I stumbled upon an infographic by The American Institute of Stress stating that almost half of all Americans feel more stressed now as compared to 5 years ago, and 75% of doctor’s visits are due to stress-related ailments. This is not unique to The United States. It is a far reaching global phenomenon. I was intrigued and decided to learn more about how to detect the early signs of stress and how to counteract them.

External Signs of Stress

Those affected by stress tend to look and feel tired and worn down. Under eye puffiness can become more pronounced, skin tone can look dull and become more susceptible to breakouts, hair can begin to thin and the scalp to flake. Though this can be remedied, to an extent, with personal care products, the reality is that you’re stressed and steps must be taken to protect your body inside and out.

The Invisible Effects of Stress

What’s really troubling is that stress has worse effects, which are invisible. When your stress levels are consistently high, there are consequences that can be disturbing, and even life threatening if left unchecked. Hence, it’s important to unwind, laugh, spend time with friends and learn to manage stressful situations.

Effects of Stress on The Body

Stress has effects on all systems of the human body, for instance, studies have shown a direct correlation between chronic muscle pain and musculoskeletal disorders in people who experience chronic stress. 

The respiratory system may also be affected, making breathing somewhat more difficult. This becomes especially problematic for people that suffer from asthma as well as those who are prone to panic attacks. 

Chronic stress is also widely linked to heart ailments. Stress contributes to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and even inflammation in the circulatory system, affecting vital blood pathways in the body such as the coronary arteries. 

The liver and adrenal glands are another set of organs affected by stress. Elevated stress levels lead to the release of ‘stress hormones’, which result in the production of more glucose. An increase in glucose production means higher blood sugar, which puts individuals at greater risk for diabetes.

A blog post by Aboca highlights the effect of stress on the digestive system, describing how stress can interfere with the entire digestive process and result in gastrointestinal disorders like IBS and constipation. 

Stress Compromises The Immune System

The immune system suffers as well from high stress levels. As explained by Executive Medicine, the natural defense of the body is compromised by stress, which makes individuals more susceptible to viral illnesses like flu.

In short, constant stress has serious impacts on every aspect of the body. Here are some remedies to help overcome and counter stress.

How To Minimize Stress

Exercise is proven to promote wellbeing including stress reduction mentally and physically. Activities like yoga, strength training, jogging and walking can all keep stress in check.

Playing mindless video games for approximately 30 minutes a day aids in stress management. Believe it or not, games like the popular cut and slash Fruit Ninja is an excellent stress reliever. Then there’s classic games such as Slingo which has received positive feedback because of its relaxing attributes. And who could forget the multi-awarded Plants vs. Zombies? These games can effectively help lower overall stress levels.

Getting enough shut eye is perhaps the most important part of the equation. Sleep deprivation is correlated with increased stress levels; therefore, getting the right amount of rest is vital.

While stress can adversely affect our outward appearance, it has more detrimental effects on the internal organs and activities of the body and can lead to serious complications.

Now that you’ve read Lift / Next Level Floats owner, Gina Antioco’s journey with floating, I’ll share my own. I was very excited to try floatation therapy for a number of reasons: My life is incessantly stressful, busy and loud; I love meditation when I do it but never take the time to and I’m an introvert who craves solitude but never gets any.

Gina was kind enough to host me at Lift / Next Level Floats, her pristine floatation therapy center in Brooklyn – the largest on the East Coast. I’m not sure what I was expecting, certainly not something so spacious, but Lift / Next Level Floats exceeded my every expectation. It was immaculate. This was much appreciated in a place where I’d be taking an hour-long bath. Usually, the lounge area of a spa is where you wait before your appointment. Here, the lounge, complete with green tea, lots of natural light and a copy of Buddha and His Teachings, is where you hang post-treatment, as a kind of buffer between post-float you and the hectic city. So after a few quick instructions, Gina led me to one of the center’s five floating suites.

Choose a Floating Suite, Any Suite

You have a choice of floating suite: You can choose from their three Evolution Float Pods, which resemble giant eggs with clamshell lids or one of the center’s two Ocean Float Rooms, accessed by a side door. Kind of like a walk-in closet. I chose the latter because the confined space of the pods gave me visions of Uma Thurman in Kill Bill 2…and I doubt I could afford to Pei Mei my way out of one of these expensive-looking pods. These Ocean Float Rooms also feature 7-foot high ceilings adorned with a starlight effect, which appealed to me on a *cosmic* level. It was pretty and roomy enough for me to fully relax.

