A Float By Any Other Name

An Open Letter on Float Tank Terminology

Since you’re on this site, you’ve likely heard one or more of these terms as a name for a certain kind of therapy:

Isolation Therapy
Sensory Deprivation Therapy
Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST)
Floatation/Flotation Therapy

Now, as you may or may not know, every one of these terms is most commonly used to refer to the same therapy. A therapy where you enter a sound-proof, light-proof enclosure (often called a Tank or Chamber), and float in hyper-buoyant water filled nearly to saturation with Epsom salt.

This therapy has been around for about six decades, and has had nearly as many names for itself during that time. In recent years, the resurgence in popularity has lead to a lot of discussion regarding the most appropriate name for the enclosures and the therapy itself.

To put it bluntly: What should we call these things?

Sensory Deprivation Tanks, Sensory Deprivation Chambers:

The earliest manifestation of the therapy as we know it comes from studies in the early 1950s, specifically those of John C. Lilly and his contemporaries. While commonly used to refer to floatation therapy, these terms are also applicable to any type of experiment or therapy which involves sensory deprivation, including sitting in a soundproof and darkened room, or even simply wearing a blindfold and earplugs. Because of the academic nature of the studies, the main methodology of these experiments, namely sensory deprivation, came to be commonly used to discuss the field as a whole.

In today’s industry, we find the term rarely used as an umbrella name for the therapy, but commonly used when educating someone on the topic, or introducing it to a first timer. While admittedly very appropriate as a description, the term itself has been described as vaguely ominous and lofty.

Furthermore, among devoted enthusiasts, the use of the word

“deprivation” has been argued to be ill-fitting for the therapy. While the senses are literally deprived of input, people report experiences of sensory stimulation both while in the tank and for several days afterwards, including visual and auditory hallucination and acuity, as well as feelings of heightened body awareness.

Since “sensory deprivation” was the first term used for the therapy, it has entered into the culture under this name, and thus has the benefit of recognition by some. When talking to people interested in the therapy, we often get vague nods of recollection when we mention sensory deprivation, and references to books they’ve read or movies they’ve seen. People seem to have the general idea of the therapy as sensory deprivation, but it is often a hyper-scientific version inspired by fictional works, where tubes and electrodes pepper the bodies of test subjects in laboratories.

The term does have the benefit of drawing focus to the science that is instrumental to the success and prominence of the therapy, yet refers to many different types of therapies and experiments which reduce sensory input. Because of this, many have taken to some of the other terms listed below as more approachable alternatives when describing their industry, and have taken to conceiving of sensory deprivation as a notable scientific feature of the therapy itself.

Isolation Tanks, Isolation Chambers

Isolation Tank, or Isolation Chamber Therapy is a slightly more modern term than sensory deprivation, but still has its’ roots in the scientific and research circles. Used originally as a descriptive term, since experiments involved isolating a brain from the external world, the term came to be seen as appropriate for the therapy itself.

Again, however, the contemporary industry does not see much use for these terms. Notably, these terms seem to inappropriately focus on isolation, and don’t focus much on the essence or practice of the therapy itself, a key component that enthusiasts and members of the industry are hoping to capture with a standardized name. If the name of the therapy doesn’t fit with the practice or results from it, it’s difficult to quickly explain what the therapy is all about.

Aside from the somewhat negative connotation of the word “isolation,” the idea of being alone, what most people assume when they hear the word isolation, is not the focus of the therapy. The therapy is practiced on an individual level, but the term doesn’t convey any sense of what the therapy experience is like aside from isolation, and is thus unlikely to have a positive and explanatory effect on those unfamiliar with the process.

Since these “isolation” terms don’t have an explanatory effect, nor are they particularly approachable or engaging, many enthusiasts have dropped these terms from their vocabulary, and the use of these terms has waned throughout the community.

REST, Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy

REST, or Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy, was coined by researchers Peter Suedfield and Roderick Borrie, and came to replace Sensory Deprivation as the industry began to grow and become commercially considered in the 1980s. This term is still being used today, and has a very important place in the modern industry.

The term itself benefits from being approachable as an acronym, and touches on the integral role that rest plays in the therapy’s process. Essentially, it sounds like something people would like to do (especially those that are stressed out or over-worked, some of the people who could use the therapy’s relaxation most) However, in its’ approachable acronym form, the term is not very descriptive of what the therapy is like, and doesn’t provide an idea of the therapy itself.

In its’ elongated form, the term becomes abstract and academic. Much like sensory deprivation, it adequately explains and references the science behind the therapy, but doesn’t capture the personal experience of it. Because of this, and the fact that “Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy” is quite the mouthful, many people avoid the term in its’ elongated form.

As of today, his term has fallen out of common language, but still remains important as a channel through which scientific legitimacy can enter the industry.

Float Tanks, Floatation Therapy

Float Tanks, Floatation, and Floatation Therapy, are widely recognized as the preferred terms for the contemporary industry. On top of being the terms used most commonly in our discussions with those in the industry, these terms have seen a large amount of colloquial success and approachability for the floating community.

The terms themselves give an excellent idea of what the process of the therapy is like, something which had been lacking from earlier terms and something which acts as a huge benefit for the industry itself. The terms Float Tanks and Floatation Therapy focus on the immediately recognizable aspect of gravity-defying, no-pressure, floatation, the most noteworthy and salient aspect of the therapy itself. While admittedly not touching on the aspect of soundproof and lightproof enclosures, when they are mentioned in an explanation they are easily seen as heightening the relaxation already expected from floating.

Our experience, as well as our conversations with professionals and enthusiasts, indicate this term to be most successful for use in the industry. Notably,these terms avoid the abstractness of their predecessors, and provide a fresh starting ground for describing and branding the industry, using succinct terminology which highlights the environment and feelings experienced during the therapy.

The industry is currently experiencing a surge in popularity, and this is the perfect opportunity to overhaul outdated conceptions of sensory deprivation and isolation and rebrand this therapy for a new generation. At this juncture, the industry could benefit greatly from standardizing the language, and help bring Float Tanks and Floatation Therapy not only into the common vernacular, but hopefully into common practice as well.

Sidenote: Flotation vs. Floatation

While there is the substantial degree of agreement on using float tanks and floatation as the terms for the industry and community, there has risen debate as to the correct spelling of the word, something which might be of slight concern to the industry.

After doing a bit of research, it turns out that floatation and flotation are variants of one another, technically both correct (in the way that, really, any word is correct if enough people use it), stemming originally from the French word ”flotter.” It is translated into English as “float,” gaining an “a” in the process, but the French “flotation” is translated as-is into English, with the “a” nowhere to be found.

Obviously, this, as with many matters of semantics, comes down to personal opinion. For use in English, I personally feel that Floatation is a more sensible spelling of the word for use in the industry.

Why? Since “float” is spelled with an “a” in English, we should use the rules of the English language (as unwieldy as they may be at times), to add the suffix onto the root of the word in order to change the meaning.

In summary:

Overall, Float Tanks and Floatation Therapy would be the most beneficial terms to use for describing and marketing this industry. These terms are approachable and descriptive enough that they can grasp and maintain people’s interest while highlighting what the experience of the therapy will be like for anyone who decides to practice it.

Since Floatation is the most recent name for the therapy, and the only terminology which was spawned directly from Float Tanks themselves, these terms are unique to our industry. This allows us to brand and market the therapy in a new way, and offers the opportunity for our industry to create new images and associations for the future of the therapy.

Interested in marketing content to use at your float center?
Check out our complete social media toolkit, The Buoy Project!