Floating to the Top: Floating’s Rise to Prominence in News and Culture

In the past few years, floating has experienced an unprecedented rise in popularity and acknowledgement. Though around in some form or another since the late 1950’s when the practice was developed by neuroscientist John C. Lilly, it has largely remained confined to the fringes of public consciousness with occasional nods from science fiction and pop culture (Ken Russel’s Altered States (1980), a 1999 episode of The Simpsons more recently J.J. Abrams TV Series Fringe (2008-2013)). With renewed interest in the mental and physical therapeutic benefits of floating and high profile celebrity endorsements from long time floating advocate Joe Rogan and more recently Steph Curry, people from all walks of life are investigating the wide range of benefits floating has to offer.

For athletes, the promise of shortened physical recovery times, improved muscle tone, heightened coordination and pain relief makes floating an invaluable addition to their workout or training routine. Reduced stress, lowered blood pressure, improved memory retention, and lowered anxiety are all things that would appeal to almost anyone. In a recent BBC piece titled “Why do People use Floatation Tanks?” interviewees cite the serene, womb-like environment, and the meditative theta state often achieved by floaters for creative inspiration, much needed relaxation, and a way to bring focus to their hectic lives. University of Texas student Andrew Wilson wrote a humorous and candid account of his first float for Study Breaks Magazine where he cites floating as a way to feel more in tune with his body. The Huffington Post made a concise endorsement of floating in this video where they predict floating as your new favorite way to destress. And if all that hasn’t piqued or renewed your interest in floatation therapy, with a similar buoyancy force as The Dead Sea, floating offers a safer and cheaper alternative to a trip to the Middle East and with much less chance for sunburn.