FLOATING AWAY
Floatworks, London
What is floating?
Floatation therapy is the practice of lying back in a tank full of salty water and experiencing a blissful, healing state.
Science of floating
There’s a wealth of scientific evidence on the benefits of floating on the body and mind. Here are some key points from decades of research
A recent meta-analysis of 27 scientific studies by scientists Dierendonck and Nijenhuis showed that floating:
• Reduces cortisol levels (when high, cortisol can lower our immunity and leads to prolonged stress)
• Lowers blood pressure (a symptom of stress that compromises our health. Lower blood pressure allows us to feel relaxed)
• Increases overall wellbeing
• Boosts cognitive performance
• Improves symptoms of chronic fatigue and burnout, and
• Improves sleep
Floating and the brain
Justin Feinstein, head neurophysicist at Ohio’s Laureate Institute for Brain Research, the leading authority on floating and the brain, discovered that floating decreases activity in the brain’s salience network, which:
• Reduces anxiety
• Reduces negative emotions
• Reduces the perception of pain
• Reduces confusion, and
• Reduces the impact of many serious mental health issues.
The Institute’s latest study on floating also found that:
“Participants reported significant reductions in stress, muscle tension, pain, depression and negative affect, accompanied by a significant improvement in mood characterised by increases in serenity, relaxation, happiness and overall well-being.”
Floating for stress and pain reduction
The Human Performance Laboratory at Sweden’s Karlstad University has been studying the effects of floating for three decades, finding that floating:
Improves sleep
Increases energy (not only through better sleep, but also by increasing production of the hormone prolactin)
Increases optimism and mindfulness
Decreases anxiety and stress
Decreases depression
Decreases the perception of pain
They also found that after floating, people were less likely to consume alcohol.
There is a lot more research into floating but in a nutshell, floating is scientifically proven to have significant, positive, and lasting impacts on our minds and bodies.
How floating works
The water in each pod contains half a tonne of Epsom salt, allowing you to float effortlessly. It matches the temperature of your skin and the air, giving you the feeling of complete weightlessness. It’s usually pitch black and silent in the pod too, unless you wish to have relaxing music, or the light on.
Free from sensory input, the muscular-skeletal system and sympathetic nervous system wind down into a state of deep relaxation and serenity, in which your body and mind can heal and replenish - resulting in many benefits, like reduced stress and better sleep.
A float lasts for 1 hour, with 10 minutes of ambient music at the beginning to help you relax – or longer if you request it. You have full control of opening and closing the pod, and of the light inside it. Music starts again to signal 5 minutes before the end of your float.
At Floatworks, this all happens in your own private room, equipped with a shower, complimentary toiletries and a towel.
After your float
Once you’re out, showered and dressed, visit the Hair & Mirrors Room for hairdryers, straighteners and organic moisturiser. We recommend you take some time to have a complimentary tea and chill before going back out into the world. The Relaxation Room is perfect if you’re in the mood for more peace and quiet, or fancy reading or meditating. If you’re feeling more sociable, head to the Lounge.