Flotation Therapy Benefits and Side Effects

Need help determining if dry flotation is the right therapy for you? Understanding dry float therapy’s potential benefits and side effects will help you make informed decisions about your stress and anxiety relief options.

yourfootpalace.com gathered essential information about the benefits and side effects of dry flotation therapy and answered some frequently asked questions.

What is Dry Flotation Therapy

Dry floatation sessions provide the mental relaxation benefits of a traditional float tank without getting wet. You lie on a warm, water-filled membrane that lowers into a bed, whereas traditional float therapy uses a tank or tub filled with water and a large quantity of Epsom salt to keep you afloat.

Traditional float therapy uses baths filled with water and Epsom salt (intended to deeply nourish, remove toxins from, and relax the body and mind). Dry flotation focuses on muscle and joint relaxation, imparting a sensation of weightlessness and deep relaxation.

Dry Flotation Benefits

Having gained considerable popularity in recent years, dry flotation therapy has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in health and well-being treatments and has become a popular companion therapy in day and health spas. Consider the following dry flotation therapy benefits:

• Promotes deep and healthy sleep patterns
• Speeded recovery time from physical exercise
• Increase endorphins
• Reduced blood pressure
• Improves circulation
• Helps combat depression
• Reduces anxiety

Potential Side Effects

As with any form of therapy, there are potential side effects that may manifest during or after your therapy experience. Consider the following side effects to dry flotation therapy:

• Heightened sense of smell, sound, and light
• Nausea (more common for first-time users)

Consider the following frequently asked questions and answers when choosing to have a dry flotation therapy session:

How Many Times a Week Should You Float?

Most patients see float therapy benefits when used two or more times a week and more positive results from longer periods of routine use. The number of float sessions may differ depending on your purpose and symptoms leading you to float therapy. For some people, once a week for 2 months is sufficient to provide lasting results.

Is Float Therapy Good for Depression?

Float therapy has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in improving sleep quality, significantly reducing stress and anxiety, and letting the body return to a healthy balance of hormones (significant in easing feelings of anxiety or depression).

Should You Shower Before or After Float Therapy?

For traditional float therapy, you must shower before and after getting in the tank. However, you will not be required to shower before or after dry flotation therapy sessions.

Is it Better to Float in the Morning or Evening?

Optimal float times will differ from person to person (depending on lifestyle and schedule). Some are better floating in the early morning, while others have their most profound and beneficial floats in the evening or late at night.

Note: Sometimes, you may feel more alert and energized, while other times, you leave your float session ready to further relax and unwind.

Should You Massage Before or After a Float?

After. Floating for an hour before a massage treatment is highly effective in preparing your muscles. By floating first, your muscles become significantly more relaxed.

Should You Float on an Empty Stomach?

You can float with a full or an empty stomach. However, to avoid the distracting sounds and feelings of your digestive tract, eating two or more hours before your float session is highly recommend.

Can You Fall Asleep During Flotation Therapy?

Yes. Falling asleep during a float therapy session does happen. However, even if you do nod off, your brain is likely in a state of hypnagogia.

Note: Hypnagogia is the transition between wakefulness and sleep. During this state, it’s normal to experience some visual, audio, or other hallucinations. During hypnagogia, it’s common to experience muscle jerks and sleep paralysis.

Discovering Dry Float Therapy

In this article, you discovered information about the benefits and side effects associated with dry float therapy and found answers to frequently asked questions.

Knowing the benefits and potential side effects of dry flotation therapy will help you make informed decisions when deciding how to support your health and well-being.

Not knowing about or trying dry float therapy may leave you without a treatment that could significantly ease your tension, anxiety, or stress.

Sources:
journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0190292
time.com/floating
people.com/health/we-tried-it-dry-flotation-treatment