Why I Floated First Thing After a Car Crash

He sat there in shock staring straight ahead in the driver’s seat.  Getting some last errands done before emergency out of state travel, he had just started in motion after being stopped at a light.  Without warning, he was rear ended by a car going over four times his speed. His bumper was crumpled.  The other car’s hood looked like an accordion. The other driver’s car was towed and was taken to the hospital.  He chose to go to The Float Zone and float.

On the way to The Float Zone, he began to feel tension creeping in, a headache on the way and a million big and little issues clouding his head.  Thoughts about his multiple sclerosis. Thoughts about a past neck injury that brought him to a neurosurgeon who wanted to cut and he said “no”. Memories of using only his left arm to lift and shave and eat and dress, for months, were still fresh in his mind.  He had recovered from this, and was feeling good and strong again. Ready to travel. And now, the thoughts of flying for hours, while in pain, was flying foremost in his brain. 

Within an hour after the accident, he floated.  His whole perspective changed. He was instantaneously transported to the parasympathetic nervous system state of being - a  state of rest and relaxation. It gave him a chance to settle and slow down, to take control of his breathing, to relax his muscles.  

The first hours after a car accident are the most crucial in terms of managing the inflammatory response and the adrenaline rush of the body’s “fight or flight” mode.  It is always these immediate actions that can expedite or complicate both short and long term healing processes.  Remaining in panic mode will feed fuel to the fire. 

He found calm very shortly after this physical trauma. (Obviously, if he had broken a bone or had a head wound, he would not be floating effortlessly in 10” of skin temperature super saturated salt water and instead been at the ER).  The warm water was soothing.  He was not struggling to keep his head up.  His rib cage and breathing was more freed up from defying gravity. He could feel his muscles relaxing. 

He emerged from the float tank in a different mindset.  This made all the difference.  He was able to go on his travels and start this new healing journey on the right foot. He reached his destination and what was the first thing he did? Got in a float tank.  

When he was back from his trip, he was finally able to be properly evaluated. However, by this time, he had already floated four times in 11 days.  He was already well on his way to recovery.

You can bet he will be including float therapy in his healing regimen, as he has in the past and will in the future.  He is supported by doctors, therapists, health care practitioners and fitness trainers, counselors and others who support floating and refer their patients/clients, to float therapy centers as part of a team approach to the healing process. 

And that is why I floated first thing after my car crash.

Author Dr. David Berv can be reached at david@myfloatzone.com

Gastronomy and Floating

        RICHMOND CHEFS FIND INSPIRATION THROUGH FLOATATION 

WAS THIS A FLOATATION INSPIRED GASTRONOMIC CREATION?

A symbiotic relationship has always existed between any culture and its food that makes culinary artists such an important subset of any community.   A local example of this is the varied and talented gastronomists of Richmond, Virginia that continually carve local culture.  Over the past several years, Richmond has transformed into a foodie culture. There are an impressive number of rising and talented local chefs whose creations are only limited by their own inspiration.  However, the work of a chef is much more than just the planning, purchase, prep, staff instruction and execution of the meal.  Administrative duties, equipment maintenance,  marketing and other intricacies of the kitchen often hinder proper sleep patterns, which affect the very inspiration needed to keep producing new and different gastronomical masterpieces. This is why chefs like to float - and many Richmond chefs have floated at The Float Zone.

Floating or floatation involves a sleek 8’ by 5’ fiberglass “pod”.  It is filled with 10” of skin temperature water and saturated with 1000 pounds of Epsom salt.  There are light and music controls within the pod for which you can float in the light or dark and listen to music or silence.  The pod can be left open or closed, while you float face up effortlessly like a cork, for an hour.  By removing gravity and other sensations such as light, sound or the sensation of water temperature, the brain enters a very restful, restorative and left/right brain synchronized state.  Further, the magnesium salts have a powerful muscle relaxing and pain relieving effect.  The result is that one feels both physically and mentally refreshed.  

A pleasant side effect of this sleep-promoting, stress-reducing therapy is that it seems to inspire creativity.  Sometimes that new idea comes in the middle of a float. Sometimes it happens on the ride home afterwards or through a float inspired dream that night. But when you feel calmer for the next few days, less reactive and brighter in mind and body, you’ll appreciate the benefit of the float experience. 

The month of July is culinary arts appreciation month. We appreciate great gastronomical efforts and thank all RVA chefs along with their support staff, for all the culinary inspiration that you bring to our city!