A flotation tank is a dark, soundproof chamber filled with highly concentrated Epsom salt water heated to skin temperature. This practice, known as sensory deprivation or floatation, involves relaxing in the tank, where all visual and auditory stimuli are removed, enabling users to enter a meditative state that refreshes both mind and body. The process is scientifically termed Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST), which can shift brainwaves from alpha or beta to theta, often resulting in heightened creativity and problem-solving while remaining fully conscious.
Many athletes utilize REST for enhanced recovery and performance. Essentially, sensory deprivation involves minimizing sensory input; while blindfolds and earplugs are basic forms, a float tank eliminates all sight and sound. The warm air and water create an indistinguishable boundary between your body and the water, enhancing the sensation of weightlessness.
In the tank, external stimuli are effectively eliminated. The pitch-black environment restricts vision, and the only sounds are those of your own body. Floating in the Epsom salt water offers complete buoyancy, resulting in a sensation of zero gravity where traditional concepts of up, down, time, and space become irrelevant.