Blog - Best Floatation Tanks In Melbourne

Position 12 - Floating Using A Pillow

20/8/2015

Pillow

This will be our last blog teaching you the different ways of positioning yourself to while you are floating and how to enhance your experience.

In our float rooms you will find a neck pillow for your use and comfort. If you find that your neck becomes tense while you are trying to keep your head above the water, you may use the pillow for ease and support. However we do suggest that you try and float without it initially to encourage you to let your head fall back allowing the dense water to lift it for you. We understand this can take some concentration, letting your head completely relax, but once you can do this, you will feel your whole body succumb to the feeling of Floatation Therapy.

Always try the techniques we have show you before you get into the tank and the ones described to you in our previous blogs and see what works for you before using the neck pillow.

In our experience, if you feel any pain and discomfort in your neck while using the pillow supplied or even without the pillow, your body could be giving you an indication that you may have some issues with your neck that needs to be rectified as soon as possible before it gets worse. We recommend you come in for a Myotherapy treatment available here at our wellness centre.

Floating with a pillow under your neck can provide comfort and relief

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 11- Floating While Sitting

11/8/2015

Sitting

While you are in the floatation tank room, think of it as your own space, just like you would at home.
If you are feeling uncomfortable, or would just prefer to sit up for a portion of your experience, this is okay. Simply open the sliding door as much or as little as you like. Once re-opened, you can sit upright in the center of the tank.

You may also like to slowly sit up in the tank when your time is up. Once the music starts playing, you can begin your transition back to reality. For some people this can take a while. We recommend that you slowly gather yourself by sitting up slowly and waiting for a minute or two. This allows the body sufficient time to focus on your surrounds and will make you feel less rushed to get out of the tank quickly to shower.

Sitting up in the tank also leaves you in a great position to stretch your leg muscles. By gently reaching forward and touching your toes, you should be able to feel a stretch throughout the back of your legs.

Take complete advantage of every aspect of the tank and experiment with as many positions as possible. This will help you find the perfect one to suit you and each time you will feel something different.

You are able to sit upright in the tank with the hatch open

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 10 - The Scarecrow

3/8/2015

The Scarecrow

Another way to position yourself during a float is the 'Scarecrow', to perfect this position you outstretch your arms to the sides of your body. At your elbow, bend your forearms upwards so they are parallel with your body. Your elbows should remain level with your shoulders, and your hands will approximately be level with your head.

This position will allow you to stretch the muscles in your chest, back and shoulders and you can extend your fingers to get a stretch in your fingers and hands.

Once you have mastered the scarecrow, from this position its very easy to move into Position 3, Floating with your hands behind your head.

When you are moving from position to position you may find yourself floating into the sides of the tank, as we have said in previous blogs, just go with it and make it part of your experience!

The scarecrow position

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 9: Floating With Arms Above Your Head

25/7/2015

Outstretched Arms Above Your Head

We are now more than half way through our series of how to position yourself while you are floating so here is number 9. Stretching your arms above your head - seems simple right? Well in fact it takes quite a bit of effort for some people! The body uses movement from:

Whole shoulder girdle
Core muscles
Leg muscles
Foot muscles

To move your shoulder girdle your body requires a complex coordinated movement known as the Scapulohumeral Rhythm. A lot of muscles are involved in this action including the rotator cuff, deltoids, trapezius and serratus anterior muscle.

We also use the core muscles in your stomach transverse abdominals, rectus abdominals, external and internal oblique muscles. These muscles act as a strong column that links the upper and lower body together, and also helps support your lower back. And finally the muscles in your legs and feet are activated hip flexors, gluteal, hamstring, quadriceps, adductor and calf muscles.

When all these muscles work together we can simply put our arms above our head and point our toes, simple hey!!

TIP
A great way to stretch your body as a whole is you can do this outside on dry land and standing on your tippy toes and reach for the sky.

Arms above your head

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 8 - Floating Using Your Hands And Feet

18/7/2015

Hands and Feet

Depending on how often you've floated and if you are an experienced floater or just a novice starting out you may notice that during your floatation therapy session, you are either in a full trance like state or have simply fallen asleep. If this occurs, you may start to feel stiff or tight around your ankles, wrist or hands.

