Float Level's Top 10 Albums to Relax To

We all know floating is one of the best ways to relax and switch off from the hustle and bustle but what about when we're not in the pod? 

Music is a great way to relax and calm the mind so I thought I'd pull together a list of my favourite albums to relax to. 

1. Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid

This album blew me away when I first heard it. Slow, fluid drones wash over you with subtle melodies building a very dense and all-encompassing world. It's a double album too so prepare to go deep! Highly recommended.

2. The Dead Texan - The Dead Texan

An offshoot of Stars of the Lid, a lot of the same elements are in force here but this is a more melodious, song-based approach (there are even some words here!).

3. Max Richter - From Sleep

This is my current favourite. Recently released, this is a 1 hour version of an 8 hour piece by British composer Max Richter. The full version is meant to accompany you through the night as it reflects the cycles of sleep but this 1 hour version with its soft, slow piano melodies, haunting vocal passages and patient strings working through variations on a single theme is a beautifully relaxing listen.

4. Brian Eno - Apollo - Atmospheres and Soundtracks

No such list would be complete without the godfather of ambient music, Brian Eno. This is one of a host of his albums I could have chosen but this one always captivated me and it includes one of my favourite ambient tracks (and one you will all recognise) - An Ending (Ascent).

5. Global Communication - 76:14

From the ticking clock of the first track, 76:14 is a real journey of an album and deserves to be listened to in its entirety. A wonderfully relaxing album for mind and body. It's a true classic of the ambient genre.

6. Marconi Union - Weightless

This one will be familiar to many of you as it is the music played in the centre and was voted the most relaxing album ever in a Guardian poll some years ago. A delightfully sweeping ambient electronica album from the Manchester band.

7. Cliff Martinez - Solaris (Soundtrack)

Once a drummer for Captain Beefheart, Cliff Martinez moved into soundtrack music and has produced some excellent work (Traffic, Drive) but the soundtrack to Solaris is just about perfect and for me his highest point. Dark, ominous yet highly melodic, this album reflects the isolation and uncertainty of the film's subject brilliantly. Highly recommended.

8. Carbon Based Lifeforms - Twentythree

Another staple of the ambient genre, this is perhaps Carbon Based Lifeforms' most ambient album. An almost spiritual, dream-like quality pervades throughout. A great immersive listen.

9. Biosphere - Substrata

All of Biosphere's albums are great but this one is my favourite by some distance. Different from the other albums on the list, this is a typically less ambient album as there are more decorations to the sound - conversations, typing on keyboards etc. - but the overall feel is a very quiet, peaceful one. A good one for the late evenings.

10. Boards Of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children

Now, I can't talk about ambient music without including Boards of Canada. Their early output in particular redefined the ambient electronica genre infusing it with a dark, urban feel and this, their first album, is a real masterpiece. Has more of a rhythm than the other albums on this list but again has a masterfully relaxing feel with that touch of "cool" too!

I know that there are many albums I've overlooked/forgotten about so feel free to leave your comments on your favourite chill-out albums below and if you're looking for something new, hopefully you'll find something above.

Happy chilling!

Top 10 Concerns About Floating – Answered!

When people are initially told about floating or they see pictures of the pods, there is always an element of interest but this interest is typically tempered by some trepidation or uncertainty over the nature of the experience. In this post, I am going to list the most common concerns about floating and hopefully allay any fears you may have regarding your potential time in the pod.

1. I don’t think I’ll like the enclosed space – isn’t it a bit claustrophobic?

This is the most common concern but happily the first thing people say when they actually see the pods is how big and spacious they are! At 8ft long, 5ft wide and almost 5 ft tall, there is plenty of room in there. Additionally, you are in complete control of the lid and since claustrophobia is a fear of being in a confined space without any control, you should not have any concerns in this regard.

2. It sounds pretty boring. An hour seems like a long time in there

When the first research was conducted into floating, it was believed that the mind would shut down without sensory inputs. What scientists found was in fact the polar opposite. You actually have more creative thoughts in the pod so it is not known as the Think Tank for nothing! One of the cool things about floating is that it takes away the normal sensory inputs to free up your mind to focus on what you really need to think about. Part of this sensory reduction is that you lose sense of time and can fully relax and let your mind go. This is not only very liberating but you will be surprised at just how fast the hour goes and also how much ground your mind can cover in this time.

3. Isn’t it just like sitting in a large bath?

Most definitely not. There is no comparison between a bath and a float. The weightless environment in the pod provides a previously unknown level of physical relaxation while the reduction in sensory input calms your mind, reduces feelings of stress and anxiety and allows you to reset your inner balance.

4. I don’t like the dark – this isn’t for me

With all the lights out, it is indeed very dark inside the pod while you float. Having the light out provides you with the full immersive experience of floating but like the lid, you are in full control of the lights so you can have them on if you wish. However, it is best to give it a go with the lights out to fully disconnect and achieve a deep level of relaxation.

