The Science-Backed Benefits of Float Therapy: Deep Relaxation and Recovery
At Meraki Health, we understand that achieving true relaxation and mental clarity can often feel out of reach in today’s fast-paced world. Float therapy, also known as sensory deprivation or floatation therapy, offers a unique approach to achieving profound mental and physical relaxation. Through weightless floating in a carefully controlled environment, float therapy allows the mind and body to disconnect from outside stressors and enter a state of deep calm. Here, we’ll explore the science-backed benefits of float therapy and the powerful ways it can support relaxation, pain relief, recovery, and overall well-being.
For athletes and physically active individuals, float therapy offers significant advantages in muscle recovery and pain management
Stress Reduction and Mental Clarity
Float therapy is a powerful tool for reducing stress and promoting mental clarity. Floating in a sensory-controlled tank lowers cortisol levels—the body’s main stress hormone—and shifts the body from “fight or flight” mode to a relaxed “rest and digest” state. This reduction in sensory input allows for significant relaxation, which can improve focus and mental clarity.
A study published in PLOS ONE demonstrated that floatation therapy had both acute anxiolytic and antidepressant effects (Feinstein et al., 2018). Participants reported significant reductions in anxiety, stress, and muscle tension after just one session, indicating float therapy’s effectiveness in promoting mental clarity and reducing stress levels.
Participants of a study in PLOS ONE reported significant reductions in anxiety, stress, and muscle tension after just one session, indicating float therapy’s effectiveness in promoting mental clarity and reducing stress levels.
(Feinstein et al., 2018)
Enhanced Sleep Quality
Float therapy can also contribute significantly to better sleep quality, making it an excellent choice for individuals struggling with insomnia or other sleep issues. By providing a sensory-deprived environment, float therapy allows the brain to enter a deeply relaxed state, often associated with theta brain waves. These brain waves are linked to the restful, restorative processes of the mind and body, promoting both mental clarity and physical recovery. A study published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine demonstrated that participants engaging in flotation therapy reported improved sleep quality and heightened relaxation, underscoring its value for those with sleep disturbances (Kjellgren et al., 2020).
Furthermore, float therapy has been shown to naturally improve sleep patterns by reducing anxiety and fostering a state of calm, which can lead to more restful, uninterrupted sleep. In athletes, flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy (float-REST) has been shown to enhance sleep quality and recovery, a benefit that can extend to those with sleep disorders as well (Broderick, Uiga, & Driller, 2019). Together, these studies reveal float therapy as an effective option for individuals looking to enhance sleep quality, helping them wake up feeling more refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for the day ahead.
A study published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine demonstrated that participants engaging in flotation therapy reported improved sleep quality and heightened relaxation, underscoring its value for those with sleep disturbances
(Kjellgren et al., 2020)
Physical Recovery and Pain Relief
For athletes and physically active individuals, float therapy offers significant advantages in muscle recovery and pain management. The buoyancy provided by the high concentration of Epsom salts in the float tank not only induces a state of near weightlessness but also relieves pressure on muscles and joints, allowing the body to enter a deep state of relaxation. This reduction in gravitational strain aids in diminishing muscle tension and inflammation, two critical factors in post-exercise recovery. The magnesium in Epsom salts, which is absorbed through the skin during float sessions, may further support muscle relaxation and help ease cramps and spasms, facilitating a quicker recovery process.
Studies have shown that floatation therapy improves physical recovery and reduces muscle soreness in athletes. Research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise demonstrated that floatation therapy significantly enhanced perceived recovery and reduced muscle soreness following high-intensity resistance exercise, suggesting its efficacy as a post-exercise recovery tool (Caldwell et al., 2022). Beyond athletic recovery, float therapy has shown to help alleviate chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia and arthritis, by reducing overall pain perception and improving joint mobility. According to a study in JAMA Network Open, Floatation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) has been effective in relieving symptoms associated with chronic pain, allowing individuals to experience long-lasting pain relief and an improved quality of life (Loose et al., 2021).
In addition to alleviating physical discomfort, float therapy promotes mental relaxation, which can further benefit pain management. The calming sensory deprivation environment helps reduce stress and anxiety, both of which can exacerbate pain sensitivity. This holistic approach makes float therapy a powerful, non-invasive option for those seeking natural pain relief and recovery support, whether they are recovering from intense workouts or managing persistent chronic pain.
Research published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise demonstrated that floatation therapy significantly enhanced perceived recovery and reduced muscle soreness following high-intensity resistance exercise, suggesting its efficacy as a post-exercise recovery tool
(Caldwell et al., 2022)
Mood Enhancement and Reduced Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Float therapy, particularly when practiced through Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST), has shown promising effects on mood enhancement and relief from symptoms of anxiety and depression. The calming, meditative environment within a float tank provides a mental "reset," giving individuals the space to disconnect from external stresses and internal negative thoughts. This immersive experience can trigger the release of endorphins and serotonin—natural chemicals that elevate mood and promote a deep sense of well-being.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Garland et al. (2023) explored the impact of REST on anxiety and depression, finding significant improvements in mood and emotional resilience among participants. The study demonstrated that regular float sessions led to reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as an increase in overall mood stability and emotional well-being. Participants reported feeling more balanced, with many noting a lasting sense of calm and improved ability to handle everyday stressors.
Float therapy’s sensory-deprived environment fosters a unique form of relaxation that quiets the mind and reduces the body’s stress response. This environment helps lower cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone, further contributing to reduced anxiety levels. For individuals seeking a natural approach to managing stress, float therapy offers a therapeutic option that not only enhances mood but also supports long-term mental resilience and balance
A Holistic Approach to Wellness
At Meraki Health, float therapy transcends relaxation—it's a scientifically supported practice designed to cultivate balance, enhance mental clarity, and promote full-body recovery. From relieving stress and improving sleep quality to accelerating physical recovery and uplifting mental well-being, float therapy offers a comprehensive approach to wellness that refreshes both mind and body. Whether you aim to unwind, support your physical health, or enhance mental clarity, our float therapy sessions provide a peaceful, rejuvenating environment that encourages deep reconnection and restoration. Embrace a harmonious journey to well-being, guiding you towards a balanced, healthier, and more centred self.
References
Broderick, V., Uiga, L., & Driller, M. (2019). Flotation-restricted environmental stimulation therapy improves sleep and performance recovery in athletes. Performance Enhancement & Health, 7(2), Article 100151.
Caldwell, L.K., Kraemer, W.J., Post, E.M., Volek, J.S., Focht, B.C., Newton, R.U., Häkkinen, K., & Maresh, C.M. (2022). Acute Floatation-REST improves perceived recovery following a high-intensity resistance exercise stress in trained men. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 54(3), pp. 567–575.
Feinstein, J.S., Khalsa, S.S., Yeh, H., Wohlrab, C., Simmons, W.K., Stein, M.B., & Paulus, M.P. (2018). Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PLOS ONE, 13(2), e0190292.
Garland, M. M., Wilson, R., Adamic, E., Thompson, W. K., Arevian, A. C., Stein, M. B., Paulus, M. P., Feinstein, J. S., & Khalsa, S. S. (2023). Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) in anxiety and depression: An experience sampling study. Journal of Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Kjellgren, A., Norell-Clarke, A., Jonsson, K., & Tillfors, M. (2020). Does flotation-REST (restricted environmental stimulation technique) have an effect on sleep? European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 36, Article 101090.
Loose, L. F., Manuel, J., Karst, M., Schmidt, L. K., & Beissner, F. (2021). Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy for Chronic Pain. JAMA Network Open, 4(8), e2128372.
