MY 7 TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME FLOATERS

1. Step into the floating room without expectations

It is obvious that we can influence what happens in the pool through the information we share before a float. It has also become clear that too much information has a negative effect on the first floating experience. First-time floaters do not know what to expect, so they can form the wrong idea before they even step into the pool and thereby spoil that crucial first experience. That is why, before a first float, we give only the basic instructions for floating. Step into the floating pool without EXPECTATIONS!

WHY? We are not all born as Gandhi. Meditation can be an extremely demanding practice, since ignoring your thoughts is no small feat.

THE FIRST EXPERIENCE IS NOT A BENCHMARK FOR FORMING AN OPINION ABOUT FLOATING!

2. Relaxation

What will help with relaxation? If you have chosen floating therapy, then relaxation is what you want. Sometimes the path to relaxation is difficult, because everyone has their own individual approach to unwinding. To start, try the trick of reading a book. A few minutes before floating, read a book held very close to your eyes and take a few deep breaths, or repeat a mantra while showering before you step into the pool. For relaxation it is important that you feel safe and free of worries, hence the idea of a mantra to repeat: “I am in a safe and protected space, in a time that belongs only to me.”

3. Ask yourself what you are most afraid of

The most common argument from people who have not yet decided to try floating is the fear of “something unknown.” This might be the difficulty of calming the mind, claustrophobia, or the fear of drowning, which is impossible in a floating pool. When fear takes hold of our thoughts, we ask ourselves, “What am I afraid of?” and consciously try to move past the state of fear by trusting ourselves and the environment we are in, since that environment is completely safe. The end of every floating session reminds us of the saying: “Fear is hollow on the inside, and on the outside there is nothing to it.” One float or two is already enough to get fear under control.

What is the purpose of overcoming fear in a floating pool? Fear is often unjustified or arises for a senseless reason. This makes floating a very effective practice for getting rid of imagined fears or phobias, both inside the pool and outside it.

FEARS: of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), of depth (creatures beneath the surface), of darkness, stage fright, fear of failure (low self-esteem)…

4. Do not try to stop the flow of thoughts

The desire to control your thoughts during floating is the main reason people fail to connect with themselves while floating. Step outside your usual frameworks and control, and do not burden yourself with what is right and what is not, because floating has no rules. Float however suits you, because only then will you create the right environment for synchronizing the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

When you float for the first time, you enter an adjustment period. The first float is meant for getting acquainted and adapting to the environment in the floating room. You need to adjust not only to the salt water, the weightlessness, and the flow of thoughts; adapting to the darkness is also very important. Many people struggle with darkness. Floating therapy is precisely what most effectively eliminates anxiety in the dark and the fear of it. Some people sleep with a night light on. You guessed it!

5. Float on a light stomach and without drinking too many fluids beforehand

Floating in sensory deprivation (the shutting out of the senses) means a heightened awareness of your own body. Before floating, we do not eat heavy food—ideally nothing at all—so that our attention is directed at our mind rather than our stomach and digestion. In the pool the body is at rest, so special hydration is not necessary. Because of the intense activity of the lymph nodes, drinking too much fluid will make you need to “pee.” You cannot “pee” in the pool! (Seriously, do not “pee” in the pool, because some centers use a reagent in their pools that will turn the water a certain color in the presence of urine or feces and put you in an awkward situation. Unfortunately, this is the only solution for monitoring and identifying the state of the brine.)

Sensory deprivation means shutting out the senses, which puts our mind and body into a special state. Any disturbance will reduce both awareness and the effect of floating. A full stomach and the feeling of a full bladder are disturbances that can completely ruin floating therapy.

6. Treat floating as physical and mental self-help

Floating is not expensive when you compare it with other relaxation services such as spa facilities, massages, yoga, or anything else you do to get back to yourself. The unique conditions during floating provide physiological effects such as a reduction in cortisol, hormone regulation, and for some people even weight loss. All mental changes are based on a shift in consciousness and in the patterns we repeat every day. This makes floating an effective aid in overcoming addictions and other unhealthy or disruptive habits. Thanks to these effects of floating, you can get rid of certain disruptive habits or make up for a lack of sleep, which is especially helpful for young mothers.

Why this helps: No other experience can compare with floating, because through floating time takes on a different meaning in life. We all have 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year—no more, no less—so let us make the most of it. It is up to us how we use our time each day, no matter what work you do or where you live.

7. Bonus Tip: Many floaters are carried by the water to the side of the pool, which a lot of people dislike because they end up touching the wall. This can be easily avoided by following these steps:

• After showering, first dry your face and ears and insert your earplugs if you use them.

• Step into the pool, lie down on your back, and begin to float.

• Spread your arms, position yourself in the middle of the pool, and wait 20–30 seconds until you come to rest.

• Once the surface of the water settles, place your arms however suits you, and you will be floating in the middle of the pool.