WHAT IS R-E-S-T?
Earth
has a gravitational field. As long as we live on this planet, gravity will pull
us down. Human beings are able to stand upright, move and do all sorts of
actions because our brain constantly detect our position, readjust our muscles
and fluid (esp. blood) pressures, and activate millions of bodily processes to
keep our body-brain stable and developing. Neurophysiologists estimate that 90%
of our brain’s energy is used to deal with gravity alone.
Imagine
being a place where there is no gravity. Sure, you may bounce around like
astronauts in a spacecraft. But more importantly, the brain does not have to
deal with the effects of gravity anymore. That means the vast amount of mental
energy normally used to handle gravity is now free for other things – like,
regeneration of the body, healing, learning and so on.
Of
course, being in a state of zero gravity can be disorientating, even confusing.
Our senses will tell us that we are in an unfamiliar environment and that our
mind has to find some frame of reference to act as an anchor, to orientate and
stabilize us. However, once we adjust to the new condition, then we will be
able to function again.
Restricted Environmental
Stimulation Therapy/Technique (REST) was developed from researches by John Lily
on the origin of the human mind in the early 1950’s. His experiments using
isolation tanks led him to discover the astounding benefits of being in a state
of sensory deprivation. Over the past 50 years, REST has been used to great
effect by therapist dealing with professional athletes, drugs/smoking
rehabilitation, behavioural change, super learning, and by artists, academics
and busy business people who are over-stressed but have little time for
vacations.
SO
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Imagine blindfolding yourself
for a few days. At first you will be disorientated and fearful because you have
lost one of your most important sensor. However, after a day or so, when you
begin to calm down, you will find that your other senses become stronger, like
hearing, smell and touch. You become more sensitive.
In REST, we are cut off from all
external stimulation – light, sound and others. Our awareness turns inward to
our own body. We begin to hear our heartbeat, breathing and gain awareness of
our limbs, bones, muscles, etc. – all the time, turning our mind energy toward
the healing and development of ourselves (normally, we pay more attention to
what is around us, and since the invention of TV and pop music, much of our
attention has been spent on them).
REST can be carried out in
isolation chambers or in tanks containing hypersaline solution. The former is
called dry REST and the latter, wet REST. In dry REST, the person is still
affected by gravity although cut off from other environmental stimulation. Wet
REST, also called “floating” or “floatation therapy”, puts the person in a
state of weightlessness, and is considerable more effective than dry REST.
FLOATING
Floatation therapy involves
floating on a pool of salt water inside a floatation tank for around an hour.
The water is 10 times denser than sea water, which means any human being, no
matter how heavy or dense, will float, thus greatly reducing the effect of
gravity. Because REST works when environmental stimulation (light, sound,
others) is removed, the effect of floating is at a maximum when one floats in
total darkness and silence.
However, because our senses are
normally engaged to our environment (for our survival), we become anxious and
uncomfortable with we first enter a floatation tank. In order to disengage our
mind, i.e. to help the floater ‘let go’, some music or even a video is played
in the tank’s audio-video system. Generally, the average person takes about 20
minutes to let go, and so music and video are played in the first 20 minutes.
After that, lights and sounds are cut off, and floater can then engaged fully
in REST.
First-timers may find it hard to
adjust and many will not be able to gain much during the first float, apart
from familiarization and a relaxed, expanded feeling after the session. To make
sure that you make the most of your first session, please read the tips
on floating. By the way, the Epsom salt solution in the tank is good for the
skin and helps in the detoxification of the body.
WHAT
YOU CAN ACHIEVE FROM FLOATING
Once you have learned how to do
it right (usually after 2-4 sessions, depending on how quick you let go of your
fears and preconceived ideas), floating can be used for several purposes. But
always, it will accelerate the normal regeneration processes of your body - that means, your injury heals faster, your
regain health and vitality faster, and you experienced deep relaxation. Others
are:
§
Sports training: use the last
30 minutes, when your brain is in a deeply relaxed (theta) state to visualize
the perfect moves in slow motion, or use a in-tank learning training video
§
Language or other subject
learning: use the last 30 minutes to listen to a language or other lecture
tapes, or watch a video on the topic that you are interest to learn. Learning
while floating allows the brain to ‘absorb’ information much easier. Floating
has been found to integrate left-right brain hemisphere as well as the logical
brain with basic instincts.
§
Reducing blood pressure.
Floating has been found to reduce hypertension as the body readjusts to a
healthier state over a series of floats (e.g. once a week)
§
Healing joint and back
problems. Gravity is the main culprit in back and joint pains. Floating removes
the effect of gravity and accelerates the regeneration process. It is probably
the best tool to remove back and joint pains. Even bad postures can be
corrected over time.
§
Managing pregnancy. Again,
gravity is a major problem during pregnancy as the mother-to-be gains
tremendous weight. The back and legs suffers the most. Floating will help
alleviate the pains and heal any damage. Additionally, the deep relaxation will
be transmitted to the unborn baby, something that is found to be very important
for its development.
§
Problem solving. Floating
expand your mind. It integrates left-right brain thinking. Use the tank to
solve problem, do analysis, devise strategies, or even thinking through a
relationship issue.
§
Enhance sensuality. Another
effect of floating is that it merges the logical brain with the so-called
reptilian brain (basic instinct). As a result, you will become more sensitive
to your body. Floating will greatly enhance your love life.
§
Develop spirituality.
Floating expands and frees the mind. It makes you more creative and bolder to
ask questions and explore new realities. Many have had amazing spiritual
experience in the tank, esp. when you play religious or spiritual music. Note:
for those who have mediumistic powers, you may find the tank a bit ‘scary’ as
your mind energy go ‘free flow’, resulting in all kinds of sensations in your
body.
There
are many more possibilities. Floatation REST has been well researched for over
40 years, and has so far yielded impressive results and hardly any side
effects. The most comprehensive book on the technique is probably Michael
Hutchingson’s (of Mega Brain fame) Book of Floating. There are also numerous
websites on float tanks and floatation as well as forums for talking about it.
FLOATING AT GOODVIBES
At
GoodVibes Mindspa, we have two Pathfinder
Tankmaster float tanks from ThinkTank
International. These beauties are state-of-the-art float tanks,
complete with flat-screen TV and digital AV system. There is a 2-way intercom
for the floater to communicate with the operator outside and a heating system
to maintain the near-body water temperature and to keep the floater in the center
of the tank.
There
are 2 float rooms at GoodVibes. We call the first the Outer Space and the
second Inner Space. We hope that floating in the first will take you on a
journey outside your world into many universes, to “boldly go where no one has
gone”. The second tank room - deep blue with images of dolphins on the walls -
is intended to take you on a voyage to the depths of your consciousness. We sincerely hope that you will
discover great things in yourself and emerges excited about life.