Reach Back Into Your Mind And Grab What You Left Inside COLOR SOUND THERAPY & FLOTATION THERAPY EXPLAINED: Color Therapy Color is the vibration of light. Each color of light is a specific frequency of energy, and when combined together form a full rainbow spectrum. Our eyes are capable of seeing a small portion of this energy, however we respond physically and emotionally to the entire spectrum. Color therapy is a method of vibrational healing, which applies color to change, balance, or maintain the vibrations of the body and promote physical and mental health. The application of specific colors has been shown to sooth and clear areas of tension and congestion in the body, and to calm and heal emotional imbalances. Sound Therapy Sound has been thought of as a bridge between the body, mind and spirit. It is a form of vibrational energy that has the power to reintegrate, balance, and heal us. The most common forms of healing sound include, singing, chanting, mantras, prayer, harmonics, rhythm, harmony, melody, instruments, and the sound of nature like wind, rain, and ocean surf. Each organ in the body resonates to specific sounds and responds to the healing effect of musical notes. Two of the most powerful therapeutic healing sounds we make are crying and laughing. Each sound you make while laughing and crying is chosen by your subconscious mind automatically to release, clear, and heal you. This is one reason why you may feel relaxed and centered after a good cry, or long laugh! Flotation therapy A therapeutic session in a flotation tank typically lasts an hour. For the first forty minutes, it is reportedly possible to experience itching in various parts of the body (a phenomenon also reported to be common during the early stages of meditation). The last twenty minutes often end with a transition from beta or alpha brainwaves to theta, which typically occurs briefly before sleep and again at waking. In a float tank, the theta state can last for several minutes without the subject losing consciousness. Many use the extended theta state as a tool for enhanced creativity and problem solving or for super learning. The more often the tank is used the longer the theta period becomes.[citation needed] Spas sometimes provide commercial float tanks for use in relaxation. Flotation therapy has been academically studied in the USA and in Sweden with published results showing reduction of both pain and stress.[5] The relaxed state also involves lowered blood pressure and maximum blood flow. Floating can be passive or active, depending on the purpose. For relaxation, one simply floats and clears the mind. Active floating has many different techniques. One may perform meditation, mantras, self-hypnosis, utilize educational programs, etc. The idea of active floating is that, when the body is relaxed, the mind becomes highly suggestible and any action taken during these states will enter the information into the sub-conscious. Flotation therapy may be used to complement other body work and healing methods. Flotation therapy is therapy that is undertaken by floating in a warm salt water in a float tank.[6] Flotation therapy developed from the research work of John Lilly although he was not primarily interested in therapy, rather in the effect of sensory deprivation on the human brain and mind. People using early float tanks discovered that they enjoyed the experience and that the relaxed state was also a healing state for many conditions including stress, anxiety, pain, swelling, insomnia and jet lag. As a result float tanks were produced for commercial uses and commercial float centers offering flotation therapy opened in several countries during the period from 1980 to the present day when there are hundreds of flotation centers in dozens of countries. In almost all cases these float centers offer wellness treatments and in particular the release of stress. Research into flotation therapy (as opposed to just the effect of isolation) began in the USA at Ohio State University where floating was shown to improve creativity in Jazz musicians, accuracy in rifle shooting, focus before academic examinations and stress relief, among others.[7] Research in Sweden has demonstrated the therapeutic effect on stress and pain.[8] The technique takes advantage of an atavistic ability that seems to be common to all humans to relax when floating at a comfortable temperature. The temperature is that which allows natural heat generation to escape without the need for muscle action to raise body temperature in homeostasis. The floating posture, usually the supine position (although the prone position with chin supported on elbows is recommended for pregnant women), allows all the postural muscles to relax. The water pressure on the immersed skin is lower than the blood pressure and thus blood flow continues in skin capillaries. This is in contrast to normal bed rest where local contact pressure inhibits blood flow requiring regular adjustment of posture. When people cannot adjust their posture in bed, e.g. in some illnesses, bed sores can result. When floating there is no tendency to adjust posture and a person can float immobile for many hours. The natural tendency of the body in the floating posture at the correct temperature is to dilate the blood vessels, reducing the blood pressure and maximizing blood flow. The brain activity normally associated with postural muscles is reduced to a minimum. In this state, which we can call the floating state, natural endorphins are released reducing pain[citation needed]. Lactic acid removal is accelerated. Flow in the lymphatic system is increased. Effects The effect on stress Perceived stress can be correlated with increased levels of cortisol and in flotation therapy there is a natural tendency for cortisol to be reduced[citation needed]. For this reason, floatation therapy is one of the few noninvasive techniques available to manage stress when it is a factor in reducing a persons ability to cope with normal life. Flotation therapy is a fast technique in this respect. The Swedish research was based on 40 minute float sessions. This compares well with other management techniques such as long vacations. There are many similarities with the age old long hot bath, the differences being that in floatation therapy the temperature is maintained at the correct level and the bath is large enough to float without touching the sides of the bath. The effect of the salt Most float tanks use Epsom salt, magnesium sulfate, in high concentration so that the relative density of the solution is about 1.25. (Lilly recommended 1.3 but this requires operating very close to saturation with the risk of recrystallization). The density assists floating particularly making the head buoyant so that the nose and mouth are well out of the water for breathing. It has recently been discovered that there is a secondary effect which is important to flotation therapy. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin due to natural molecular diffusion. This tends to correct magnesium deficiency.[9] Magnesium is absorbed from the diet but in many areas of the world, over-cropping without adequate replacement of magnesium makes the normal diet low in magnesium. The body naturally optimizes the levels of magnesium, so there is no overload effect from floating in the salts for extended periods.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:31:30 +0000