Bodymind November Float Notes
“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please.’”
~. Hugh MacLeod, Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity
Create….
The artist and creative writer Hugh MacLeod has spent a great deal of time thinking and writing about creativity.
In fact, he sees this approach to time as key to creativity. As MacLeod writes, creativity seldom happens in the orderly fashion of an assembly line.
Creativity requires both concept and execution.
The actual “product” of creativity—a well-formed sentence, a line of code, a brush stroke, a moving musical chord—might take little more than a few seconds to realize. But execution is the end of the creative process, not the creative process itself.
Our best creative work comes from time spent in relatively “unproductive” time: time where we execute nothing; time to conceive of what we might create; time to play with our ideas. There is no apparent product…until there is.
MacLeod proposes that we are most creative when we get a chance to think deeply about what we are creating, and then allow ourselves to consciously forget about it while our subconscious works it through.
It takes work—practice, effort, and discipline—to execute our concepts effectively. But creativity also demands we take the time to conceive!
“They're only crayons. You didn't fear them in Kindergarten, why fear them now?”
Creativity & Floating
Floating provides time in a distraction-free environment. This environment has a number of implications for creativity….
1) As discussed in our August Float Notes, floatation tanks are an ideal setting for inducing a state of theta brainwave activity.
During this twilight theta stage we often have unpredictable, vivid, dreamlike mental images. These may include memories, reveries, free associations, and insights or inspirations.
2) Tank time is an opportunity to better synchronize the right and left hemispheres of our brain. The left brain is more analytical, and is better at things like reading, writing, and computations. The right brain is more visual and intuitive and is the seat of imagination, intuition, visualization, and daydreaming.
Although we use both halves of our brain all the time, in the absence of distractions, we are free to make associations, see patterns, and intuitively rearrange the details, logic, and words that are the focus of the left hemisphere.
3) Finally, as floating becomes part of your regular creative process, come to your float prepared with questions to answer and problems to solve. Tank time is the ideal time to consider big questions about composition, theme, color, and rhythm.
Leave your critical voice outside the tank and trust the float experience will take you where you need to go.
Friday Deep Relaxation Group with Safe Space!
Friday’s “Deep Relaxation Group” with Safe Space will now run the second Friday of every month! Next up, Friday November 10th!
The Deets…
Cost: Free, donation-based
Time: 6pm
Location: Bodymind Salt Room
How do I book?
Go to one of the social media sites below and send a message that you would like to attend.
www.facebook.com/safespacecny
www.instagram.com/safespacecny
Note that space is limited. If you missed out last month, don't let this opportunity slip away again!
Hosted in collaboration with Safe Space Organization & @agraff.mindfulhealthcoach, this event promises a profound sense of relaxation and well-being. 🌿
A Peak Behind the Big Desk: Float Helm!
Oh, how do we keep track of it all? Appointments, waivers, giftcards, memberships, packages, cleaning and chemical schedules…. Frankly, it’s been pretty involved.
Since 2017, this work has taken place across multiple systems and a host of manually-maintained spreadsheets.
As many of you have noticed, we’ve transitioned to a new system. “Floathelm” is built specifically for what we do at Bodymind. It brings all the aspects of the center together and will simplify scheduling for you and the back-of-the-house stuff for us.
And, this is the last time we’re going to re-waiver everyone…promise!!!
Float Foundations
As announced in the May newsletter, Bodymind has launched a program for new floaters—and casual floaters who aren’t yet members—to dive deeper into their floating practice.
Congratulations to the floaters who have completed their first three floats! We are sincerely thrilled to have you here, and grateful to those who have made their practice more regular through a membership!
We at Bodymind Syracuse believe that the more you float, the more you get out of floating. In support of this practice, we encourage you to take advantage of our “Float Foundations Starter Bundle.”
For more info about the Float Foundations Starter Bundle, follow the link below:
You totally deserve it.
Meet the Staff!
CANDLES!
How talented are we? We at BodyMind are great at making you feel great while maintaining a sparkling clean facility, but we have many other talents!
For example, Lisa, one of our staff floatationists, is also a candlemaker. Her soy-based candles are available at the shop in Sandalwood, Lavender, Black Sea, and, Sea Salt & Orchid scents. (I recommended Peanut Butter scented, but my request was denied….)
Glenn Runyan - Owner and Manager
Jake - Asst. Manager
STAFF FLOTATIONISTS: Colin, Dan, Lisa, Lori, and Mary!
Follow us on Instagram!
Concept & Design: Dan S., Floatation Sith Lord