Welcome to the World of Floating!
We wanted to take a few moments to answer some of the common questions we hear at Better Being Float Center. While the experience is always an individual one, many people have similar questions and it might be best to address everyone at once!
1. “I can’t seem to shut off my brain and relax. How do I quiet my mind?”
Getting ourselves to “stop thinking” can seem like an impossible feat, and many think this is the end goal of meditation. This is a bit of a misconception, and as
many of us soon find out, turning off our brain at will isn’t easy. There are some tricks to help though.Try focusing on your breath, taking long, controlled breaths in and out. Alternatively, focus on each muscle group, starting with your toes and working up to your head; slightly tensing then relaxing that muscle. Both of these exercises bring you into your body, and out of your head.
Another approach is to simply flow with the thoughts, rather than resisting or attempting to control them. Many find that this is a natural stream into some of the deeper states meditation has to offer, and certainly coincides with the Floating theme of letting go!
2. “The water was too warm/a bit chilly, is there anything I can do about this?”
We generally set our tanks right around 94 °, which is skin receptor neutral (you stop feeling it after a few minutes). We change it slightly for climate, and sometimes individual users will have a preference slightly above or below this. Of course, every person is different and will have a slightly different exterior temperature; but there are a couple ways to reduce the impact temperature has.
Watch your shower temperature. A cold shower will make the water feel hot, while one that’s too hot will make the Float Tank water seem cold. Also, leaving the lid open will lower the temperature of the tank much faster than closing it.
3. “I had a little bit of neck tension the first time I Floated. Is this normal?”
This is perfectly normal. Your neck doesn’t quite trust the water to hold up your head the first time around, and there can be a tendency to keep it lifted. We have a neck pillow in the rooms to accommodate for this. You can also try the “surrender” position with your hands behind your head, and sometimes just tilting your head back can correct it.
4. “So…what do I do in there? Just lie there?”
Perhaps the best thing about Floating is that you don’t have to *do* anything. The relaxing, neutral environment gives your brain a rare period of downtime, while the saltwater fights gravity and all pressure for you. This sends signals to your body that “the coast is clear”, activating many different latent healing responses and supercharging recovery processes.
Think of it as a much needed break from the constant barrage of stimuli we experience daily. Not doing anything is something your body and mind will thank you for later. Of course, if you must have some input, the colored lights and music are always an option. But we recommend trying the dark, quiet approach sometime; you may find you like it!
5. “I felt amazing after my Float session, and had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years!”
Alright, we admit it…this one isn’t a question. But we do hear this all the time. =)
Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions that didn’t get covered!
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