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Floating to relaxation 1n a sensory deprivation tank

» Like the Dead Sea, but closer to home

Martin Castro
The Cascade

ied deprivation tanks

are essentially giant tanks

of water with a high salt
concentration in which a person
floats in relative or complete
darkness. These tanks have
been around since the 1950s,
when psychiatrist John C. Lilly
invented them in order to study
neurophysiology.

Since then, sensory
deprivation tanks have come to
be used mainly in therapy and
wellness centres around the
world, and are also used asa
tool for relaxation, meditation,
treatment of chronic pain,
and physiotherapy. I was first
introduced to the concept
of sensory deprivation tanks
through television and film,
where they were depicted more
glamourously than they are in
real life.

The 1980 film Altered
States actually takes its premise
from real life. Lilly had runa

: with Travis McLaren, owner of
: Cloud 9 Float Spa in Coquitlam
: and self-styled “float guru”

: about the benefits of sensory

: deprivation tanks.

: series of experiments in which
: he ingested either LSD or

: ketamine while inside a sensory
: deprivation tank. I set off to

: an establishment with sensory
: deprivation tanks. I wasn’t

: entirely surprised to find that

: nowadays, sensory deprivation
: tanks are not associated

: with experiments involving

: hallucinogenic drugs.

I had the chance to speak

“A lot of people come for

: therapy,” McLaren explains.

: “Chronic pain sufferers [find]

: they don't feel as much pain in
: float tanks. It really alleviates

: their condition. Athletes also

: float [in a float tank]—they can
: practice in their mind, and it

: seems to really help.”

McLaren also noted that

Once I spoke with McLaren,

: it was my turn to enter a sensory

r OZ

: deprivation tank for myself

: and see what it was like. I was

: excited, nervous, and feeling

: slightly cynical as I walked down
: a corridor and into a white and

: blue room. Inside was an equally
: white tank, about the size of a

: queen bed, filled halfway with

: water. The salt and chemicals

: in the water causes the person

: first-timers often feel like they’re :
: ina different world when they
: come out of the float tank.

: “They have to sit and ground

: themselves,” he added.

in the tank to float, almost as if

: they were in the Dead Sea.

After stripping off my

: clothes and taking a quick

: shower to rid myself of any

: contaminants, I inserted the

: ear-plugs provided, which kept

water out of my ears and also
muted any distracting sounds. I
stepped into the tank and closed
the door, leaving myself ina
nearly pitch black environment,
lying on my back and floating
effortlessly on the water.

After some five minutes of
consciously trying to relax, my
imagination began to act up.

It may have just been my eyes
becoming accustomed to the

: darkness, but I could have sworn
: Isaw some circles floating in

: front of me, even when I closed

: my eyelids. My mind began to

: run through different scenarios,

: all very vivid, and I had recurring
: thoughts of a plane of land,

: almost like a desert. The whole

: thing was ridiculously relaxing.

: The two hours passed faster than
: I expected. Calm music and soft

: lights signalled it was time to get
: out. Once I got dressed and had

: some tea, I realized I was calm,

: but with a lot of energy. There

: was figuratively nothing on my

: mind. It was a pretty surreal

: experience, and not to mention

: ridiculously cool.

 

Enthused about infused water

» Wading through water recipes

Natalie Serafini
bh, Editor-in-Chief
\) Seditor

~ @theotherpress.ca

   

invariably include sugges-
tions to replace the alcohol,
sugary juices, and sodas we
consume with a lower calorie,
more hydrating libation: water.
Authorities generally advise
the “8x8” rule, or eight 8-ounce

to stay hydrated, healthy, and
happy; but the overwhelming
amount of roughly two litres

boring. Infusing your waters
with yummy fruits, vegetables,
and herbs can make that nada

water a revitalizing refreshment : - :
: additional nutrients and num-

: miness to maximize your water’s
: potential. NutritionStripped.

: com says that by steeping fruit

: in your water, youre benefiting

: from “naturally occurring :
: vitamins, minerals, and antiox- :
: idants.” Additionally, because

: itisn’t a juice, “the amount of

: sugar and calories is negligi-

: ble... You're simply infusing

: the water with flavours and

: all-natural nutrients from the

: fruits, vegetables, and herbs.”

worth guzzling by the gallon.
The benefits of infused
water are manifold, beginning
with the fact that it pushes
you to drink more water.
MindBodyGreen.com lists
several reasons drinking
more water is a good idea,
including greater energy,
weight-loss, clearer skin, and
better immunity. When it
comes to weight-loss, drinking
water is incomparable for
those who want to burn some
easy pounds, as studies have

: indicated that simply drinking
: water can help burn calories.

benefits, drinking primarily

: water also helps to save money.
ips and tricks on weight-loss Tm not talking the $5-bottle of

T : Evian you buy several times a

: day; I’m talking the free fluids

: you get from taps. We have

: several water-bottle-refill

: stations throughout Douglas

: College, and getting a reusable

: bottle means you never have

glasses of water per day, in order : f° ScTounge for change to buy

: water again. When youre

: drinking free water instead

: of buying jugs of juice, or

can make boring old water, well, ! splurging on drinks at the

: club—or at least are doing

: this in moderation—you have

: more money in your bank.

Quite apart from the health

You can also introduce some :

The main idea with infused

: water is to toss some fruit,
: herbs, and/or veggies into an

ice-water pitcher, and let it sit

: fora few hours to soak up all

: that goodness. You can find

: countless recipes online, try out
: the recipes below, or get creative
: and experiment with something
: completely different! Top tip: I

: reuse the fruit in the pitcher a

: few times over once I’ve drunk

: all the water, refilling the

: pitcher and letting it sit longer

: for some lightly flavoured water.

Strawberry, basil,
and lemon
With files from

NatashasKitchen.com

Fill a large pitcher with
ice; four — six quartered
strawberries; half a lemon,
sliced; and a small handful of
fresh basil leaves—squeeze
the basil in your hands a
bit to release more of the
flavour before putting it in
the pitcher. Pour cold water
into the pitcher, and let it
sit in the fridge for at least
an hour. This infused water
makes for a gorgeous rosé
colour once it’s been steeping
for a few hours, so why not
drink it out ofa wine glass?

Watermelon and mint

  
 

With files from Eat-Drink-Love.com

Filla large pitcher withice and some sliced watermelon—for
this one, I'd say use your discretion, adding more for a fruitier
flavour. Next, addasmall handful of fresh mint leaves, squeezing
the leavesin your hands to release more flavour. Fill with cold water
and let sit for at least an hour. Munch onany leftover watermelon
while you wait, and then you can be “drankin’ watermelon.”