I just tried a new activity, and had to blog about it. It is a new concept (to me, anyway). It is an isolation float tank. It is a device that looks like one of the pods in the 2010 movie (or one of those other space movies). It has 18 inches of salt water in it, made with epsom salt, and you float in it for the alloted amount of time. You are naked, of course, and it is pitch black in the tank. There are too little floaties you can use to support your head and knees. I started off with them, but by the end was free floating. it is dead silent, except for the voice in your head, saying “Do you know how many things we could get done in 90 minutes? What about the dogs? What about……blah, blah, blah.”

The hardest part for me was turning off the inner chatter. and just relaxing. with NOTHING on my mind. and 90 minutes can be a REALLY LONG TIME!!!!

I think the first 30 minutes was very fidgety. Of course, I don’t know because I had no clock. It seemed like the first 30 minutes was fidgety. once I got situated, I tried to check my breath. Breathe in….breathe out….repeat. Then, little thoughts kept popping in, so I would acknowledge them and then picture them floating away. I kept picturing myself in space, floating around. I could open my eyes, and I would see nothing. There was a little blue light, but when I turned it on, I started to feel like I was in a coffin, and claustrophobic. So that quickly went off. I did more breathing and calmed down.

Then I realized I lost one of my ear plugs. So, I had to push myself around the tank, until I finally found it and put it back in. I wondered why my ear felt so wet. “It HAS to be 90 minutes now” I thought, totally impatiently. Nope. Not yet!

So, once again I concentrated on my breathing. I pictured the fairies floating around the tank with me, in intertubes, fluttering their little wings to help stay afloat. That made me giggle. NO!!! CONCENTRATE!! breathe in, breathe out. Is it time yet? I have to walk to walk the dogs! Nope! Not yet!

Then I started realizing how hard it is for me to just relax and take time just for me. Even when I get a massage, I usually talk to my friend for some of it. I started realizing JUST how long 90 minutes really is, when you are completely alone, doing something for yourself only! A 90 minute massage is nothing! A 90-minute movie is a short movie. Usually, 90 minutes is nothing. Until today! 

I started getting antsy, so I, once again, concentrated on my breathing. I then realized how soft my skin was becoming, how I didn’t have any back pain…and then how my scalp felt really funny, as it was soaking in epsom salt for so long at that point. I had a tiny anxiety attack about that, for some reason, but calmed myself by breathing.

I feel like I went through every emotion in the 90 minutes. I did finally relax, and it felt great!

I made it to 87 minutes, and had to get out. I had no idea how long it had been at that point, but KNEW IT HAD TO BE CLOSE! I felt very good about staying in there that long. I felt relaxed, my body felt good, and my skin feels really soft now. My mind does feel pretty relaxed too! and, my back feels good. AND BOY, DO I HAVE ALOT TO DO!!!

haha. I am not sure if I will try it again. It may be different because now I would know what to expect. And, I think the 60 minute session would be easier on my brain. We’ll see.

Right now, I am going to go walk the dogs, and think about what other things I have to do.