When you hear the words “floatation therapy,” it can sound confusing, and many people have never heard of the wellness practice. However, once we explain what it is, one of the most common questions we hear at True REST Float Spa is, “how can sitting in a pool of water help me?” Fortunately, it’s an extremely simplified explanation but with powerful benefits.
Floatation therapy is a holistic experience where you float in a solution made of 1,000 pounds of Epson salt and 180 gallons of water. Like the Dead Sea phenomenon, the amount of salt in the float pod allows you to lay effortlessly atop the water. However, unlike the Dead Sea, our float pods are thoroughly sanitized after every use and incorporate room temperature water.
And there are two-fold benefits that come with the simple act of floating. Float therapy benefits are numerous and encompass both the body and the mind. It’s hard to tell which one you might experience because it’s common that every person who chooses to float experiences different sensations. However, the one common denominator of floating is that the float therapy benefits are there whatever you experience during or after your float sessions—such as alleviated pain, reduced symptoms of anxiety or depression, or increased quality of sleep.
The feeling of weightlessness in a zero-gravity environment gives your body a well-deserved break. At the same time, the sensory deprivation that comes from floating in a dark, silent pod allows your mind to relax fully.
Float Therapy Benefits: Zero Gravity
Putting your body in a zero-gravity environment offers you a chance to fully relax your muscles in a way that is extremely hard to do outside of a float pod. In addition, Zero-gravity from float therapy benefits several different parts of your body, including your blood circulation, joints and muscles.
Free from the pressures of gravity, your joints and muscles completely relax; this increases blood flow throughout the body. As a result, stress-related muscle pain is reduced with consistent floating and an overall lowering of blood pressure. There is also a reduction of perceived pain levels, making floating perfect for those suffering from chronic pain anywhere in the body. Those who have arthritis and fibromyalgia also have reported prolonged periods of respite from the pain with float therapy.
Even if you are in great physical shape, float therapy benefits can apply to you. For example, athletes and those who work out a lot have seen a significant reduction in blood lactate levels after hard workouts, leading to faster recovery times.
Float Therapy Benefits: Sensory Deprivation
Sensory deprivation is another excellent aspect that produces float therapy benefits. Allowing your mind total rest, where it doesn’t have to expend energy processing external stimuli, can leave people feeling a great sense of peace and euphoria post-float. This is because cortisol, the hormone that causes stress, is significantly reduced. Because we process so much information daily, stress builds and can easily cause mental and physical issues.
So, those suffering from mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and PTSD have all reported floatation therapy as a way to manage their symptoms; stress, depression, anxiety have been proven by scientific study to be significantly decreased.
In addition, float therapy is proven to help those with circadian rhythm disorders. Especially helpful for jetlagged or overworked individuals, float therapy can act as a mental reset for your sleep cycle and help you get back on track with higher-quality sleep.
Float therapy benefits you in various ways, but many of our guests testify that the mental peace that comes with floating is one of their favorite parts.
How to Experience Float Therapy Benefits
You can start experiencing float therapy benefits today! We have over 37 locations across the continental U.S. and love seeing new guests come in for a float session.
If you have any questions, you can visit our page dedicated to first-time guests before making an appointment.
We are also open to sitting down with you before your first float session, which you can book by visiting www.truerest.com/locations/. You can also learn more about the history of float therapy at www.truerest.com/float-therapy/history-of-flotation/.