April 4, 2022
How Often Should I Float – Part One
Investing in float therapy is an investment in your holistic health – finding relief in areas of trouble like pain and stress; creating more calm in the form of better sleep and mental health; and giving yourself time for self-care, meditation, and clarity.
But how often do you need to float to receive those benefits?
What we know, is there are no negative side effects from regular and frequent floating, and our clients experience most benefit and positive results when floating is part of a regular health care routine.
What to expect
For first-time floaters, we recommend you try three consecutive sessions before you decide on your plan ahead.
This is because research shows it takes three sessions for your body and mind to become familiar with the new experience of floating and allow full benefit to arise.
First Float
You’re switched on and alert to your environment. There is so much that’s new and different. With anticipation, you embark on an experience for the first time. Typically, your nervous system is in sympathetic mode, which is our ‘fight or flight’ response – we’re looking for anything that might cause us risk or harm because it’s not a familiar place.
Despite this, many people do feel some benefit from their first float, but even so, it’s worth continuing for a few more to really get a full sense of what it can offer.
Second Float
Now that you’re familiar with the environment, your nervous system will allow your guard down a little. This means your body can relax into the float session sooner and you can gain more benefits.
This is where benefits are likely to start to show. As your parasympathetic nervous system, ‘rest and recover’ mode, can take over, your body can start to relax and go with the flow, and you’ll feel better at the end of the session.
Third Float
By the third session, your brain knows what to expect. It’s a safe place and one your system has realised will offer you much benefit. Rather than looking for danger, it can be open to the positives.
This is a truer representation of what you can expect from your ongoing floats.
What are your goals?
If you’re aim is to relieve acute pain, injury, or recovery, more frequent sessions over a shorter period might be more suitable.
If you’re after management of a long-term experience like anxiety or sleep problems, a longer plan might be better suited.
If you’re an athlete or are often using your body at high intensity, you might also need more regular sessions, planned around your activity or exercise in order to recover. The zero-gravity environment helps lactic acid process out faster and the magnesium in the water gives you the extra bonus of helping to ease aches and pains.
As you achieve your goals or your lifestyle changes, you may want to reset your health goals and change the plan to meet your new focus.
Benefits of regular floating
- Meditation – the perfect insular place for accessing meditative benefit
- Better sleep – relaxing the nervous system for better rest
- Lower stress and anxiety – proven to help people reduce symptoms
- Ease aches and pains – zero gravity takes the pressure off the body
- Athletic recovery – lactic acid is released faster
- Magnesium – absorb more magnesium, of which many people are deficient
- Endorphins – happy hormones are released
- Creativity and clarity – better brain functioning
- Digital detox – a break from daily use of screens and devices
In ‘How Often Should I Float Part II’, we explore a picture of the benefits and effects of varying float frequency, so you can best plan to meet your holistic goals.
Our friendly experts are available with more information and advice, give us a call or book your float tank session online now.
