by Malia Durbano

For most of us, stress and the holidays are synonymous.  The parties, shopping, baking, wrapping and writing cards are added to an already full life of work, home and recreation.

 

We all know about the standard prescriptions to de-stress – massage, meditation, a walk outside, a movie, a good book. Now, Mancos, of all places, has a less conventional yet cutting-edge alternative to all of these: the sensory deprivation tank.

 

Initially, the remedy sounds like it might cause some stress, but experienced practitioners say it is worth getting over the initial fear.
Dr. Celeste Aurorean, owner of Kaleidoscope Wellness in Mancos, believes her tank is the only one in the Four Corners.  The self-enclosed unit, about 4-feet-by-8-feet with a small door, is exactly as the name describes. There are no sights, sounds, smells or feelings.  “You are literally floating in 10 inches of water with 800 pounds of epsom salts. The water is denser than the Dead Sea,” said Aurorean.

 

Aurorean purchased the tank for selfish reasons. As a single mom with two kids, the naturopathic doctor and business owner needed a place, “Of total support, where I could just make my mind stop.  It is dark, quiet and the perfect temperature to give your body a break from constant stimulation and multi-tasking.”

 

People’s initial reaction is hesitation and a little fear of the unknown.  “I know people think they’ll be claustrophobic,” Aurorean explains, “but it’s much bigger than an MRI. I am 5’11” with long arms, and I can lie flat with my arms outstretched and still not reach the ceiling of the unit.”

 

Once you’re in the tank, you have no sense of where your body is or where the tank is.  It can take a few minutes to get calm and just be still. “In the beginning, people will notice that they are breathing faster and will hear their own heartbeat. Once they relax, these will both slow down.”  

 

Aurorean knows the tank takes some getting used to and equates it to going on vacation where it takes you about three days to really just sink into vacation mode. But, the more one does it, the easier it becomes for the body to allow itself to just relax.

 

As an experienced “floater,” Aurorean can now get so relaxed she can hardly move. “It feels like you’re floating in infinite space with no visual or auditory input. There is also almost no skin sensation, the water is body temperature and very supportive.”

 

Mancos resident, delivery driver and aspiring singer/songwriter Mike Rasmussen is a fan. “The tank is a nice break from the world,” he said. “There’s nothing else you can do but sit back, relax and take a trip into your own psyche. My body is in a completely different state, it’s like sensory free-fall. I can shut out all the noise of the real world and just be.”

 

Rasmussen first learned about sensory deprivation tanks in a 1980 science fiction movie called4 “Altered States” and became curious about the experience. He was excited to learn that there was one in Mancos, when he moved here a year ago from Ogden, Utah.  

 

He looks forward to the experience and the calming sensation and relaxed feeling that stays with him for days after a session. “It’s like having one of the best sleeps of your life and you’ve done it in an hour.”

 

Busy event promoter, independent consultant and mediator, Tami Graham, agrees. “The tank is a great way to drop out and drop in.  It took a little getting used to – being in the small space, but I enjoyed the sensation of floating effortlessly. If people can mentally let themselves check out, it’s a great tool for relaxation and restoration.”

 

Putting on her doctor hat, Aurorean explains the multitude of benefits garnered from a session in addition to relaxation.  A one-hour session in the tank has the same restorative qualities as four hours of sleep. The body can do what it needs to: heal wounds, release the aches and pains associated with arthritis, and heal pulled muscles.

 

“There are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits that everyone can enjoy,” she said.

 

The lack of sensory stimulation allows the brain to process all that is going on, facilitating “aha” moments that typically occur in the Theta brain wave state, similar to when just drifting off to sleep or waking up.  Theta states improve clarity and the quiet time in the tank fosters insight and creates a space for new, creative ideas to bubble up. In normal day-to-day lives, it’s hard to find more than a few seconds to slow down and think about solutions to issues that keep our minds on the constant treadmill. The floatation tank provides the environment to do all these things.

 

Physically, floating can lower blood pressure and give the body a break. It also replenishes magnesium, a mineral in which most people are deficient.

 

The emotionally calming effect of the experience can be similar to that of regular meditation or a meditation retreat, Aurorean said.

 

Julia Hess, Mancos resident and Tobacco Prevention Specialist for the Montezuma County Health Department, is a believer. “Floating is like getting the benefits from a deep meditation, and it was easy.  I feel brand new when I come out. The constant buzz and busyness in my head is gone.  I have a clean feeling and feel different – similar to the after-effects of a sauna or sweat lodge.”

 

For more information on Kaleidoscope Wellness and the sensory deprivation tank,  go to: www.mancoswellness.com or call 970-533-1100.