Balance December 2017 - 14

D E A D S A LT Y

t h e manual

e at m e n

e month

t of th

Flotation Tank Therapy

tr

Once popular with health
enthusiasts, floating is now
a popular way to achieve
deeper meditation, as
Nilufer Atik discovers...

T

MOOD ENHANCING BENEFITS
Developed by US neurophysiologist
Professor John C. Lilly in the 1950s, the
treatment involves lying in a sensorydeprivation tank with your body weight
supported by water. There's no sound,
no light and nothing to do but float and
breathe. This leads to a deep meditative
state that is said to revive mind and body.
So what's it like? 'Research consistently
demonstrates that flotation therapy
has a significant impact on mood
enhancement,' says Chris Plowman, MD
of Floatworks in London.
Not a fan of confined spaces, I was
a little nervous when I arrived for my

well
informed
LOOKING FOR THE
IDEAL PRESENT? IT
MAY BE SOMETHING
YOU CAN'T BUY
IN ANY SHOP...

14

hour-long session at Floatworks' Vauxhall
site, shuddering at the thought of being
trapped inside a coffin-like contraption
in the pitch dark. Luckily, the tank
itself was huge. Inside, optional lights
coloured the salty liquid various hues of
pink and blue and there was plenty of
room to move around. Buttons meant I
was in compete control at all times.
Because the water and my body were
the same temperature, it felt like I was
floating on air. At one point, I forgot
I was in the tank and tried to roll over.
Water got into my eyes. It stings. A lot.

THE COLD, HARD TRUTH
Give it a go: I initially
felt odd just lying
there. Ambient
music played for
the first five minutes
before it faded out
and I was plunged
into darkness. By the
end of my hour, I
was in a deeply
relaxed state and
wanted to stay in
there forever.

Low point:
You need a
few sessions
to feel the
real benefits

DRIFTING OFF
The rest of the hour comprised of a mix
of daydreams and moments of complete
nothingness. Just as I was about to fall
asleep again the music started to indicate
the end of my hour. It's recommended
you have three 'floats' before deciding if
it's for you, but even after one there was a
positive effect. That night's sleep was the
best for a long time.

If the thought of joining millions
of frenzied shoppers battling
it out to find the perfect gifts
this Christmas brings you out in
a cold sweat, you'll be relieved
to know the antique ring or
unique piece of artwork you'd
envisioned might not produce
as much festive joy as hoped.
Scientific research
commissioned by the National
Trust has found that people

BOOKING INFO

Cost
Up to £50 per session

actually experience greater
feelings of contentment from
places than from objects - a
concept known as topophilia.
Not to be forgotten
Specific places can evoke
a strong sense of belonging,
hence the brain's emotional
response to them was
significantly higher than
towards material 'product'.

BA LA N CE September 2017

High point:
The sensory
deprivation
means you
can reach a
much deeper
meditative
state

Contact
floatworks.com

So, why not forgo high street
madness this year, and opt for
experience-based gifts
instead? Plan a road-trip to a
childhood haunt, book tickets
to a festival or organise a
mini-adventure. It will leave
you and your loved-one simply
feeling good for longer.
Laura Hill, Senior Editor
and Wellness Trends Expert,
welltodoglobal.com

ILLUSTRATION: ACUTEGRAPHICS.CO.UK

he healing powers of the
Dead Sea have been praised
for thousands of years. Even
Cleopatra was said to be a fan of its
super salty, mineral-rich waters. But
floating for wellness is certainly not a
thing of the past. To this day more than
a million tourists flock there every year
to enjoy a float (the salt content makes it
so buoyant you can't do much else). But
if nipping over to the Middle East seems
a little excessive, you can always visit a
flotation tank in London.


http://ACUTEGRAPHICS.CO.UK http://www.floatworks.com http://www.welltodoglobal.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Balance December 2017

Balance December 2017 - 1
Balance December 2017 - 2
Balance December 2017 - 3
Balance December 2017 - 4
Balance December 2017 - 5
Balance December 2017 - 6
Balance December 2017 - 7
Balance December 2017 - 8
Balance December 2017 - 9
Balance December 2017 - 10
Balance December 2017 - 11
Balance December 2017 - 12
Balance December 2017 - 13
Balance December 2017 - 14
Balance December 2017 - 15
Balance December 2017 - 16
Balance December 2017 - 17
Balance December 2017 - 18
Balance December 2017 - 19
Balance December 2017 - 20
Balance December 2017 - 21
Balance December 2017 - 22
Balance December 2017 - 23
Balance December 2017 - 24
Balance December 2017 - 25
Balance December 2017 - 26
Balance December 2017 - 27
Balance December 2017 - 28
Balance December 2017 - 29
Balance December 2017 - 30
Balance December 2017 - 31
Balance December 2017 - 32
Balance December 2017 - 33
Balance December 2017 - 34
Balance December 2017 - 35
Balance December 2017 - 36
Balance December 2017 - 37
Balance December 2017 - 38
Balance December 2017 - 39
Balance December 2017 - 40
Balance December 2017 - 41
Balance December 2017 - 42
Balance December 2017 - 43
Balance December 2017 - 44
Balance December 2017 - 45
Balance December 2017 - 46
Balance December 2017 - 47
Balance December 2017 - 48
Balance December 2017 - 49
Balance December 2017 - 50
Balance December 2017 - 51
Balance December 2017 - 52
Balance December 2017 - 53
Balance December 2017 - 54
Balance December 2017 - 55
Balance December 2017 - 56
Balance December 2017 - 57
Balance December 2017 - 58
Balance December 2017 - 59
Balance December 2017 - 60
Balance December 2017 - 61
Balance December 2017 - 62
Balance December 2017 - 63
Balance December 2017 - 64
Balance December 2017 - 65
Balance December 2017 - 66
Balance December 2017 - 67
Balance December 2017 - 68
Balance December 2017 - 69
Balance December 2017 - 70
Balance December 2017 - 71
Balance December 2017 - 72
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BALANCE_MARCH_2020
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BALANCE_FEBRUARY_2020
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/balancejanuary2020
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BALANCE_DECEMBER_2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BALANCE_NOVEMBER_19
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BALANCE_OCTOBER_2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/balanceseptember2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/balancejuly2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/Balance_June_2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/balancemay2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/balance_april_2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceMarch19
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceFebruary19
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJanuary2019
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceDecember2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceNovember2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceOctober2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceSeptember2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceAugust2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJuly2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJune2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceMay2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceApril2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceMarchIssue2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceFebruary18
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJanIssue2018
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/balancedecember2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/balancenovember2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceOctober2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceSeptIssue2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJulyIssue2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJuneIssue2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceMayIssue2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceAprilIssue2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceMarchIssue17
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceFebruaryIssue2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJanuaryIssue2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceDecember2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceNovember2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceOctober2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceSeptember2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJuly2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceJune2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceMay2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceLaunchEditionApril2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/Balance2016
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/BalanceNov
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Balance/Balance
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com