Biohackers have been flocking to sensory deprivation float tanks in recent years. Athletes use them for quick muscle recovery due to the magnesium sulfate which can help alleviate stiffness and reduces inflammation. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can appreciate the intense meditative aspect that prolonged periods of no sensory input can offer.
“Floats” are typically 60-90 minutes in a shallow body of water kept near skin temperature that is within 1 degree of 95F. The tanks contain over over 1000 lbs of magnesium sulfate. That is about $500 in epsom salt so these facilities are quite sensitive to any contamination.
Want to float like a pro? Be sure to do the following:
Shower There – No need to shower at home before you arrive. The facilities want you to take a cleansing shower on their premises before entering the tank.
Do Not Shave – The magnesium sulfate really stings when it hits freshly shaven skin. This will be distracting during the float so try and shave the day before or afterwards.
Start with 60 Minutes – While most people have a relaxing experience some really struggle to get through an hour as being still in a quiet place with only themselves is totally foreign to us. Work up to 90 minutes.
Use Ear Plugs – While these tanks do an excellent job of blocking sound there can be slight noises such as water running through plumbing, pumps or even other people nearby that would be distracting.
Float Every Other Week – Floats are not to be crammed together. The calming effect can last for several days. The facility I used normally recommends floating every other week.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!
Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Open Hardware is In, New CircuitPython and Pi 5 16GB, and much more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
