SCHWERELOS SENSORY
DEPRIVATION LABORATORY

In the Bangkok Charter of the WHO, quality of life is described as the overarching goal in health promotion. The concept of quality of life comprises social, mental, psychological and physical aspects and is therefore based on a holistic view of human well-being.

Since the floating method acts on both the physical-muscular and the psychological-mental level, it can help to improve individual quality of life. In this sense, floating can also be understood as a preventive measure to sustainably enhance quality of life.

Stress is a state of heightened psychological and physical alertness that can be triggered by a wide variety of factors. Neurophysiologically, stress manifests in the excitation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with the evolutionarily useful behaviours of fight and flight.

By floating in the float tank, stress can be significantly reduced by lowering the state of overexcitation and activating the parasympathetic nervous system. With repeated floating, a lasting learning effect in dealing with and personally perceiving stressful situations also becomes apparent.

Burnout syndrome is a form of exhaustion depression characterised by physical, emotional and mental "burnout." Although burnout is not defined as an independent illness, it is mostly triggered by excessively high stress that cannot be managed over a prolonged period.

Scientific studies have shown that people suffering from burnout syndrome experience an increase in well-being through repeated floating. In particular, the root cause of burnout — stress — is gradually reduced.

Studies have shown that regular floating has a significant influence on creativity and autobiographical memory. During floating, one appears to sink into a pleasant half-sleep state in which easier access to more original ideas is possible than in everyday life. In this state of immersion, memories of experienced events are also considerably more accessible.

The subjective experience during floating also includes altered states of consciousness and mystical experiences. Although these phenomena are not the norm and may only arise after more extended floating practice, they are a clear indication of how floating can allow the human range of experience to be explored without the use of psychedelic substances.

The spiritual experiences that can be accessed during floating have the following characteristics:

• Unity experience ("everything is one").
• The experience that all things are animated or conscious.
• Altered perception of space and time.
• New understanding of interconnections.
• The experienced content cannot be described in words.
• The experience of rapture and positive emotions.
• Access to religious, sacred or spiritual feelings.

Scientific studies show that the alteration of the state of consciousness is most closely connected to the deeply relaxing effect of the float tank.

Scientific research confirmed the positive effects of floating on chronic and stress-related muscle pain at a very early stage. The effects occur after just a few tank sessions and last for several months. Floating is therefore recommended in the publications as a suitable and complementary pain treatment.

Fibromyalgia is an umbrella term for conditions characterised by generalised pain, depression and autonomic disturbances. The chronic pain presents with varying localisation in the back muscles and around the joints and is accompanied by increased pressure sensitivity. Associated symptoms also include fatigue, sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, and difficulties with concentration and drive.

Scientific studies suggest that floating produces a marked reduction in symptoms as well as significantly positive improvements in the factors of freedom of movement, relaxation, well-being and energy.

Studies have demonstrated that floating has an effect on the sensorimotor aspects of creativity, making creative activities such as musical improvisation easier to achieve. In addition, a form of deep absorption occurs during floating in which movement sequences can be imagined. Through this form of imaginary "training," motor skills can be significantly improved.

Brine baths can be very helpful for many skin problems such as allergies, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. The soothing effect of the salt brine can be recommended as a complementary dermatological treatment for these conditions. It has been demonstrated that protein in skin cells is broken down at an increased rate, thereby raising the cell division rate. The skin's regeneration process is stimulated in a natural way. Magnesium contributes to normalising the skin's desquamation process and accelerates cellular metabolism.

With floating, the effects of deep mental and physical relaxation are added, to which at least an indirect benefit is attributed in skin conditions with a possible psychosomatic background.

Floating in highly concentrated salt brine allows the human body to adopt a position that is not possible in any bed, water bed or bathtub. This special position has several orthopaedically relevant effects:

• The spine is completely straight.
• The individual vertebrae show no rotational misalignments.
• All muscle groups are relaxed simultaneously (especially those of the neck muscles).
• All joints, intervertebral discs, ligaments and bones are relieved simultaneously.

As a result, acute and chronic tension dissolves and improvements occur in cases of herniated discs, joint complaints, sciatica, lumbago, strains and sprains.