Flotation therapy has come a long way since its inception in 1954, when Dr. John C. Lilly, an American neuroscientist, developed the first flotation tank while working at the National Institutes of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Initially designed to study consciousness and sensory deprivation, these early tanks required subjects to be suspended vertically underwater with breathing apparatus.
By the 1970s, the design had evolved so that floaters could lie horizontally in a solution of Epsom salts, eliminating the need for breathing equipment. This improvement made the experience more comfortable and accessible to the general public. In 1973, the first commercial float center opened in Beverly Hills, California, marking the beginning of flotation therapy’s popularity.
Today, floating is championed for its numerous health benefits. Even the Cleveland Clinic is talking about how floating can relieve stress, anxiety and even decrease feelings of physical pain. (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/float-therapy-benefits)
It’s important to note that floating is likely not the best for people who are claustrophobic. Floating is also not recommended for anyone with open wounds, skin conditions, an infectious disease or seizure disorder.
As we look to the future, the popularity of floating continues to grow. With ongoing research and increasing accessibility, more people are discovering the profound benefits of this unique therapy that began as a scientific experiment over half a century ago.
Here’s a list of some of the top-rated places you can float in and around Portland:
The Float Shoppe
1515 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR | 503-719-4743
Float On
4530 SE Hawthorne Blvd | 503-384-2620
Portland, OR 97215
Enso Float
1102 NW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97209 | 503-444-7102
https://ensofloat.floathelm.com/store
Float North
1617 NE 17th Ave. (free parking garage available) | 503-659-1212
Portland, OR 97232
Soak Box
30060 SW Boones Ferry Suite #32 | 503-582-8859
Wilsonville, OR 97070
Want to read more about floating?
This medical study found that a single one-hour session of Floatation-REST was capable of inducing a strong reduction in state anxiety and a substantial improvement in mood in a group of 50 anxious and depressed participants spanning a range of different anxiety and stress-related disorders (including PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Social Anxiety Disorder). The findings from this open-label study suggest that Floatation-REST may be a promising technique for acutely reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, although the persistence of these effects is presently unknown. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5796691/
This is an interesting recap of a study done comparing brain MRI images before and after floating.
Also … Cleveland Clinic’s Irina Todorov is noted as a medical practitioner who speaks to benefits of floating. If you want to reach out, I’ve looked her up! Here’s the link … https://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff/22069-irina-todorov
