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While some critics contend the scientifi c evidence for the claims of fl otation tanks' health benefi ts is tenuous or exaggerated, there's no denying that it just feels good to fl oat. It's the perfect way to unplug and de-stress, to take a break from everything. Where else do you get a chance to remove yourself from the noise around you, to feel weightless, to be completely alone with your thoughts for an hour or more? With the weight of your body removed from the equation, the fl otation tank is also the ideal vehicle for practicing meditation. When fl oating, there is anywhere from 800–1,000 pounds of Epsom salt in the tank, making the water dense enough that you can fall asleep and not worry about sinking. The temperature of the water matches the temperature of your skin exactly. It's pitch black and silent inside the tank. All these factors make fl oating in a fl otation tank nothing like fl oating in a pool or the ocean—it's more like fl oating in space. WHERE CAN YOU FLOAT? Dedicated fl oat studios are popping up across the country. If you don't have one in your area, check with yoga studios, spas, or other alternative healing centers, as these often incorporate fl otation tanks into their offerings. Similar to massage, prices typically range from $50–$100 for a session. An intriguing new development in recent years is the introduction of affordable, consumer versions of fl otation tanks for home use. At the forefront of this trend is Zen Float Company, which raised approximately $300,000 on Kickstarter for their fi rst tent-like fl otation tank prototype. The current, redesigned version is sturdier, easier to maintain, and easier to ship 68 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j u l y / a u g u s t 2 0 1 8 Flotation tanks, also known as isolation tanks or sensory deprivation tanks, were originally designed to do exactly this—remove the body and mind from all sensory stimuli for the purpose of studying the brain. The fi rst isolation tank was developed in 1954 by John C. Lily, MD, and stood upright, requiring the subject to be submerged in water and breathe through a ventilator. The design has evolved since then, and now fl otation tanks are sleek pods, or even entire rooms, where subjects fl oat carefree on their back in the salt-infused water. THE RESEARCH Floating in a sensory deprivation tank is purported to have a host of health benefi ts, including decreased stress, depression, anxiety, and pain, and increased optimism and sleep quality. 1 In addition to these benefi ts, a 2018 study found that fl otation therapy is a safe and effective method for reducing muscle tension and improving mood. 2 The roster of professional athletes who use fl otation tanks is impressive and growing, and includes NFL quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, US Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, and the Golden State Warriors basketball team. 3 Track and fi eld star Carl Lewis reportedly used in-tank visualization techniques to prepare for his gold-medal long jump at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Julian Edelman, a wide receiver for the New England Patriots, was skeptical at fi rst, but after experiencing fl otation for himself, says, "Once you get comfortable with it, it feels like you're just on a cloud or something because there're no pressure points. For athletes, I'm 120 percent all in on it." 4 A 2018 study found that fl otation therapy is a safe and effective method for reducing muscle tension and improving mood.