Being in a trance is physically like being in a floatation tank. Most of our day we are closely connected to our body as our mind constantly monitors and evaluates many many inputs of stimulus data. In trance there is a very different relationship to the body as the mind is freed from dealing with so much data. The body is forgotten, it is allowed to rest, completely stimulus free. If there is a body feeling it often ranges from feeling relaxed and heavy, relaxed and light, or no “feeling” at all. The mind is simply free.
Being in a trance is like being in a floatation tank where you are assisted to create a happier reality. Everyone coming to see me is really wanting to be happier no matter what the issue may be. Learning to float in a trance is learning to experience the pleasure of full relaxation both body and mind.
Here is some new research found on wikipedia about float tank sessions. (the tank on the left retails online for $49,999.00)
“New research undertaken at the Human Performance Laboratory at Karlstad University Sven-Åke Bood[11] concludes that regular floatation tank sessions can provide significant relief for chronic stress-related ailments. Studies involving 140 people with long-term conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and fibromyalgia found that more than three quarters experienced noticeable improvements. Dr. Bood commented: “Through relaxing in floating tanks, people with long-term fibromyalgia, for instance, or depression and anxiety felt substantially better after only 12 treatments”. Research targeted the effectiveness of floatation treatment with regard to stress related pain and anxiety over the period of seven weeks. 22 percent of the participants became entirely free of pain and 56 percent experienced clear improvement. Broken down to various symptoms, the results were as follows: 23 percent slept better, 31 percent experienced reduced stress, 27 percent felt less agony and 24 percent became less depressed or got rid of their depression altogether. The research also confirms the findings of an earlier thesis that floatation, after only twelve sessions, substantially improves sleep patterns leaving users more optimistic and with reduced nervousness, tension and pain. Relaxing in a weightless state in the silent warmth of a flotation tank activates the body’s own system for recuperation and healing, said Sven-Åke Bood. What researchers find particularly gratifying is that the positive effects were still in evidence 4 months after the floating treatment ended.”
Here in Olympia, we have Olyfloats http://www.olyfloat.com/floathome/
Hypnosis is this state of weightlessness, or a state of heaviness, or a state of not feeling the body at all. It is a state that is most easily experienced in hypnosis or in a sensory deprivation tank.
This study included 12 sessions in the tank.