The Ocean Float Suite

Is a room within a room. The outer room is a pristine private shower, like those bathrooms where the entire room is the shower stall. (I’ve always loved those.) Before I entered the actual floating suite, I was instructed to shower with shampoo and soap, but no conditioner or body cream pre-float. Gina left me to it, telling me to completely dry off my face before entering the tank, as that is the one part of my body that would be out of the water (you know…breathing).

Shower: Done

I stepped into the float room, naked. You float naked. It’s completely private, so I wasn’t at all uncomfortable, but I mention it because everyone asked whether you float naked. You do. The first thing I noticed when I entered the tank was the water temperature. Since I had just taken a shower, I was aware of how much hotter my shower (which was my normal shower temperature) was than the water in the tank. I take very good care of the skin all over my body, and I was forced to wonder how much of my careful exfoliating and moisturizing I negate by taking scalding (and therefore skin-drying) showers every morning! Lesson learned. The water in the tanks is strategically set to skin temperature, which really allows you to lose yourself while floating; where your body ends and the water begins starts to blur.

And We All Float On Ok

The water contains 1,000 lbs. of Epsom salt, which makes you extremely buoyant. There are neck pillows available for head support. Now perhaps it’s because I have a huge noggin, but I was not really comfortable until I put on the neck pillow. Once I did, though, voila! I was comfortable and totally afloat. If you’re worried that an hour-long bath will cause you to go through the rest of your post-float day looking like a raisin, fear not. An Epsom salt solution is actually moisturizing and hydrating and does not cause the same skin pruning most long dips do.

I Relaxed Immediately

Gina advised me to situate my body in the middle of the tank so I would be centered once the water went still. You do shift around slightly as you’re floating (like a boat on tranquil water) and you don’t want your arms or legs to hit the sides of the tank. You really do lose sense of your extremities, so if they were to all of the sudden touch the side of the tank it would bring an awareness back to them that’s counter-productive to the meditative aspect of floating.

How Was It?

Blissful. Not for one minute did I wonder when it would be over. The room had a magical glow to it – nothing too bright, though. Like a purplish twilight. I looked up at the “starry” roof of the tank at first, but soon closed my eyes. In the egg shaped pods, you can also play music, if you’re so inclined. That seems antithetical to sensory deprivation to me, but to each his own.

A Few Minutes Into The Float

I started to remember, in vivid detail, my dream from the night before. Soon after that, though, conscious thought ceased, and I entered a dreamy state. Not asleep, not awake…just zoned out. In a great way. I didn’t put pressure on myself to have some deep revelation during my float, and I didn’t try to meditate (which usually leads to zero actual meditation). I just chilled. In my dreamy state, I actually experienced what Gina told me were hypnagogic jerks, those tiny spasms your body has on the edge of sleep. These were annoying because every time one happened, I stirred the tranquil water and made sound in the otherwise silent tank. Since your ears are under the water even the slightest splash seems super loud. Luckily, I zoned back out quickly after every jerk.

Your Float Is Now Complete

Then you can shower again, at your own pace. There’s no rushing you out of the room or the center. You can get dressed and then hang in the lounge with a cup of green tea until you’re ready to rejoin civilization.

Third Float’s the Charm

Gina told me the results really kick in after about three floats, when your body knows what to do immediately upon entering the tank, allowing you to get the full hour of therapeutic floating. Still, immediately after just one float, I got in a car with my husband and kids for an hour drive. If anything were to test my zen, this was it! I was much less reactive than usual – the bickering and the traffic didn’t get under my skin like they usually do. I even sang along with the Taylor Swift songs my daughter demanded we listen to, instead of scowling in the front seat for three minutes. Not a drop of Bad Blood was spilled…now that’s a transformation!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

Much like Lift / Next Level Floats owner, Gina Antioco, I too had to try floatation therapy as soon as I heard about it. As an entrepreneur with two children, the absence of stimulation seemed just about the best thing I could think of, and when I heard it could also help with chronic pain, well, I couldn’t get in that tank fast enough.

Gina was kind enough to host me at Lift / Next Level Floats, her gorgeous new floatation therapy center in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. In my blissful, post-float state, I also had the chance to sit down with Gina and talk about floating, starting her own business and Theta waves…among other things.

TB: Tell us about floating. What inspired you to make it your life’s work?

