The Book
of Floating
Floatation Center
The following text is extracted from " The Book of Floating - Exploring the
Private Sea" which was written by Michael Hutchison and first published in
1983. The book represents the definitive analysis of the floatation technique  
and is essential reading for anybody who is interested in learning more about
the physical and mental effects of floating.

The book was recently republished by Gateway books, and we do have several
copies available at the center. If you would like to borrow one just ask at
reception.

by Michael Hutchinson, author of "The Book of Floating"


There's no doubt that floating works - as a therapeutic, educational and entertainment tool it has powerful
effects on a number of levels, including the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. But why is the
floatation environment so effective? What can be so actively beneficial in an essentially passive device? This is
a question that has intrigued scientists, and today there is floatation research going on in laboratories around
the world. The evidence accumulated so far falls into a number of distinct, though interrelated explanations.
Among the most important are as follows:

1 The Anti-gravity Explanation

The buoyancy afforded by the dense Epsom salt solution eliminates the body's specific gravity, bringing the
floater close to an experience of total weightlessness. Gravity, which has been estimated to occupy 90 percent
of all central nervous system activity, is probably the single largest cause of human health problems - the bad
backs, sagging abdomens, aching feet, painful joints, and muscular tension that result from our unique but
unnatural upright posture. This theory asserts that, by freeing our brain and skeletal system from gravity,
floating liberates vast amounts of energies and large areas of the brain to deal with matter of mind, spirit, and
enhanced awareness of internal states.

2 The Brain Wave Explanation

More interesting than the well known alpha waves generated by the brain in moments of relaxation, are the
slower theta waves, which are accompanied by vivid memories, free association, sudden insights, creative
inspiration and feelings of serenity and oneness with the universe. It is a mysterious, elusive state, potentially
highly productive and enlightening; but experimenters have had a difficult time studying it, and it is hard to
maintain, since people tend to fall asleep once they begin to generate theta waves. One way of learning to
produce theta waves is to perfect the art of meditation. A study of Zen monks conducted by Akira Kazamatsu
and Tomio Hirai, in which the monks' brain-waves were charted as they entered the meditative states,
indicated that the four meditative plateau's (from alpha to the more sublime theta) "were parallel to the
disciples' mental states, and their years spent in Zen training." Those monks with over twenty years of
meditative experience generated the greatest amount of theta, the monks were not asleep but mentally alert.
However, since many of us are unwilling to spend twenty years of mediation to learn to generate theta waves,
it's helpful to know that several recent studies (at Texas A&M and the University at Colorado) have shown that
floating increases production of theta waves. Floaters quickly enter the theta state while remaining awake,
consciously aware of all the vivid imagery and creative thoughts that pass through their minds, and after getting
out of the floatation environment, floaters continue to generate larger amounts of creativity-promoting theta
waves for up to three weeks.

3 The Left-Brain Right-Brain Explanation

The two hemispheres of the neocortex operate in fundamentally different modes. The left hemisphere excels at
detail, processing information that is small-scale, requiring fine resolution: it operates analytically, by splitting
or dissection. The right hemisphere on the other hand, is good at putting all the pieces together. It operates by
pattern recognition - visually, intuitively and rapidly absorbing large scale information. Just as in the sunshine
of a bright day it is impossible to see the stars, so are the subtle contents of the right hemisphere usually
drowned out by the noisy chattering of the dominant verbal/analytical left brain, whose qualities are the more
cultivated and valued in our culture. But recent research indicates that floating increases right-brain (or minor
hemisphere) function. Floating turns off the external stimuli, plunges us into literal and figurative darkness -
then suddenly the entire universe of stars and galaxies is spread out before our eyes. Or as brain researcher
Dr. Thomas Budzynski of the University of Colorado put it, "In a floatation environment, the right hemisphere
comes out and says, 'Whoopee".

4 The Three Brain Explanation

In a series of seminal studies produced over the last twenty-five years, Paul MacLean, chief brain researcher at
the National Institute for Mental Health (US), has produced convincing evidence that the human brain has three
separate physiological layers, each corresponding to a stage in our evolutionary history. In this "Triune Brain
Theory," the most ancient layer is called the reptile brain, and it controls basic self-preservative, reproductive
and life sustaining functions. Sitting atop the reptile, brain is the iambic system, which MacLean had dubbed
the visceral brain, because it generates all our emotions. The most recent part of the brain to develop is the
"thinking cap" of convoluted gray matter called the neocortex, seat of our abstract, cognitive functions; memory,
intellect, language, and consciousness. While many of these three separate brains have overlapping functions
they are all quite different in chemistry, structure, action, and style. Three brains should be better than one, but
unfortunately, due to a ruinous design error, there is insufficient communication and coordination between the
neocortex and the two older levels. This lack of communication results in a chronic dissociation between the
higher and lower brains, which MacLean calls schizaphysiology, and which we experience in the form of
conflicting drives - unconscious and conscious, savage and civilized, lusty and loving, ritualistic and symbolic,
rational and verbal. There are times when the levels do act in harmony, as in peak experiences when body and
mind unite in exhilarating moments of vitality, when our actions come effortlessly, spontaneously. But it's hard
to predict when these perfect moments will occur. Now there is evidence that suggests that, due to heightened
internal awareness and decreased physical arousal, floating increases the vertical organisation of the brain,
enhancing communication and harmony between the separate levels. Floating, it has been hypothesised, can
provide us with peak experiences almost at will.