Just a quick tip to help you out while you are floating on your back, is to try stretching your wrists and ankles by moving them in a circular motions. Start off in a clockwise direction, then change and go in a anti-clockwise direction. You can also point your toes upward (towards you), or downward (away from you). Repeat these actions as much as you need to while you are floating. These mobility movements can be done at the same time or separately. Bear in mind not only does this help free up your wrist and ankle joints, it can also act as a form of distraction to allow you to focus on something else until your ready to relax again.

Make circular motions with your hands and feet while floating

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 7 - The Mermaid

8/7/2015

The Mermaid

There are two phases to this position.

Phase One - is a great overall stretch for the side of your body. While you have your arms outstretched upwards above your head, gently sway and stretch your arms to your left, then right, and repeat as you wish. You should be able to feel your spine lengthening and the sides of your stomach stretching.

Phase 1: With your arms above your head and sway to one side.

Phase Two - swing your legs in the same direction as your arms (see picture below) or placing your body in a banana like position. For example when you stretch to the right, make sure your arms and legs move into the same direction i.e your right side.

Phase 2: With your arms still stretched, sway your legs to the same side.

Doing this motion in the floatation tank can help stretch out your lower back muscles, including quadratus lumborum, which is a major cause for lower back pain. By moving your legs into the same direction as you arms, you are also stretching muscles all the way from your gluteals and obliques to your finger tips, making this a great position to fully stretch the entire body.

If you really want to stretch out your lower back and leg muscles, try crossing your outside leg across the other, in the direction that you're swaying. You will feel an instant stretch along the curved side of your body.

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 6 - Neck Traction

25/6/2015

Neck Traction

This technique is useful to stretch out your neck and provides you with comfort while you float. When floating, some people may find that their neck starts to tense, feeling tight or just feeling uncomfortable as they may be afraid their head will go under the water and want to protect themselves. The position below is a is a great way to allow the muscles in your neck to relax and to also give your head the support you need to feel comfortable and safe.

Another option you have to relieve your neck tension in the tank is to use our inflatable pillow. Keep an eye out for our recommended uses for the pillow in the next several weeks.

1 & 2 - As if you were giving someone the thumbs up, hook your thumbs underneath your cheekbones.

Neck traction

3 & 4 - Point out your index fingers and rotate your hands enough so you can place your index fingers behind your head, at the base of your skull.

5 - Then gently pull and stretch your head directly away from your shoulders, without tilting your head forward, backward, or to either side.

Whilst performing this technique hold the position for at least 10 seconds or for as long as you need. If there is any pain or discomfort it is recommended that you stop.

This position does not only apply within the confines of the floatation tank. It is also a good technique to help relieve muscular neck tension, headaches and pain. This is especially so for people who work at a desk all day or for people that constantly have their head down. Give this position a go and reap the benefits afterwards and let us know how go.

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 5 - Floating With Your Hands Outstretched To The Side

16/6/2015

Outstretched Your Arms By Your Side

This technique is recommended at the beginning of your float to align yourself to the centre of the tank, but it can also be used throughout your experience. You can stretch out your arms to your sides or reach for the sides of the tank.

By extending your arms out (see picture below) you are able to gain a sense of freedom, like nothing is surrounding you. This allows your body to fully relax as you are free to move to where you are most comfortable. In this position you will also notice a stretch at the front of your chest, biceps, forearm to your hands and the tips of your fingers.

Tip: Just be mindful if you are floating and for whatever reasons you touch the side of the tank and you get distracted, we recommend you create this as part of your experience and integrate this with your thoughts, feelings and the sounds around you and simply just let go.

Outstretch your arms while floating

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 4 - Floating With Your Hands Behind Your Back

10/6/2015

Behind Your Back

Another way you can position yourself while you float is to join your hands behind your back just above your buttocks, either keeping your palms open, facing and touching each other, or by interlocking your fingers as shown in position A.

Another option is to try to gradually move your arms from the sides of your body, moving slowly toward each other, until they meet behind your lower part of you upper back and bring your arms up until your forearms overlap, or where a females bra strap would be. As you overlap your forearms, use your hand to grip hold of the other arm for extra support. This is shown below in position B. However, position B might be a little difficult to begin with. If you cannot reach this far, or find it too uncomfortable with this, try out position A and lower your arms.

