I initially tried floating years ago and while I really wanted to enjoy it, I struggled with my head/neck feeling properly supported. Among other things, I am hyper mobile and deal with a lot of issues with tension in my neck and shoulders. While I was hesitant to try again, something drew me back. I wanted to explore how it would impact my chronic pain and the counter-tightness associated with my hypermobility. I put it off…until… I learned of some new options that the Floatation Centre had available to help support the head and neck while floating. The previous flotation device options just weren’t enough, but with the new ones I can actually adjust the amount of support depending on what I need that specific day (or even during the float!). This was a game changer. I was excited to try floating again and this time I had the support I needed and my neck wasn’t causing me too much discomfort to enjoy and I could really experience my float.

Once that issue was solved, I fully expected to enjoy the stillness of the float, the silence. I knew I’d still have lots of random thoughts but thought it would still be restful overall. Interestingly this hasn’t quite been my experience. As a hypermobile individual, parts of my body tense up to hold my body in a way that keeps me safe(er) from injury; in the float tank, the saltwater provides that support for me. My body is thoroughly supported, held in alignment, nothing collapsing. Normally my body has to work overtime to do these things. This support alone doesn’t ease the tension, but over time it seems to be teaching my nervous system the safety it needs to be able to release. In this environment my muscles are learning they can take a little break. The secondary effect is that it is not always about stillness; sometimes it is about creating lightness, creating space. In my case, it can also be about movement. Once my tightness eases, my body is capable of movements that help me release further. Allowing things to become “unstuck.” Being supported and weightless allows me to move in ways that would be far more difficult out of the tank. Thanks to this, my body asks for movement, and I will periodically stretch out in all directions. The stillness the tank brings me is not stillness IN the tank, but stillness AFTER.