5 The Neurochemical Explanation

Neuroscientists have recently discovered the brain is an endocrine organ that secretes numerous
neurochemicals which influence our behavior. Our brains secrete hormones that make us happy, anxious,
depressed, shy, sleepy, sexy. Each of us creates different amounts of these various neurochemicals, and
those who create, for example, more endorphins - natural opiates - experience more pleasure as a result of a
given experience than those who create fewer endorphins. Tests indicate that floating increased the secretion
of endorphins at the same time as it reduces the levels of a number of stress-related neurochemicals, such
as adrenaline, norepinephrine, ACTH, and cortisol - substances that can cause tension, anxiety, irritability, and
are related to ailments such as heart disease, hypertension and high levels of cholesterol. One other
neurochemical theory is the "return of the womb" explanation. Since pregnant women produce up to eight
times the normal endorphin levels, the foetus experiences true prenatal bliss. When a floater is suspended in
the dense, warm solution, enclosed in darkness, body pulsing rhythmically and brain pumping out endorphins,
it's possible that subconscious memories are stirred and profoundly deep associations called up. It is no
coincidence that at least one commercial float centre is named "The Womb Room."

6 The Biofeedback Explanation

Because of biofeedback research (including Johns Hopkin's researcher John Basmajian's conclusive study of
subjects consciously firing off single motor-unit neurons), we now know that humans can learn to exercise
conscious control over virtually every cell in their bodies. Processes long thought to be involuntary, such as the
rhythm and amplitude of our brain waves, healing, blood pressure, the rate or force of heart contractions,
respiratory rate, smooth-muscle tension, and the secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters are now
thought to be controllable. The way biofeedback machines work is by enhancing concentration', by focusing on
a single, subtle change in the body, which is being amplified by the machine, we are able to shut off our
awareness of the external environment. This shutting-off of external stimuli is exactly what the floatation
environment does best - almost as if in an "organic" biofeedback machine, in the tank every physical sensation
is magnified, and because there is no possibility of outside distraction, we are able to relax deeply and focus at
will upon any part or system of the body.

7 The Homeostasis Explanation

The human body has an exquisitely sensitive self-monitoring and self-regulating system that is constantly
working to maintain the body in homeostasis - an optimal state of balance, harmony, equilibrium and stability.
Considered in these terms, we can define stress as a disruption of our internal equilibrium, a disturbance of
our natural homeostasis. Research now indicates that many of floating's most powerful effects come from its
tendency to return the body to a state of homeostasis. When we view the mind and body as a single system, it
becomes clear that external stimuli are constantly militating against the system's equilibrium, every noise,
every degree of temperature above or below the body's optimal level, every encounter with other people,
everything we see and feel can disrupt our homeostasis. But when we enter the tank, we abruptly stop making
constant adjustments to outer stimuli. Since there are no external threats, no pressures to adapt to outside
events, the system can devote all its energies to restoring itself. The normal state, of course, is health, vigour,
enthusiasm, and immense pleasure in being alive.

©Michael Hutchison

This is a book about the practice of floating, in what are commonly known as sensory deprivation tanks.
It describes why floating is such a rare experience with so many transformative possibilities. In a nutshell,
Hutchison tells us that not only is floating the ultimate way to relax, meditate, heal and learn, it would seem that
it is the ultimate path away from addiction and fear. Powerful stuff. He writes about Dr. John Lilly's initial
experiments, and the subsequent history of the development of the floating tank using Epsom salts to create
an ideal floating environment. The bulk of the book is a discussion of the wide range of applications, research
and experiments that have been taken into the tank. The claims Hutchison makes of the potential use of the
tank are quite astounding. He discusses the impact of frequent floating on learning, stress relief, visualisation
techniques, behaviour modification, improving mental and athletic performance, and releasing latent creativity.
This book is easy to read, end-noted, cross-referenced and anecdoted with results from studies done at
universities all over North America. Floating, it is credibly argued by Hutchison and the researchers and floaters
he spoke with, frees the body from gravity, allowing for accelerated healing. It also relaxes the body and the
mind allowing for deep meditative states, and provides the perfect environment for self-hypnosis and
accelerated learning. I whole-heartedly recommend this book for anyone who has thought about exploring the
profundities of their own private sea. Floating can be transformative but, as Hutchison argues, best if you can
do it for a long period of time - at least six months to realize the potential. If you are curious about the
possibilities of this unique inner journey, this book will convince you that doing so is worth the effort and money.
Driftaway Floatation Center
Camino de Cruces Centro Comercial
Local 11
El Dorado                     Tel: 360 2050 (Espanol)
                                             360 2051 (English)

e-mail: info@driftawaypanama.com