Set Your Stress Adrift

These days, sometimes we just need to get away from it all. 

While going for a walk works wonders, we’d like to introduce you to floatation therapy - a natural wellness and therapeutic treatment that can help you disconnect, unplug and de-stress. Doesn’t that sound divine? 

Imagine floating in a pod filled with soothing, 94-degree water infused with more than 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt solution so you’ll float effortlessly. 

The premise is simple, but reaps big rewards: Floating in a zero-gravity, dark and quiet environment helps your body and mind relax, recover and reset. “It’s a great way to treat yourself on so many levels,” says Matt Beck, who founded and owns Float8 with his wife, Destiny, in Deerfield Beach and Fort Lauderdale. “It helps you physically, mentally and spiritually. It induces a deep state of relaxation and a meditative state.” 

Health benefits include reduced stress and anxiety, pain relief, elevated endorphins and serotonin levels, stress reduction, improved sleep and increased blood flow. It enhances learning, focus, creativity and memory.

It’s been found to help speed recovery time between workouts, prevent injuries and help athletes perform at peak levels.

“It’s even been shown to help boost your immune system,” says Beck. 

Side effects are minimal. Occasionally, floaters feel motion sickness or disorientation. Cuts or scrapes may become irritated due to the salt and newly shaved skin may feel tender. 

Floaters tend to be split evenly between women and men, says Beck. They’re of all ages, with 35 to 55 the most common. (Children 16 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.) It’s safe for pregnant women, but they should consult their doctor prior to a session. People with epilepsy, diabetes or heart conditions should also consult their physician. 

Cost varies depending on membership packages. “We’re trying to make floating as accessible as possible,” he says. “We want people to get it who need it the most.” Strict safety measures are in place, including sanitation protocols and staggered appointment times.

Floating’s impact is cumulative. First-time floaters will have a pleasurable experience. However, the more you float, the better you’ll feel, says Beck. Session lengths vary, but Beck says most people float 60 to 90 minutes once a week. “It’s just like going to the gym,” he says. “The more often you float, the more you’ll get out of it. You can never float too much.”