Floating Away Anxiety with Michael Cordova

Floating is a science-backed methodology for reducing anxiety, helping athletes recover, and provides numerous other benefits. Michael Cordova, founder of the Float Center in Berkshire, United Kingdom walks through the intricate benefits of Floating.

And the interesting thing is for the guys in the US. The US teams since they started using the float tanks with during the first season of using that like tanks incorporated part of the recovery and training program, they've won the major leagues.

What is a Floatation Tank?

Floatation tanks are lightproof and soundproof. They are filled with salt water, which allows a person to float and achieve a form of deep relaxation.

Who is Michael Cordova?

Michael Cordova’s purpose is to make a positive contribution to humankind by providing the tools to improve physical and mental wellbeing, whilst creating a safe environment for personal growth. Michael is the co-founder and float facilitator at Floating Point Float Center in Berkshire, United Kingdom. The Floating Point Float Center is an award-winning business that has helped over 5000 people in the last 3 years including the British Rowing Team, the world's strongest woman, and Great Britan track and field athletes. He sees floating as an antidote to our 24/7 digital lives and a way to alter our ingrained behaviors for a more positive and productive life. Michael also spoke at TEDx.

Key Highlights

• [5:00] What is Floating (aka Sensory Deprivation Tanks, and restricted environmental stimulation technique)?
• [9:00] My first floating experience
• [10:12] What are some of the benefits of floating?
• [12:00] Floating as a date with yourself
• [15:00] The research behind the benefits of floating
• [21:00] Using floatation tanks in the major sports leagues
• [24:24] Floating as recovery for high performers
• [29:00] How "anchoring" helped a British athlete take home the silver medal
• [31:00] The power of visualization in the float tank
• [32:34] Measuring the benefits of floating by sleeping in the tank
• [41:00] Psychedelic-like experiences in the floatation tank
• [53:00] The final five questions with Michael Cordova

Resources Mentioned

• Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST (Feinstein et al)
• Richardson, S.O. (1998). Imagery, progressive muscle relation and restricted environmental stimulation: enhancing mental training and rowing ergometer performance through flotation REST
• Floating Point's Research Library
• Floating Point's Stress Management Study
• Kellmann, M. (2010) Preventing overtraining in athletes in high-intensity sports and stress/recovery monitoring. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. 20(2):95-102
• The Book of Floating by Michael Hutchison
• The psychotomimetic effects of short-term sensory deprivation.

What is Health to Michael Cordova?

Mind and body in high levels of coherence

Favorite Book on High Performance?

Mindlift by Kasper van der Meulen

Michael's Favorite Way to Upgrade Focus?

Attention Training Technique

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