As with all new experiences, it takes more than one go to fully grasp the concept and reap the benefits. Floating can be like going to the gym – at first, you need to go regularly to see improvement, but eventually, you will adapt to the new stimulus and can begin to work on maintaining a consistent routine to hold onto the gains already made. So even if you instantly fell in love with floating or it wasn’t for you, we encourage you to try again. If you were hesitant to rebook after your first experience, please read on and give us a chance to open your eyes to the benefits of floating more than once.
The benefits of floating are greatly enhanced with repeated float sessions.
At Water Temple, we are biased toward floating, but that is because we know first-hand the amazing benefits that float therapy offers. The benefits are endless from improved sleep and creativity, decreased anxiety and depression, a stronger immune system to faster recovery from sports, and a greater ability to overcome addiction and settle into a deep meditation. If you read any one of our blogs, you will learn more about the benefits of floating. We also know that these benefits are greatly enhanced every time you float. A study conducted on participants who self-identified as having GAD (generalised anxiety disorder) floated two times per week for seven weeks and reported significant decreases in GAD-symptomatology and several symptoms associated with this disorder. Symptoms such as emotional regulation, sleep difficulties, depression, and pathological worry were significantly decreased with regular float sessions, and these benefits were still felt six months later. A one-off float session did not impact the participants in this study, but repeated and regular float therapy sessions dramatically impacted their wellbeing.
Every float experience is different.
Just like every person is unique, so is every float experience. The first time you float can be unsettling. It is a new environment, and subconsciously we tend to be on guard in new settings.
For the anxious floater:
Some people who float for the first time find it hard to relax and embrace the unfamiliarity fully. This is a big reason we encourage first-time floaters who struggle to relax to return and try again. Each time you float, the pod will feel a little more familiar, and with each float thereafter you can reach the point where you thoroughly let go and get the most out of this beautifully relaxing experience.
For the excited floater:
First timers can be excited about the unknown, which can make it hard to relax in the pod. Over time the newness of floating wears off, and the excited floater can ease into the pod and melt away into a blissful and relaxed state. While being over excited is more likely in preference to anxiousness, both create the same level of physiological stress that impairs one’s ability to relax and stay calm.
For the sleepy floater:
We have had many clients who fall asleep on their first float. Relaxation wasn’t an issue! It is usually a clear sign they were in desperate need of some rest, and since the environment was so comfortable they couldn’t help but drift off. Falling asleep is perfectly fine; you will still get the same rest and recovery benefits that other people get, but staying conscious allows you to experience the some of the other mental and emotional benefits of floating, which is to clear the mind and enable the brain to process information. The time in the tank will feel like it flashes by in an instant if you fall asleep, and even if you don’t time seems to stand still!
For the busy mind:
If a busy mind is your issue and you can’t seem to switch off the monkey chatter, regular float sessions will enable you to clear your mind and get accustomed to the silence. Clients have reported that after regular float sessions, they re-enter a chaotic world with a calm mind that allows them to think clearly, stay focused and be more productive without the constant buzzing of thoughts streaming through their heads.
A regular float routine will transform into a regular sleep routine.
We all know the importance of sleep, especially those who struggle with sleep! A major pillar of health is consistently good sleep, and to achieve this consistency, a regular sleep routine must be established. Soaking in the high concentration of magnesium solution in the dream pod increases the level of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the body that signals melatonin production, the precursor to sleep. So floating will help your body naturally signal to itself a regular time to start feeling sleepy when you go to bed at night. Our bodies love routine, so establishing a regular time to float each day or night will enable this signalling to happen on cue when your head hits the pillow.
The benefits of floating regularly are truly felt upon re-entry into the world
Floating is so relaxing due to the quiet, calm, warm and uninterrupted environment in which you float. So what happens when you leave Water Temple and go back into the chaotic world to deal with life’s stressors; deadlines, schedules, responsibilities, uncertainty, and the daily grind? Floating regularly relieves stress at the time of the float, but it also helps with your ability to manage stress and increases stress resiliency beyond your float experience. After a float, you go back into the world with a calmer state of mind that is better equipped to handle the pressures of life. It is not the load that breaks you, but the load you are not prepared for. Floating regularly will help you to prepare for the loads in life. Some of our first-time floaters have left Water Temple, not planning to return, but few days later; we receive a phone call to book them in again for another float. They usually say that they noticed that they were calmer in the days following their float, had more mental capacity to handle stress, and responded better in stressful situations.
So if you were not sold on float therapy after your first float, we encourage you to bring awareness to your state of being in the days following the float. And if you only notice a very minimal difference, we ask that you please consider how this minimal difference can be exponentially expanded through a regular float practice. If you are anxious, nervous or tired, you will still feel mentally and physically better for days after. You don’t have to be conscious of all the moving parts, it is a unique experience, and each float is different, this includes the day or time you float. If you would like to learn more about easy it is to make regular float a part of your wellness routine, speak with one of our Temple Guardians today.
