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P«R«*K
The Red and Black. Friday, \pril 27. 1979
Feeling tense? Stress getting
you down? Just float...float...
By KIM IOCOVIZZI
John Denver floats. Steve
Martin floats and all of the
Grateful Dead Float
Not a new ride at an
amusement park or torture
device, “floating" is the term
used to describe the experience
of a physical isolation tank
The physical isolation tank is
one of the newest tools in
achieving total body relaxa
tion. according to its advo
cates Daily more and more
doctors, businessmen, actors,
students and “everyday" peo
pie are finding out just how
useful the tank can be in
controlling the stress and
tensions of everyday living
The isolation tank is a
box-shaped chamber eight feet
long, four feet high and four
feet wide The msid«* of the
tank is completely lined and
contains ten to 12 inches of a
highly saturated saltwater
solution The solution is main
tained at exactly 93 5 degrees
Fahrenheit, skin temperature
The environment inside the
tank is completely silent and
void of any light, because of
the skin temperature of the
solution, the environment is
gravity free
The enviroment of the tank
was designed to eliminate all
external sensory input, giving
the brain a chance to relax
from the constant stimulation
of the four million impulses
that bombed it every second.
The tank, more or less, puts
body functions in neutral
The theory behind the
physical isolation tank is really
quite simple It was developed
by Dr John Lilly in the early
1950’s while working under a
Navy grant After years of
development and experiment.
Lilly dis* owrvd that the tank
couid be used successfully as a
tool to control stress manage
ment.
What occurs inside the tank
is unique from person to
person, according to Bruce
Kosenthal. the owner of the
Atlanta Tank Works
Because of the gravity-free
environment of the tank.
Rosenthal said, the muscles
and joints of the body achieve
total relaxation Since the
external sensory input is
eliminated, the mind is the
only territory, and that terri
tory is limitless, he added
According to Rosenthal, the
individual finds a silent, warm,
dark environment inside the
tank The individual is alone,
and the mind is capable of
wandering in any direction, he
added The float is ended by a
quiet knock on the tank.
‘ I stretched like I’ve never
stretched before, put my hands
under my head and was ready for
the relaxation due. I just kept
thinking how great this is’
- Kim Iocovozzi
Floating ‘unforgettable’experience
By KIM IOCOVOZZI
Much to my surprise, I found
the Atlanta Tank Works in a
recently converted two-bed-
.room house rather than the
ultra modern office building I
had expected
In the office area, which
looked more like a living room,
I found four people listening to
soft music engaged in a very
relaxed conversation.
Three of the group had just
finished a floating session and
were discussing their experi
ences with Bruce Rosenthal,
owner of the Atlanta Tank
Works.
Their relaxed mood helped to
relieve some of the unfamiliar
ity and I immediately felt
comfortable.
Rosenthal gave me some
quick instructions on the use of
the tank, and I was prepared
for my float.
At this point I was still very
skeptical about floating around
in a tank of lukewarm
saltwater to relieve my tension
and stress Still, the thought of
"floating” seemed very mys
terious, and 1 was eager to
satisfy my curiousity.
Following Rosenthal's in
structions, I took a shower,
walked into the tank room, and
with numerous butterflies,
climbed into the contraption.
The fact that I was floating
around, naked, in a strange
place bothered me a little at
first, but I soon found myself
feeling very relaxed.
Because of the density of the
water, I floated around like a
large piece of cork in an
undisturbed backyard pool
As the water calmed. I
began to feel the effects of the
dark, peaceful environment
I had entered only moments
earlier. I can remember
thinking to myself that it
wasn't so bad after all
The skin temperature solu
tion was very successful in
making my skin think I was
floating in a gravity free-
environment I stretched like
I've never stretched before,
put my hands under my head
and was ready for the
relaxation due
I just kept thinking how
great this is.
Soon, my mind began to drift
as if I had no control over it.
Vivid thoughts of high school
days appeared out of the
cobwebby comers of my mind
I remembered a specific
incident that I hadn't thought
of in years.
I soon became a firm
believer in the theory that the
brain retains everything
The supposedly quiet knock
that was to awaken me was
quite startling. I couldn't
believe that my hour was over
When I climbed out of the
tank, I had to readjust to being
upright again Once in the
shower, I had the feeling that I
had just awakened from a very-
pleasant nap. I was very
relaxed to say the least and
prepared to greet the world.
My float was a very
unforgettable experience. I
came to realize just why so
many people today are using
the tank to help them contend
with daily worries.
Now comes Miller time.
'There’s ar
better way*
to sell it.
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Footwear for Active People
rpuycffs
548-5035
On the Corner of Broad and Chase
Open Monday-Saturday. 10 a m -6pm.
Dickie Inglett, Manager
We have a brand new shipment of
• Danskin Freestyle Leotards
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