Ideally you want to gently bring your shoulders back without force and allow the buoyancy of the water do the rest. If you trust the process and give yourself permission to let go your body will just follow what is best for you at the time of your float.

One of many reasons why this position is great while you are floating is that in today's modern society we tend to round our shoulders forward from our day to day living activities. From sitting on the computer for long periods, daily driving especially if you drive long distances, people who are desk bound either writing for long periods, ladies who are breast feeding and carry their hand bag on one shoulders, males who are on the tools, people who are involved in physical activities that involves rounding their shoulders like rowing, runners, boxing, playing football and even your sleeping posture, the list goes on. All these positions can round our shoulders causing tightness through our chest muscle which may effect our posture and cause pain and restriction.

This position may help:

Stretch out your chest
Reduce the occurrence of rounded shoulders
Open up your chest and lungs for fuller breaths
Stretch out your forearm
Improve your posture

You may be wondering how long to hold this position for. Subject to your flexibility or floating frequency, you may be able to hold it for longer but we do recommend holding this position for at least 1 minute or longer depending on what you want to achieve or if it feels comfortable. If it becomes uncomfortable at any stage, adjust your arms into a more relaxing position.

So the next time you come in for a float at Inner Outer Health try this position and see how you go and take note on how your body feels and looks like. If your elbows or shoulders start to feel stiff or uncomfortable, bring your arms back down by your side slowly. You can do this as often as you like during your float session.

Position B - Hands behind the center of back

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position A - Hands above buttocks

Position 3- Floating With Your Hands Behind Your Head

5/6/2015

Behind Your Head
Rest your neck and head by placing your arms upward, keeping your hands underneath your head for support. Let your head fall into your hands, which will be supported by the buoyant water.

By placing your hand behind your head will -

Remove any neck tension or strain you may have previous to your float session
Gives you a sense of safety if you feel uncomfortable letting your head completely go in the epsom salt water
Just another way to get you comfortable
Best thing for you to do is to try and experiment and see if this position works for you or not
Please be aware, if you have your elbow in this position for a while you may feel stiff around the elbow joint or maybe around your wrist or hand. To relieve this place your arm by your side for a couple of minutes and then bring it back to the same position if that helps you.

Float with your hands behind your head

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 2 - Floating With Hands On Your Stomach

29/5/2015

On Your Stomach
You can place your hands on your stomach. You can either keep both hands on your stomach while your fingertips are touching, or sit one hand on top of the other. You may even cross your arms over your stomach if comfortable, or move your arms more toward your chest. By doing this it enables you to generate more warmth if you feel your body temperature has dropped for whatever reason or it's just another way to feel more comfortable and relaxed.

From this position you can easily move back to Position 1, Floating with your hands by your side.

Floating with your hands on your stomach.

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Position 1 - Floating With Your Hands By Your Side

24/5/2015

At Inner Outer Health, we like to ensure your floatation experience is the best it can be. To accomplish this, when you come in for your first float, our floatation tank therapists go through a number of techniques and tips as to where you can position your hands, arms and even your body.

Your hand and arm positioning can help with comfort and relaxation, but also to provide ultimate stretching and tension relief. Some of the tips we provide you with, will be described to you in the next 11 weeks. When you come in for your next float, ask your floatation therapist at Inner Outer Health for a demonstration if you are unclear on the descriptions provided.

Below will be the first of the 12 ways of positioning yourself while floating.

By Your Side
While floating, try resting your hands by your sides, either touching the sides of your body or floating nearby.

If you have missed out on our last blog, click here to see previous positions to enhance your float experience.

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.

Floating with your hands by your side

Hand Positions During Floating

22/5/2015

At Inner Outer Health, we have a number of tried and tested techniques of where to position your arms and hands while floating.

The position of your hands can assist you in a number of stretches to loosen tension throughout your body, consequently providing you with ultimate relaxation.

In the next 12 weeks we will be posting different positions to help enhance your floatation experience.
So stay tuned.

Your Float Position Encourages Relaxation

We would like to hear from you if you have found something that works well for you, and if you'd like to share your tips with others. Comment below.