Wow!  What a great float session last Saturday at Buoyance .  Undoubtedly, my best so far.

I was definitely able to “let go” much sooner than I have in previous floats.  I think it was a combination of several things I did earlier in the day.

My day started with an hour drive thru some familiar back roads I’ve known since I was a child.   Alone in the car, windows down and fresh air blowing in…I was already comfortable and relaxed and ready for my 8 a.m. morning hike up Pinnacle Mnt.

I met up with a long-time friend and began the hike on what was to be a perfect Spring day in SC.  At the top, the air was crisp and the conversation was engaging and productive.  Not a bad setting for a business meeting.

Thoroughly relaxed and invigorated from the hike/business meeting, I headed out to what I knew would be a special float.

As I said I would, I choose the open tank this time.  However to my surprise, the attendee said the temperature in the room was increased due to customer feedback.  Stepping thru the sealed door, it was apparent that they had done so.  The room was toasty warm and ripe for a good float.

Wasting no time, I showered and began to float.  I decided not to use a noodle for my neck to start off.  I already knew how to relax my neck and where the water level should be relative to the corner of my eyes.  So it was easy to Let Go and gradually release tension.

As expected, residual pain and tension in my body began to float to the surface, no pun intended.  To me, this is a marker that signifies I’m floating right.  Because if the rest of my body is relaxed, then the “hidden” pains will be noticeable and seemingly amplified by the water evenly supporting my weight.  Those pains are what is left over after you relax the body and ease tension by letting go and allowing the water to carry you.

Its usually a bit uncomfortable at first but then those pains dissipate.  Just like an epsom salt bath, magnesium is absorbed and softens the tissue.   All while the dense water supports you exactly where You need it be supported.  Not to mention the sensory deprivation aspect of a float.

All the floats I have done so far (4 floats) have been in tanks isolated from light and sound.  There are tanks and facilities that have lights and sound as part of the floating therapy.  I imagine these floats are just as rewarding and pleasant as a sensory deprivation one.  There is one a few hours away from me I’ll be trying sooner or later.

Anyways, because the temperature of the room was sufficiently warm…I swear I had a detachment feeling from my body.  Much like in a deep meditative state, its a feeling of going inside myself.  It reminds me of the little alien driving the human robot from the Men In Black movie.  The feeling I get is as though my awareness is drawn inward to the center of my brain and I’m surrounded by a shell of nothingness. 

Inside this “shell”, I believe, is MY pure awareness and thought.  My awareness at the time goes something like, “Ok, my body is relaxed and asleep while my mind is fulling awake and actively aware…This is the True Me.”

At this point I’m usually excited that I have reached this stage and more than likely I’ll sike myself out of it.  Its definitely difficult for me to remain in this awareness state for more than a minute or two.  So I’ve made it a point to improve that with more meditation and floats.

So I reached that emptiness state a couple times this past float.  Also I managed to actually notice that I couldn’t notice the air on my skin.  The increase in room temperature definitely helped there.  This of course aided in reaching that meditative state of awareness.

As the lights and sounds came back on, letting me know it was time to exit, I realized my mind was empty.  No worry.  No stress.  No future or past thinking.  I was present…here and now.  My body was relaxed and loose.  My back wasn’t hurting.  Another refreshing feeling.  Kinda like when you shut down your computer and restart it.

I was Renewed.

All in all, it was a fantastic float.  I cant wait to go again.