Float Hope

 So, my float club has moved out from its owner's home, to a shop near Kembangan MRT station. (about 10 mins on foot, 15 mins if you walk in a pace like mine).

 The stacks of bags at the background are the salt for the pod. 

One ton of salt for a pod. That's like 1000 kg and that's what keep you afloat. 

 He needed to soak off the back aches. 

I just wanted to revisit the psychedelic experience I had on my first float but it didn't happen. 

So I take a rest and listen to my heartbeat. Why does my heart beat so.... feebly?

I need to exercise. 

 I suggested to Derrick to stock up these colouring books for sale. 

He says he has ordered them and they're on the way. 

 Sneaky Pod. 

 Ta-da! 

 One selfie before I do the OM thingy.

Floating at Palm Avenue

Since Derrick's business picked up, his calender has been quite full. Good news for him.

I hadn't floated for quite some time. On Monday, I was feeling very drowsy, wonder if I had caught a cold from Sunday's rain. So anyway, went for an impromptu Float session. Had no spare mind space to feel anxious. Just laid there feeling cozy and snoozy, an hour passed in forty winks.

Eve of Labour Day

On two occasions, I was shivering in cold when I stepped out from the pod and I really detest being cold. I do not feel cold while in a meditative mode but my body reacts immediately when the session ends. So I turned off the air-con in the room while I used the pod. For 90 minutes you might think I'll get stuffy in there since there's not much ventilation but it wasn't the case. Nothing out-of-ordinary happened during that session, it was just deep relaxation that's all.

My Fifth Float on a Thursday Night

Last week, I floated again. This time, it was relaxing. But I didn't cross over. However, I wasn't disappointed. I've realised that it is not very right to desire for that tripped state all the time. That would be addictive. I've also realised that there are quite a bit of controversy pertaining to the isolation tank. To be frank, not every user will have an altered mind experience. Most people just find it healing, meditative, quiets the mind, relaxing. It's like giving yourself a break from electronic distractions, and let you sort your thoughts in private. However, for users who may have had an altered experience, first timers may find it mind blowing. Experienced floaters may get used to it. Beginners like me,,,,,,,,, may want more of it. I the West, they tout the isolation tank as giving you a psychedelic experience naturally. ie. without controlled substance. Other than that, they've invited Zen masters to try, and to give feedback. For now, I would just focus on getting a balanced health; float to relax, after all, the Dead Sea has many therapeutic benefits.

My Fourth Float on a Thursday Night

I didn't enjoy my fourth float last week. I don't know why but I just couldn't get into deep relaxation, so basically, I spent 90 minutes letting my thoughts ramble, and rambled they did.
There were too many distractions, it was chilly, I was probably hungry. 

There're no new pictures to show you, beside its lighting changing colours, so I explored the few frames on the walls.

Truth be told, I am still fearful of being afloat in total darkness. Despite me telling myself that no one drowns in the Dead Sea, my illogical thoughts got the better of me.Why is there so much anxiety in me? This is supposed to help me relax and I can't relax into getting relaxed. So finally, I gave up. Every float is an experience, so I just concluded it was ---whatever.

My 3rd Float on a Thurday night.

It feels so Sci-fi before stepping into the egg-shape capsule, it's like some space crafty environment. LOL.
Anyway, the third float was va-va-voom.  In a good way.
I think my brain waves measured at theta & delta states; or perhaps it reached gamma and I didn't know.

March 22nd. My 2nd Float.

 This time, I was much more relaxed.
In fact, I was thrilled.

 After my float, we went for breakfast at a nearby coffee shop.

I looked across the street and saw Aunty Merlyn strolling past. She's Bren's aunt.
Aunty Merlyn doesn't live near Siglap, she lives far away at River Valley with her grand children, daughter and son-in-law but she likes to visit the old estates she used to live when she was young. So naturally, that's Katong, Siglap, East Coast kinda estates.

She moved into many houses in the past as her late husband (British national) was an expatriate and their housing accommodation was arranged by the office. During her better times, she took in whoever that needed a roof. Bren used to spend a lot of time under her roof as his cousin- Jane; is a couple of years older and both of them became playmates. He always brings me to the various houses that he had been to, if they are still standing that is. In some of the gardens, he would tell me that's where Jane's dog(s) were buried. He even remembers which long kangs he fell into (these are now mostly covered walkways with grill covers).

All About Isolation

Last week, as I was browsing some news on my phone and came across an article about how athletes use a "float tank" to recuperate and prepare for peak performances. The tank brings many other benefits besides healing of the body. I decided to make an appointment for a session because my Reiki teacher had shared with me about this, some ten years ago. So,,,, I went! 

I took these pictures before going into the tank. 


For a start, let me tell you that I was very anxious. I was nervous from the time I booked the appointment. I was nervous while waiting for my appointment, nervous thinking about total darkness. You see, I am afraid of water and even more so if "trapped" in an encasement, pitched dark. You know, even when I opened my eyes darn big, and starred darn hard; I can't see a darn thing! So, it was after many attempts that I finally summed up enough courage to switch off the lights and stayed in the dark. (there is a button inside the tank for the lights, but when I panicked, you know, I just panicked!)

Because I took so long to settle down (probably more than 30 minutes), I was feeling a little queasy. All this time I asked myself why was I doing this, and I felt I was wasting time. Then finally I told myself that if this is the last time I am ever sitting inside a capsule full of water so salty, I would jolly well just try to keep still! And so I did. And then, it happened soooooooo, suddenly. Suddenly, I was immobilized. Of course I can still move if I wanted to but I didn't want to. I feel nothing. Even my heart pounding sound became faint. I don't feel the water, the very, very strong salt smell became less uncomfortable. Basically, I was awake but it felt that I was somewhere else. You can call it a meditative state, an altered state, I will just call it the Theta state (4- 7.5 Hz), or the Delta state (0.5 - 4 Hz)? It must have been 40 minutes but before I know it,,,,,,,,, the gentle music roused me. That deep relaxation stage felt like only 5 minutes. I felt neutral.

I didn't give it much thought, I don't feel exceptionally different after the session 90 min session.

So I went about eating Laksa after the session. Can't wait to go home and play with KiCo.

Then,,,, something happened.
As usual, Kiki will keep shouting out for me to join them, climb at the playground, chase them etc.
As usual, I was very reluctant to lift my bum off the seat, whichever the seat is.
But then, I thought I just "action climb" the netting at the playground (vertical net). Before I know it, I was at the top most line. Kiki was shouting - "Mama! Mama! Come DOWN! come down!"
Wow,,,,,,,,, I haven't climbed a net in 30 years. I had very little body ache that evening.
I felt like skate boarding!
Can't be that float session, could it be?  I really wonder.
For once in my life, there is hope to regain the agility I've missed. I miss skating, I miss doing stunts. Basically, I miss moving my body.

So, people; you guessed it. I will be floating again. And again, and again.
I want to see how permanent or impermanent the effects.
I want to understand how I may change.

At this moment, Derrick (the owner), operates from home. He's branching out soon. You can visit the website or look them up from Facebook. http://www.palmavefloatclub.com/   

You can also read more about the tank from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolation_tank or Google or get some books on the subject if you are keen.