GA: I am the type of person who seeks out new experiences to such a degree that you might call it a hobby, so when a friend introduced me to floatation therapy, I booked my first session immediately. I did some research before booking the appointment, and afterwards I was completely terrified because what I learned implied that I should prepare to undergo the most intense psychology session of my life. No distraction, only true introspection. I went anyway, ready to face myself in the mirror while floating in the dark. After that first session, I’ll never forget the overwhelming feeling of calm I experienced stepping out onto the crazy, overstimulated streets of Manhattan. My head was clear and I felt light. It sounds silly, but I swear the sun seemed brighter. Dealing with anxiety had always been the norm for me and I was no stranger to insomnia, so when I walked out of the session feeling euphoric, and then had one of the best night’s sleep that evening, I recognized what floating could do.

Come On In, The Water is Fine

GA: At that time in my life, I really disliked my work. As a banquet manager, I watched people spend $70K + on their “special day” and it began to feel terribly superficial. I knew there had to be a way I could apply my skills to create something more altruistic. I am a risk taker by nature and had a bit of nest egg set aside so I decided to open the float center. All of my business books instructed me to find a niche, so I did. I believe it was always the challenge that drove me.

TB: How did you get started? What were some of the challenges you faced?

GA: I knew that experience would be key in order to run a successful center. I began researching, and quickly realized I wouldn’t be able to gain that experience in New York, as the industry simply did not exist here, so I moved to the west coast where floating was already quite prevalent. That’s when my journey really began, about two years ago. It was challenging and incredibly exhausting. I worked at a hostel so that I had somewhere rent free to sleep, and volunteered at a start-up float center who couldn’t yet afford staff. This is how I learned the ins and outs. I worked seven days a week and my only income was unemployment. I ate at a “community dinner” and received assistance at a food kitchen. There was no easy shortcut and I was determined not to dip into my savings. It made me stronger and I learned many of the skills that would help me run a business.

When You Know, You Know

While out west, I tried to secure additional financial backing. After a lengthy conversation with an Irish bar/restaurant owner, I thought that I had…until he tried to kiss me! It’s difficult being a female entrepreneur, trying to get people to take you seriously, especially when you have to convince them to believe in a service that most have never heard of. When I met my now business partner — a New Yorker who had started floating in the 80s— at a float conference in Portland, we were a perfect match. We decided to join forces after only two and a half days of knowing each other, a fact that still surprises me. I am impulsive, but not that impulsive! I thank our mutual love of Burning Man for helping us to quickly experience a level of trust that only attendees of the festival would understand.

After meeting Dave, my business partner, we briefly explored the option of franchising the location I was working at out west. After a meeting with their silent partner, a misogynistic tanning salon magnate who did not acknowledge me at the meeting except when he pointed out to Dave that all I would be is “Dave’s best employee”, rather than a partner, the decision to go in our own direction was easy.

We’re Very Lucky

I moved back to New York and took a temporary job at a spa franchise to continued learning the business while our space was under construction. Now, two years later, after many hiccups along the way, we have a warm and inviting five-tank center — making us the largest on the east coast — and many happy customers. From conception to fruition, it’s been an amazing partnership. Since the business is so new, we’ve yet to take days off, but we love what we do. Witnessing the overwhelmingly positive responses of our guests is all I need to keep going.

TB: How are the effects of floating distinctly different from the effects of meditation or yoga?

GA: For many, beginning a practice in meditation can be frustrating. A person is asked to do nothing and suddenly his or her brain is doing everything. Floating is different because without any sensory input the brain chatter naturally slows down. The body is so relaxed that it just happens, almost effortlessly. While on the west coast I was able to observe the effects of floatation therapy. Our clients were often candid and shared the benefits they were experiencing, such as eliminating anti-anxiety medications, anti­depressants and painkillers from their daily routines. Others used it to deepen their meditation practice, lower stress and beat insomnia. I dealt with people working through traumas, PTSD and others recovering from surgeries. It was extremely rewarding.

Floating Is One Of Those Things That Is Difficult To Put Into Words

The sensation is best described as waves, beginning at your center and emanating outwards; the moments when you let go, and feel your breath make its way through your system, while at the same time your body drifts away. It’s trance-like and feels as if you’re peeling off layers, breaking things down to a manageable level, forgetting your worries, transforming as you go. Suddenly everything that was stressing you out is now, somehow okay. It’s quite remarkable and when you think about how simple it is, you wonder why you haven’t been doing this your entire life.

TB: In addition to floating, what other health & wellness practices are most important to you?

GA: I’ve recently been turned on to somatic therapy, which is the study of the mind/body interface, and the relationship between our physical matter and energy. It implements the practice of “checking in” with yourself, which is of particular interest to me as this technique can also be used to train yourself to lucid dream, something I hope to relearn to do. I’ve also found hypnagogic light therapy to be rather effective in aiding in relaxation and overall wellness. This experience involves sitting under halogen and LED bulbs that pulsate at different frequencies and intensities. It offers the benefits of a deep meditation through an expanded state of consciousness as the light stimulates brain waves patterns that help the user access theta activity. Theta is the brain wave state that practitioners of yoga as well as many “floaters” are ideally working to achieve.

