Floating in the dark in 25cm of water may seem bizarre – but devotees argue that it is the ultimate in relaxation
FLOATING HAS been described by fans as possibly the most relaxing thing you can do.
After taking some time to chill out in a flotation tank, I can understand why. Cocooned in a world devoid of light and sound, save for the lapping of the water, there is really no choice but to forget everything and drift away.
And although the tank is about the size of a double bed, it feels as if I’ve got a whole ocean to myself. It was heaven, until I had a minor freak-out when I could not find the light switch.
Not to worry, says proprietor at the Harvest Moon Centre, Peter Kane.While a lot of people have a fantastic first experience, others find it a little strange.
“The first time, it’s often getting used to it. There’s nearly always some kind of apprehension. People expect something to happen. The second time, they tend to relax more completely,” he says.
“A lot of people have fears of the dark and of enclosed spaces . . . we try to reassure them it’s within their control. You can get out any time.”
Flotation therapy involves floating for an hour or more in a specially designed enclosed bath of tepid water into which massive amounts of Epsom salts have been dissolved, giving it a silky feel.
Advocates say one of the main benefits is complete relaxation. The absence of sensory stimulation means you completely switch off.
“It automatically puts you into a state of meditation if you don’t do anything,” says Kane. “The mind is switched off. You are not thinking, but you are aware. It can take years of training to get that with meditation.
“One regular floater, a solicitor, used to come for three hours a week. He loved it for solving problems. The ideas just come to you.
“It’s also used by sportspeople for recovery from intense training. It helps the body recover and they can go back to training more quickly. We had a few of the Irish rugby team in.”
And although the number of centres offering the therapy nationwide appears to be limited, and some of the ones I contacted have their flotation service fully booked.
Diarmuid Brannick (33), from Rathfarnam, Co Dublin, who underwent surgery in India last year for a condition called ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine) floated almost every day prior to surgery.
“I found it so good for taking away the tension in my back and neck and reducing the inflammation in my joints. I helped me sleep better and reduced stiffness. I felt everything had an opportunity to relax.”
Olive Cassells (60), from Navan, Co Meath, suffers with back pain and gets “great relief” from flotation.
“It’s very relaxing. The last session, I went to sleep. I couldn’t believe I slept on water because I’m not a great fan of water. I don’t swim,” says Cassells, who floats at Navan Natural Health and Spa Centre, Brews Hill.
Maeve Loughnane (34), from Ringsend, Dublin, who decided to try flotation after she saw it advertised, enjoyed the experience, but admits she wasn’t able to fully relax.
“I ended up thinking about a million and one different things. It was very hard to zone out completely,” she says.
“You learn to relax more deeply with every float,” says proprietor at the Navan centre John Byrne.
Mother-of-two Jessica Sullivan, from Navan, floated regularly during her two pregnancies.
“It was the only time when I was pregnant that I got relief from the weight of the baby. Any time I felt tired and needed a boost I went there. Coming out I felt completely relaxed and it would last for days,” says Sullivan, who continues to go about once a fortnight.
“I sink into this incredibly deep sleep. You go into your dream world and forget about what’s going on around you.”
Security guard Sorin Marcu (42), from Romania, lives in Dublin and started floating two years ago.
“If it wasn’t for money, I would do it every day. You get addicted, but it’s a healthy addiction.”
Harvest Moon, 24 Lr Baggot Street, Dublin 2, 01-6627556, harvestmoon.ie; Navan Natural Health and Spa Centre, 19 Brew’s Hill, Navan, Co Meath, 046-9060702; Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare, 045-881111, ospreyhotel.ie