May 30, 2021

What Is Flotation Therapy Good For?

Flotation therapy is a wellness practice that is quickly gaining popularity – and unsurprisingly so. After all, it offers a reprieve from today’s busy, overstimulated world, allowing individuals to take a breather and disconnect from reality. Thanks to its rising fame, several medical spas and wellness centers are now offering this treatment. Not to mention that celebrities are also hyping it up left and right.

Are you curious about what the fuss is all about? We’re here to enlighten you. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most appealing benefits of flotation therapy.

The Top Benefits of Flotation Therapy

Flotation therapy – also referred to as “float therapy” or “sensory deprivation therapy” – is a practice designed to promote deep relaxation, making it ideal for individuals who want to de-stress or improve their overall well-being. This form of alternative treatment offers a wide range of physical and mental health benefits, so it’s hardly surprising that it’s gaining popularity among wellness enthusiasts.

In this therapy, the client floats in a sensory deprivation tank – otherwise known as an “isolation tank” or “float tank” – for around an hour or even more. The exact duration of the session depends on the medical spa, as well as your needs and preferences.

The tank is dark, soundproof, and filled with saltwater. The water is slightly heated to body temperature for maximum comfort. Plus, the water feels denser than usual thanks to the substantial amounts of Epsom salt mixed into it, enabling you to stay suspended for long periods. This setup is called restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST).

You may be wondering how REST can shower you with various benefits. Read on to find out how.

1. Combats Stress

Many people lead stressful, fast-paced lives. If you’re one of them, you’ll have to find ways to cope with everyday stress. After all, stress can be dangerous or even life-threatening if allowed to fester for a long time. Too much stress, for example, can negatively affect different organ systems, including your cardiovascular and digestive systems. It can also increase the likelihood of anxiety and depression.

You’ll be glad to know that float therapy is one of the most foolproof ways of reducing stress. During the session, you’ll be cut off from all sorts of sensory inputs, including light, sound, and even touch. The absence of external stimulation, in turn, enables you to relax and feel rejuvenated. The fact that you’ll be floating on your back increases the sense of profound relaxation even more.

Science has some good news for you, too.

In one randomized trial, float therapy significantly lowered stress, anxiety, and depression in healthy participants. It also increased feelings of optimism and improved sleep quality. The findings suggest that this practice can be a potential preventive medical intervention, especially in the light of stress-related ailments.

2. Helps Relieve Anxiety and Depression

Thanks to its positive impacts on stress, sensory deprivation therapy can also do wonders in addressing the symptoms of anxiety and depression. As such, experts concluded that it could be a potential treatment for these conditions, particularly anxiety.

One randomized controlled trial found that flotation-REST therapy showed promise as an adjunct treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In the study, 37% of the participants – 46 adults who all had GAD – attained full remission after the 12-session treatment. They also reported remarkable improvements in sleeping difficulties, emotional regulation, and depression and didn’t experience any side effects.

Another study explored the short-term anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties of flotation therapy. Researchers recruited 50 participants with anxiety and stress-related disorders, most of whom also had depression. Most of the subjects self-reported notable reductions in the following:

Anxiety
Stress
Depression
Negative affect
Muscle tension
Pain

They also reported enhanced mood, coupled with feelings of happiness, calm, relaxation, and overall well-being. Even better, the treatment was well-tolerated and didn’t produce any significant side effects. From the findings, the researchers concluded that flotation-REST could be a potential therapeutic strategy for temporarily reducing the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

3. Helps Improve Your Heart Health

As previously mentioned, chronic stress could increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the same vein, long-term sleep deprivation has also been associated with CVD, hypertension, and other conditions.

This is where flotation therapy can help. By alleviating stress, improving sleep quality, and inducing deep relaxation, this practice may help enhance your heart health and function. In other words, it can be a powerful preventive tool for CVD and other related ailments.

4. Soothes Pain

Flotation therapy is not only a valuable aid for mental conditions but physical discomforts as well. According to studies, this practice could lower the amount of pain that an individual experiences. For this reason, it could be a promising treatment for chronic pain conditions, especially those arising from chronic stress and tension. This includes headaches, migraines, and arthritis.

5. Boost Athletic Performance

If you’re an athlete, you’ll be pleased to know that flotation-REST therapy may help improve physical performance. In one study, for instance, this alternative treatment promoted physiological and psychological recovery among athletes after their exercise training. Interestingly, napping during the floating session could improve their mood even further.

The researchers suggested that float therapy could be a viable technique for performance recovery among athletes and other individuals who undergo intensive training for competitions. However, they noted that the results are still preliminary and further research is needed to substantiate the efficacy of this approach.

Experience Sensory Deprivation Today

Experiencing stress is normal. However, there are times when your stress levels would reach unhealthy levels. It rings especially true in today’s demanding and fast-paced society. Every now and then, it’s a good idea to just step back, take a deep breath, and forget about your worries.

This is precisely what flotation-REST is meant to do. After that treatment, you’ll feel infinitely more refreshed and invigorated, allowing you to get back to the daily grind with renewed energy and enthusiasm. And if you’re suffering from anxiety and pain, this practice could also improve the symptoms of this condition.

Excited to try out your very first session of sensory deprivation therapy? Here at Solea Medical Spa & Beauty Lounge, we promise unparalleled relaxation and comfort, as well as top-of-the-line floating equipment. Learn more about our flotation therapy services or contact us today to book an appointment.

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