outside the tank, as I rarely touch my face, which is a good practice to have these days.  

Wash your hands well and often. 

Working in a float centre, we are constantly cleaning all of our surfaces, the tanks, surfaces and our hands.  The tricky thing about the high concentrations of epsom salt is that just when you think that you have scrubbed enough to clear it, once it dries you can still see salt. Ugh!!  So, we end up over-cleaning just to be sure that we get that stubborn salt the first time.  The same thing applies to our hand-washing.  When we think that our hands are clean, we scrub just a little bit more just to be sure.  We are also spending extra time here doing extra cleaning of all surfaces with a medical-grade cleanser.

Like everything else in life, this too will pass. 

I take my worries, anxieties, overwhelming thoughts into the tank, and it feels like the salt magically takes them away.  Once I pause for a second and calm my mind, all of a sudden the things that I was panicked about seem so small.  After my float I can move forward in a calm and organized fashion, focus on my priorities, and carry on with my business.  Floating has been clinically proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, which are all keys to maintaining a healthy immune system.  

Being in the anti-gravity environment of the float also allows your body’s natural healing process to work more efficiently. It allowing increased circulation and freeing up more resources to staying healthy.  Come and float to help give your immune system a boost.  

If you are prepared, everything is easier.   

Before entering my float, I try to prepare myself physically, emotionally and spiritually for the experience.  My preparation is pretty simple, low-key and fits the situation at hand without being excessive.   I drink a tall glass of water long before my float to make sure I’m hydrated. Definitely skip the shave in the morning to avoid the sting. Vaseline on any dry cracked skin prevents stinging. My hands always sting a bit because I wash so often – ouch! Lastly, I set an intention for the float.    

We are well prepared to provide a calm sanctuary throughout these crazy days.  Yes, we do have enough toilet paper. Our single- use products such as disposable cups, individual vaseline packages and ear plugs are also here for you.   

Avoid crowds.  

I’m not much of a crowds person on a good day, so I typically spend as little time in busy areas as possible.    Floating in isolation is the perfect place to not only avoid crowds, but also reach deep levels of relaxation and meditation, decrease stress and anxiety, and bring on that post-float glow feeling of peace and calm.  On a super busy day here at Bliss Float Centre, we have a maximum of 20 people come through our space in a 14 hour day.  That’s it – only 20 in a day. Even then, we only ever have maximum 6 or 7 people in the building at once.   Because we have so few people through our space in a day, it is easy for us to do regular and thorough cleaning of our space

It is OK to cancel plans. 

I am guilty of trying to cram way too many things into a day ( yes, I admit fully what my friends already know).  I have learned to carve out and protect my float time pretty fiercely.  However, sometimes it is necessary to reschedule my float, because I just know that it will feel rushed, or I know that my body is just not into the float today.  Please, if you are feeling unwell, call us to cancel your float.  We are being extra flexible with our cancellation policies these days.  

Practice extreme self care. 

Have you heard the saying “Listen to your body, it’s smarter than you”? When you pause, take a breath and pay attention to your body, you might be surprised what you will learn.  The trick is to pay attention when your body is whispering to you, so that your body doesn’t have to scream.  A float might be just what you need if you are feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. If you are feeling physically unwell, perhaps an early bed time, nutritious food, some time in nature, and advice from your doctor will do you well.  

For an even better float, read about more floating tips HERE

Why do Veterans and First responders choose to float with us?

 

We respect and give great thanks to our Veterans and first responders. While these high-stress jobs keep our communities safe, they come with a significant cost. Sobering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have found that occupational stress in first responders can be associated with increased risk of serious mental health issues like anxiety, depression, substance misuse, PTSD, and suicidal behaviours.

As the website BCFirstRespondersMentalHealth.com explains, First responders are repeatedly exposed to distressing situations, violence, trauma, and death. They also encounter daily workplace stressors such as heavy workloads, rotating shifts, and, occasionally, discrimination and bullying. Some individuals experience an immediate detrimental impact; for others, the negative effects build up over weeks, months, or even years. Unfortunately, the Stigma associated with mental health conditions is still prevalent among first responders.

Many mental health professionals recommend a regular mindfulness practice and deep relaxation as part of the treatment plan. This is where floating can help.

PTSD.  

Research is quickly catching up with the volumes of anecdotal stories how floating can help PTSD. Essentially, floating provides just a bit of ‘space’ between traumatic memories and the emotional charge they bring. This ‘space’ reprograms our brains to dissociate these traumatic memories from the stressful neurochemicals they usually release.   

When you are floating, your body sends out signals via dopamine, reduced cortisol and physical relaxation that everything is “OK”. Although time in the tank can allow traumatic memories to bubble to the surface, the reduction of stress hormones prevents the body from triggering the same emotional response as it normally would.

Our friends at Float Tank Solutions have put together this very comprehensive article on the research around floating and PTSD. Check it out HERE.

 Deep rest

Often, careers of service come with shift-work schedules and irregular sleep patterns.    Floating can help reset your sleep cycle by helping your brain down-shift from Alpha waves into the Theta waves that act as the gateway to sleep.  By floating, people’s brainwaves are naturally dropping into this Theta state, meaning their body can easily make the transition into the Delta waves required for REM sleep.

