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what the research says

the science behind floating

Flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) is a structured way to downshift your nervous system using buoyancy, warmth, and unusually low sensory input.

We’ll keep this page evidence-forward. We run a float spa, so we do have skin in the game. Floating has also been genuinely meaningful for us, and we recommend trying it if you’re curious. The research is still early and protocols vary, but results look promising across stress/anxiety, chronic pain outcomes, and recovery markers.

Disclaimer

Educational only, not medical advice. If you’re pregnant, have uncontrolled epilepsy, have an active skin infection/open wounds, or have any safety concerns, check with a clinician and ask us before booking.

Float Away

Quick takeaways

stress + anxiety

signal: promising

many studies report lower state anxiety and improved mood after single or repeated sessions.

pain

signal: promising

benefits show up in some chronic pain trials, sometimes persisting beyond the session window.

physiology

signal: promising

several studies find shifts consistent with parasympathetic activation (e.g., bp, hr/hrv).

sleep

signal: mixed

people often report better sleep, but controlled evidence is mixed for insomnia as a primary outcome.

altered-state effects

signal: promising

some people report time distortion or softened body boundaries, usually described as calming.

What a float session is

a float session is quiet time in a private suite. you lie back in warm water saturated with epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), which makes you buoyant so your body can fully let go. you choose light and sound, rest for 60–90 minutes, then rinse in your in-room shower and ease back into your day.

How to read the evidence

what studies measure

  • subjective outcomes: anxiety, mood, serenity, pain ratings
  • physiology: blood pressure, heart rate, hrv, cortisol proxies
  • performance/recovery: soreness, fatigue, lactate, next-day metrics

how to interpret a result

  • look for “compared to what?” (control, waitlist, usual care)
  • note timing: immediate vs follow-up effects
  • treat single studies as clues; patterns matter more

our labels

  • design: rct / pilot rct / observational / systematic review
  • sample: who was studied
  • signal: positive / mixed / limited

Evidence by topic

1) anxiety / stress / mood

signal: promising typical dose: 1–8 sessions best for: stress load

systematic review (2025)

signal: positive

a 2025 systematic review summarizes evidence across outcomes and notes positive trends across stress/anxiety measures, while flagging protocol variability and study limitations.

design systematic review
sample mixed; clinical and non-clinical samples
publisher page

doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-04973-0

2) pain

signal: promising typical dose: 1–12 sessions best for: muscle guarding

systematic review: pain outcomes (2025)

signal: positive

the 2025 systematic review groups multiple pain studies and reads the overall signal as positive, while noting heterogeneity and protocol differences.

design systematic review
sample multiple pain-related populations across studies
publisher page

doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-04973-0

3) cardiovascular / autonomic

signal: promising typical dose: 1 session best for: decompression

acute cardiovascular effects (frontiers in neuroscience)

signal: positive

some work suggests flotation-rest can shift cardiovascular measures in ways consistent with relaxation and parasympathetic tilt.

design experimental / physiology-focused study
sample see paper
full text

doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.995594

4) altered states

signal: promising typical dose: 1 session best for: meditation

time/body boundary effects (scientific reports, 2024)

signal: positive

a 2024 paper reports altered-state effects during flotation-rest, including time distortion and softened body boundaries, commonly framed as calming in the sensory-reduced environment.

design observational / experimental (see paper)
sample see paper
publisher page

doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-59642-y

5) sleep

signal: mixed typical dose: 1–8 sessions best for: stress-driven sleep

systematic review: sleep outcomes (2025)

signal: mixed

people commonly report improved sleep after floating. controlled evidence is mixed: the 2025 review notes limited-to-no effect for some sleep disorder categories, even while general restfulness improvements show up in many reports.

design systematic review (sleep outcomes vary by study)
sample mixed; depends on included studies
publisher page

doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-04973-0

What we do differently

we built this spa around one constraint: quiet. private suites with in-room showers, unhurried pacing, and simple controls so you can actually downshift. we’ll guide you through setup if you want it, then we stay out of the way.

Book now First-time guide

Safety: who should ask first

uncontrolled seizure disorder
active skin infection/open wounds
pregnancy with complications or restrictions
severe claustrophobia you’re worried will spike
acute intoxication

if any of these apply, check with a clinician and message us before booking.