The Dream Pod: Like A Film Without Sound

I'm sure the staff at Pure Zen Float Therapy wish they had a dollar for every time someone asks them, 'So what's it like?' The experience is a very personal one, so it really is impossible to say what yours will be. Some people love it and have an overwhelmingly positive experience, others not so much. I was well aware after talking to a few people that have tried it that this really could go either way. The only way of knowing is to try it yourself.

What they can tell you is that some of the many benefits you may experience from flotation therapy are: Pain relief, improved injury-recovery time, assistance with injury rehabilitation, stress relief, profound relaxation, deep meditation, enhanced creativity and focus, mental and physical revitalisation, assistance with anxiety or depression and help with addictive behaviours. Naturally, I was intrigued...

After a particularly frustrating Monday battling failing technology, I was more than ready to spend an hour away from the stresses of the modern world. I only hoped my mind would allow me to 'stop thinking' during my hour of sensory deprivation I had booked in for that evening.

As I'm sure many people are before trying floatation therapy, I was a little nervous about being enclosed in the pod for an extended period of time. Fellow claustrophobics, rest assured you are able to leave the lid of the pod completely open should you choose to, however it is recommended that you close it in order to get the full experience. I actually surprised myself and felt comfortable to close it almost all the way down, with just a small gap.

Once in the pod, I thought to myself, 'Ok, it's just you and me, brain. Be good to me.' Just a few minutes in, unexpectedly memories started playing in my mind like a film without sound. The sensory deprivation triggered intense memories of real life moments I hadn't thought about in years, mixed in with some I was yet to actually experience, as if I was reminiscing on these life moments that haven't even happened yet - like unconscious life premonitions, I guess you could say.

One moment I was sitting under the Christmas tree as a child in our family home, opening presents together. The next I was a kite taking flight. I was a green tree frog. I was telling my boyfriend I loved him for the first time. I was standing on a ladder, painting the sky. It was beautiful, heartwarming and felt oh-so-real. I was having a great time!

I was in a meditative, dream-like state. I truly was having a magical, psychedelic, out-of body experience. I now know this is not an uncommon reaction to sensory deprivation. The mind works in mysterious ways!

I let go. I didn't try to control my thoughts as I thought I would. Occasionally a negative thought or memory would pop up, but they came and went. I came to the realisation that there was no reason to try and stop my thoughts, for that would only lead to disappointment. A common misunderstanding of meditation is that we have to stop our thoughts altogether. This then leads to feeling like we've 'failed' at meditating.

To say I felt relaxed afterwards would be an understatement. I was marinating in zen - now I know why they called the place Pure Zen! I showered, put on the supplied dressing gown and spent some time zennning out in the little communal chill out room complete with lounge chairs, colouring books and refreshments. This was a really nice, gentle way to end the experience.

For me, floatation therapy was like having really good dreams... and for someone who very rarely has good dreams, it was priceless.

The Orchid Files

If you don't post a photo of them on the internet, did your boyfriend even buy you flowers?

Rose Coloured Glasses

Abstract: The Art of Design

If you're interested in art of any kind, be it Photography, Illustration, Interior Design or Architecture just to name a few, do yourself a favour and watch Netflix original series Abstract: The Art of Design.

 

Warning: Will likely trigger severe inspiration!

 

Creative Colouring Convert

 

A study by Curry and Kasser looked at the impact of colouring therapy – a combination of art therapy and meditation – on anxiety.

 

They found that “when individuals colour complex geometric forms, they are provided an opportunity to suspend their “inner dialogue” and to deeply engage in an activity that removes them from the flow of negative thoughts and emotions that can sometimes dominate their lives…. and in doing so provide benefits to individuals suffering from anxiety.”

 

 

I started colouring a page of 'The Secret Lagoon - A Meditative Art Therapy Book' during a time when I was finding it increasingly difficult to relax after work, constantly thinking of my to-do list and emails I had to send long after I had actually turned my computer off at the end of the day. I couldn't switch off, and it was becoming a problem. My mind was consumed with thoughts about work 24/7.

 

I'd dismissed the idea of adult colouring in the past, thinking it was 'cheating' colouring someone else's drawing instead of creating your own. I going against the age-old saying and knocking it before trying it. But when you're in a constant state of anxiety, you'll try anything. Enter this colouring book.

  

Being a perfectionist at first I found the fear of 'stuffing it up' a little unpleasant, I must admit. When creating anything I want the result to be beautiful, and this was no exception. After a failed attempt on another page I eventually got my groove on with this one and thoroughly enjoyed the state of calm I experienced in the process. When I put pen to paper, my hands are distracted and my mind eventually follows, forgetting all that was clogging up my mind with a sense of urgency before.

 

I coloured about 3/4 of this page, and after a few days I started to feel better. Of course there were other positive factors contributing to this, but I'm sure the colouring was also helping a great deal. I stopped colouring, for I no longer needed to. I wasn't feeling anxious anymore, so the technique then bore little relevance. I wanted to finish the page, but I was no longer drawn to pick up my pencils. I guess it's true what they say - you have to be depressed to create good work!  

 

I eventually managed to finish it. I'm a colouring convert, and I love it.

 

 

 

Love Languages

 

How do you like for your loved ones to show their love for you?

 

Words of Affirmation? Acts of Service? Receiving Gifts? Quality Time? Physical Touch?

 

We often love people in the way that WE want to be loved. How do you show people that you love them?

 

Take the quick quiz to Learn Your Love Language!

Gemstone Pots

 How to:

 

Buy sticky gemstones and place them carefully on the pot, creating rows to cover the whole pot or just the top or bottom for a different result. Decorate a few to have a little gemstone pot collection.