In Short, I Look For Balance

This extends far beyond any diet or exercise routine, although I can say I am a clean eater and a runner. Sometimes balance means treating myself to a pedicure because I’ve been working like crazy and my feet hurt or spending a night out with friends. I keep looking for balance in its many forms and try to stay true to myself.

To learn more about floating, visit Lift / Next Level Floats online or call 718-701-0808.

All photos by Frank Rocco.

As told to Claire McCormack. Twitter & Instagram: @clairemcmack

Welcome back for Part II of Travel Beauty’s interview with health and wellness expert, Donna Perrone, owner of Gravity East Village.

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TB: What other “beauty from the inside out” health/wellness tips can you share?

DP: My regular practices for feeling great, looking youthful and having lots of energy are:

• Juicing and blending my food. I make a low glycemic green smoothie each morning for breakfast and continue through the day with a homemade nut milk smoothie, vegetable juice and savory blended drinks made out of vegetables, greens, flax/hemp oil, and seasonings. I am very busy working as a colonic therapist and running my wellness center. My food for the day is made in the morning and I can sip my way through the day feeling light and satisfied.
• Sauna. I use our infrared sauna at least once a week. The color to my cheeks and the deep relaxation creates a more attractive me.
• Exercise. I can do everything right on, but if I don’t exercise a few times a week, I will not feel as energetic and will tend to feel stiff. I love to workout with weights and practice yoga, and have been doing so since my health journey began. The added benefit is that if I feel strong, then my body posture will show that and I am more fabulous!
• Dance Break. Take a dance break during the day! When I am not in the colonic room I spend a lot of time in front of the computer. Taking a few minutes in my day to feel hot and to celebrate the day is a great pick me up. Dancing has been proven to increase the amounts of good hormones in the body, which enhances a youthful appearance. Take time for fun!
• Colonic. I usually receive a colon hydrotherapy session 2 times per month. There is a major shift in how I feel when I get colonics regularly, and am surprised even to this day to see that they are needed. My skin has remained clear since 1997 due to colon hydrotherapy and I am interested in raising the level of cleanliness in my body with the use of colonics.
• Raw Food. I eat primarily 80% to 100% raw foods in my diet each day. I make my own fermented foods such as kombucha, coco kefir, seed cheese etc. The addition of living foods such as sprouts is essential. I include sprouts in most of my food throughout the day. There is nothing that is more attractive than when you make a connection with the food you put into your body, especially if the food is in its raw, organic, whole state. The cooked foods I consume tend to be steamed vegetables, potato, squash, quinoa, and vegetable soup.
• Periodic Cleansing. I practice all forms of cleansing my body on a regular basis. I not only use our sauna and get colonics, but I have coffee enemas and castor oil packs often over my liver and gallbladder. I teach a class on the Gallbladder Flush and have done 6 flushes. It is absolutely necessary for everyone to treat his or her liver right. Gravity East Village offers a Castor oil Pack/Coffee Enema session to clients to assist in making this process possible. In Chinese medicine, there is a connect between the liver and skin and when the liver is under-functioning in any way it will mostly show up as a skin condition.

TB: You host and lead numerous health and wellness events. Any coming up that you are particularly excited about? How can people find out more about upcoming events?

DP: In 1996 I began facilitating a health group that offered meetings each week. I was so excited by my own experience of feeling good that I wanted to share it with others. Accent on Wellness still continues today and I teach many classes on various health topics and cleansing practices. I am a volunteer that hosts guest speakers, workshops, and social events. We offer many of the classes at Gravity East Village such as an Essential Oils class, a Goddess Group, and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) group each month. Many of the classes are free of charge. People can attend a webinar if they can’t make it in person. It has been my passion to continue leading Accent on Wellness all these years and have made many lasting friendships and have watched people make great strides in their health.

To learn more about classes and treatments, sign up for our newsletter. Visit me at Gravity East Village! Get a colonic, use our infrared sauna, schedule a massage, Emotional Freedom Techniques, or nutritional consultation. Watch some insightful videos on our website. To schedule an appointment, please call 212.388.9788. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Listen to my Internet radio programs! My radio show is called the Good Health Workshop and you can listen to shows posted on my websites under RADIO SHOW. There are archived programs from a show I did 2009 called Vitality.