5. I can’t switch off. Wouldn’t floating drive me crazy?

If you feel like this, then floating is exactly what you need! These days everyone needs some time to process everything and just get away from the stressful demands of modern life. If you have a lot going on, a float is a great way to gain perspective and focus your mind. You will be able reorganise your thoughts to ensure you don’t become overwhelmed.

6. I really don’t have the time to try this

If you are this busy, you need to be kind to yourself and ensure you do not succumb to stress. The beauty of floating is that it is just one hour out of your day but you will leave feeling fully refreshed with a fantastic feeling of wellbeing.

7. How hygienic is floating?

Again a very common concern. The pods at Float Level have a very advanced filtration system which runs 3 times between floats. This, added to the high content of Epsom Salts and a small dash of chlorine, ensure that the water remains free of any nasties.

8. Why would I even need to float?

Floating is not just for people who need therapy or help with any other sort of ailment. It can help with a large number of ailments such as stress, anxiety, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and recovery from injury to mention just a few. But floating is about much more than that. It is a very powerful tool for deep introspection and to reassess what is going on in your life as well as providing a deep state of mental and physical relaxation, which frees your mind and relieves your muscles and joints.

9. I don’t like being in water

Well… this one I can’t really help with. If you float, you’re going to get wet so on this one, maybe floating isn’t for you!

10. I’m pretty sure I’ll have some sort of freak out in there!

So we’ve all seen or at least heard about the Simpsons episode when Homer and Lisa float. While visual and auditory hallucinations are possible, they are rare, particularly during your early floats. There should be no reason to freak out. The pod is a tool for relaxation so if you let go in body and mind and trust the water completely, you will reach a deeply meditative state without even trying. Quite the opposite to a freak out!

So, hopefully, the above has clarified some of the most common concerns and opened your minds to the possibilities of floating. If you would like to give floating a try, you can call the centre on 0161 637 5138 or visit our website at www.floatlevel.co.uk to book your session today.

If you have any further questions about floating, do not hesitate to get in touch. My email is chris@floatlevel.co.uk.

Top 10 Reasons... Floating Isn’t Just Like Taking a Hot Bath with Bath Salts

When I tell people that I’m opening a floatation centre, a common response is to ask how a float is different to a bath and I can understand why. The concept of taking a hot bath (perhaps with some relaxing frills such as soothing music, low-level light and bath salts) is so engrained as the go-to relaxation tool that it is hard to think how being in a floatation tank could be any different. They are just big bathtubs, right?

Not so. A floatation tank is a very specialised piece of equipment, which has been designed, set up and maintained according to specific key parameters. These parameters are responsible for creating a wildly different experience from that in the bathtub.

Below I list out the main differences and their effects to explain why a floatation session may well soon become your NEW go-to relaxation tool:

1.  Zero-Gravity Environment

Unless you’re an astronaut, you won’t have experienced the amazing feeling of physical relief brought on by the pure weightlessness in a floatation tank. It would be worth it just for this experience.

2.  No External Sound

Earplugs, soundproofed pod and soundproofed room mean there are absolutely no audible distractions. Perfect for relaxation.

3.  No Visual Distraction (unless you want it)

You control the lighting from inside the pod. You can have a soothing light show or enjoy a totally non-visual experience of darkness with the lid closed (definitely the best option!).

4.  Water Is Maintained at Same Temperature as Skin 

The effect of this is surprising. To slowly lose the sense of the physical body is a unique and immensely relieving experience allowing you to connect fully with your mind. The sensation of the body is always present when taking a bath.

5.  Enables Deeper Meditation and Contemplation

With no sight, sound, touch or weight in the pod, it is so much easier to drift deeper within and achieve lower frequency brainwave states for meditation, creative thinking and profound relaxation.

6.  Euphoria and Increased Positivity Through Temporary Disconnection

A common effect of floating is to emerge more positive or even mildly euphoric due to the experience of pure mental and physical rest. This has been found in many independent studies and has a lasting effect after your float.

7.  Enhances and Speeds Up Recovery from Injury

With no gravity acting on your joints and muscles, all bodily resources can be spent on rest and repair rather than managing the reaction of the central nervous system to external pressures.

8.  Floatation Pod Is Significantly Larger Than A Bath

Floatation pods are a massive 8ft X 5ft. Who wouldn’t prefer to be able to spread out completely without touching the sides?!

9.  Warm Air Circulates Throughout The Pod

The pod is designed so that there are minimal differences between the water and the air to enhance the immersive experience. No more cold knees or shoulders!

10. High Epsom Salt Concentration 

Even in a bath with bath salts, the concentration is but a tiny fraction of the concentration in a floatation pod. This not only helps with the buoyancy of the water but also means you can absorb more Magnesium through the skin which is vital for lowering blood pressure and regulating over 300 enzymes in the body. Epsom Salt is also highly beneficial for your skin and volumises hair.

There was actually more to get in here especially when you consider the overall experience in a good floatation centre and not just the session itself. Why not come down to Float Level in Manchester City Centre when we’re up and running and see for yourself why this will be your new secret relaxation tool?

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