What forms of REST exist besides floating?
Mark Frickel
[ Moderator ]
from Fontainebleau, France métropolitaine
First, a word about REST. There are two definitions in circulation:
Reduced Environmental Stimulus Therapy
Restricted Environmental Stimulus Technique
The two terms were coined in the 1980s by the research team of Peter Suedfeld and Roderick Borrie. Dr. Suedfeld preferred the “Restricted ..Technique” definition because it can include many forms of sensory restriction, and Dr. Borrie preferred the “Reduced … Therapy” as it applies to the use of sensory reduction for the benefit of the user. Both are therefore valid usages and the semantic distinction between the two is not significant outside the scientific research community. Today, those who prefer to focus on the therapeutic aspects of REST emphasize that usage.
Other forms of REST: “Dry REST” is a form of REST which takes place in a comfortable room completely devoid of light, sound and other sensory inputs. Most experiments and therapeutic sessions of Dry REST are much longer than Floatation REST: typically a full day as opposed to one hour.
NN comments
matbaer
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One interesting thing about dry REST is that it seemed to have a greater effect on changing people’s attitudes than wet REST. Does anyone know if there’s anywhere in the world that still practices dry REST? I don’t feel I need it myself, just curious.