When you float, your body also absorbs Magnesium through your skin from the highly concentrated Epsom Salt solution.  Magnesium is beneficial for sleep because it regulates several neurotransmitters involved in sleep such as , such as gamma aminobutyric acid.  

A 90 minute float session can make you feel as refreshed as a 4 hour sleep. 

Relief of Anxiety and Stress.  

Floating can help you fight stress from the inside out.  A solid float practice helps to build strength and peace of mind that you can take out into the world.  In a recent study including 50 participants, floating was proven to reduce anxiety levels in 100% of the participants – a clinical success rate that is nearly unheard of.  Floating lowers the levels of stress hormones including norepinephrine, adrenaline, cortisol and ACTH.   Stress and stress-related illness including anxiety and depression are linked to elevated levels of these neurochemicals.  

Floating activates your body’s relaxation response – reducing blood pressure, heart rate and muscular tension, and releases your ‘feel good’ hormones such as dopamine and endorphins.  Post-float blissful feelings have also been proven to last at least 20 hours after your float. 

The Magnesium that you absorb during your float also plays a critical role in brain function and mood. Low levels are linked to an increased risk of depression.

Floating may be a good fit for anyone whose mental-health care provider has recommended a regular mindfulness practice. Our very special Veteran and First Responder program aims to make a regular float practice very accessible to Police, Fire, Ambulance, Doctors and Nurses, Corrections Officers, Sheriffs as well as Veterans and those in active military service. Simply show one piece of ID and float for $39.

To read about additional benefits from floating, read HERE

Attitude of Gratitude

5 ways that gratitude can enhance your float practice.

 Gratitude is perhaps the best researched emotion out there, and it might just be the most powerful one as well. An attitude of Gratitude can impact your life in an infinite number of ways.

These days, I am experimenting with how an active gratitude practice can enhance my days.  I am focused on small shifts, like 5 minutes of journaling in the morning instead of checking my phone. Pausing to appreciate a great moment. Saying Thank You with a huge smile to perfect strangers who hold the door for me. Being thankful for what I already have in my life.  

While researching Gratitude, it quickly became obvious to me how a Gratitude Practice overlaps directly with my Float practice.   Here are 5 ways how a gratitude practice can enhance your float practice:  

1.  Enhancing physical health.  

Studies have shown that grateful people are healthier. They have fewer aches and pains, feel happier, tend to take better care of their health, exercise more, and are more likely to schedule regular check- ups. This suggests that giving thanks helps people appreciate and care for their bodies.  How great is that!  

Looking at this from another angle, research also shows that anxiety and chronic pain may be  linked in a vicious cycle – being in pain causes anxiety, which brings on more physical pain.  Plus, we are learning that  pain may also share some biological mechanisms with anxiety and depression.  

Spending a few minutes in gratitude in your float has the potential to bring you a double shot of enhanced physical well-being.  Floating in itself has been clinically proven to reduce pain and relieve anxiety.  What would it feel like if you spent a few minutes in your float being grateful for your body? Appreciate areas where you feel strong as well as the areas that you feel soft and fluffy

2.  Improving Psychological health.

By shifting your thoughts in a more positive direction, acts and thoughts of gratitude reduce toxic emotions such as envy, resentment, regret and frustration.  Focusing on gratitude increases happiness and reduces feelings of depression.    Tell me I’m wrong, but I think it is nearly impossible to feel depressed and grateful at the same time.  

While you are floating, as you sink into that deeply relaxed state which reduces your stress hormones and increases your pleasure hormones.  This hormonal shift is a big piece of that ‘post-float glow’ feeling.    I can’t think of a better environment to clear out all the negative mind chatter that I no longer need.

3.  Grateful people sleep better.

Studies have shown that people who spend just 15 minutes in a gratitude practice before bed sleep longer and have higher quality sleep.  Perhaps it is a bit of positive thinking and intention setting steers your brain towards sweet dreams and better sleep as well as soothes your nervous system.

Floating also leads to better sleep.  Between the Magnesium in the Epsom Salts that helps with sleep, plus the deep relaxation, we hear all the time how post-float sleeps are the absolute BEST!  

Floating + Gratitude = the best sleep ever!

4.  Improving Self Esteem

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that gratitude increased athletes’ self-esteem, an essential component to optimal performance. Other studies have shown that gratitude reduces social comparisons. Rather than becoming resentful toward people who have ‘more’ than they do, grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments.

Focusing and visualizing your own success, celebrating your own accomplishments and clearing out the mind chatter are all easier to accomplish inside a float tank compared to outside.  While floating, you have un-interrupted time to deeply discover what your best life looks like.

5.  Increasing Mental Strength

For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma.   A 2006 study found that Vietnam War veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of post-traumatic stress disorder. Recognizing all that you have to be thankful for —even during the worst times—fosters resilience.

While we are just starting to study the impact of floating on PTSD, there is plentiful anecdotal evidence on how floating helps relieve symptoms of PTSD.   Floating provides just a bit of ‘space’ between thought and emotion. This space makes it easier to look at emotion just a bit more objectively. Looking at thoughts a bit more objectively makes them easier to process and clear.

So, what are you waiting for?  What do you think you could enhance, grow or let go of by including a gratitude practice with your float practice?  

To read more about the benefits of floating check out our page HERE