Yesterday I tried using a sensory deprivation tank, also known as an isolation tank. It is a pitch black soundproof box filled with salt water for you to just float in silent darkness. Because of the high concentration of Epsom salt, you are able to lay comfortably on your back with the intention of slipping into meditation. The idea is to be completely deprived of your senses: Sensory Deprivation Tank
I have been wanting to try this for a long time. I've heard stories about people in isolation tanks experiencing lucid dreaming or feeling as though they were floating in space to simply feeling refreshed and relaxed after spending an hour inside the tank. You had me at lucid dreaming. Plus the sensation of floating in space sounds like a trip and the water is set to the same temperature as your body and so is the air, so after being still for so long, you lose the sensation you're in water at all and you just feel weightless.
I think the idea is cool. I'm so distracted in everyday life that I rarely get time to just be by myself without the constant interruption of technology or stress from work or relationships. It's important not to lose time to yourself. This sounds like a really interesting way to force the phone out of your hand and simply turn off the sound of the world in order to be left alone with your mind for a little while.
I think the idea is cool. I'm so distracted in everyday life that I rarely get time to just be by myself without the constant interruption of technology or stress from work or relationships. It's important not to lose time to yourself. This sounds like a really interesting way to force the phone out of your hand and simply turn off the sound of the world in order to be left alone with your mind for a little while.
Floating was cool but the last thing I felt was relaxed. I don't practice meditation so every time I started to feel like I was on the verge of relaxation, I would get distracted. I couldn't lay still, so either salt water would find it's way into my eye or my foot would bump into the wall, honestly I just couldn't wait for it to be over. There were some interesting moments that lasted only briefly where I could be still long enough to just listen to my heart beating, so I can see the potential for a deeper experience. I just couldn't get there.
I was told that it's common for the first time to be uncomfortable (that's what she said, anyway) so here are my thoughts...I'm going to prepare myself and give it another chance next week. I'm not going vegan again but I am changing up my diet: cutting out chicken=[=[ red meat and gluten and I'm going to make sure I exercise enough to really tire myself out that day too. No coffee. I'm also getting high this time. I knew the moment I got in that was my final mistake. We'll see if that changes my perception of...the Tank. Dundundunnn
