Benefits of Sensory Deprivation
Float therapy, also known as sensory deprivation therapy, has been around since the ‘50s, but fortunately it’s making a come back at a time where were desperately need it. What is “IT”?
A break!
A break from chronic low levels of stress, from screens, from blue light, from all the things that keep us up at night.
If you’re experiencing a little extra stress, or can’t quite ‘turn it off’ at the end of the day, then sensory deprivation therapy may be a useful tool in your quest for better sleep and lowered stress.
We chose our tanks at Victory Float Lounge in Pittsburgh to be accessible for people of all experience levels in terms of floating, which includes people that have never floated before. So the multiple light and sound options, as well as the massive tanks, create an environment that is less intimidating and more welcoming for first timers.
However, we still wanted to have the ultimate option - full sensory deprivation. So, once you settle into our tanks, you can shut off all light and sound, and the room lights are set on timers so there is no light pollution after just a few minutes. And you can settle into a space where your mind is completely free from sensory input.
No lights. No sound. No screens. No blue light. No emails. No text messages. No bosses. No kids.
And the weightlessness of you floating on a bed of water allows your body to relax, and your brain to let go.
Sensory deprivation has been proven in multiple studies over multiple decades to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol isn’t all bad, but in modern day society, we live with constant elevated levels of cortisol that affect our gut, our mood, and or sleep just to name a few. Coupled with the magnesium of the Epsom salt, and the lack of blue light from our constant screen use, those that have floated report amazing sleep for multiple days following a floatation therapy session.
That’s not saying there aren’t other ways to achieve those results, but float tanks are certainly a convenient and accessible way to reduce your stress and improve your natural sleep habits!
