About Floating

What does floatation feel like?

the experience of floatation is completely different for each person. the technology frees up brain capacity by removing the normal inputs of light, sound and muscle tension and consequently switches to a theta state similar to that observed in experienced meditators.

may people describe this state as being halfway between sleeping and waking, a state in which the intense relaxation results in losing all sense of time and space.

others have found themselves in an intensely creative mindset and others have witnessed strange visual images.

in modern life there are very few other instances where the mind is given a sufficient environment to completely relax and free up its potential to think without restriction and begin to repair itself,

How will floatation therapy help me?

Modern life is stressful for nearly everyone and causes damage to accrue within the body and the mind. Synthetic diets, deadlines, constant connection to technology, not enough sleep, Traffic, use of substances such as caffeine and nicotine cause a constant strain upon our brains as well as the production of stress hormone responses which cause inflammation to affect every aspect of our physical and mental function. because these changes occur gradually AND WORSEN DAY-BY-DAY, MANY OF US DON’T REALISE THAT WE ARE OPERATING SUB-OPTIMALLY.

just AS PHYSICAL WORK OUTS AT THE GYM REQUIRE REST SESSIONS FOR THE BODY TO BUILD ITSELF BACK IN A STRONGER STATE, OUR BRAINS ALSO NEED COMPLETE MENTAL REST TO ACHIEVE THE SAME.

SENSORY DEPRIVATION, FLOATATION THERAPY AND MEDITATION HAVE ALL BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO BENEFIT THE BRAIN BY REWIRING ITS ARCHITECTURE ALLOWING IT TO REPLENISH ITSELF AND EVEN TO REVERSE MANY OF THE SIGNS OF BRAIN AGEING.
if you would like to improve your sleep, supercharge your energy levels, boost your mood, decrease anxiety and stress levels, deal better with pain or physical injury or boost your immunity then floatation therapy can help you or someone that you love!

How often should I float to get the benefits?

just as you may practice meditation or lifting weights or training to run a marathon, the benefits of regular floatation are cumulative and can help supercharge your long term physical, mental and spiritual health.

nevertheless, research HAS SHOWN THAT as little as ten minutes of floatation therapy is enough to lower stress hormone levels that cause inflammation within the body.

What is the difference with floating in the bathtub/pool/ocean?

the aim of the floatation is to switch the brain into a theta state and therefore the therafloat facility has been completely designed around your floatation experience. unlike floating in the above environments, the floatation bed uses water that is heated to your body temperature so that your mind loses track of where your body ends and the water begins. the floatation room is designed so that the sounds you experience can be carefully tailored to provide a complete spectrum from white noise, to guided meditation, to sound baths to complete silence. Lighting is similarly designed to induce a relaxed state. even the air within the floatation room is ionised with himalayan salt to help your mental functon.

the combination of all these factors contribute to an environment in which you can achieve a theta in a safe, easy and convenient manner.

What is ‘REST’?

‘REST” is an acronym used by scientists which stands for “restricted environment stimulation therapy”. in basic terms it involves removing all inputs to the brain such as muscle tension, sound, light and so on. it has been shown in many scientific trials that this is one of the most effective ways to influence mental function.

the total mental rest achieved allows your brain to rejuvenate itself. scientific studies have shown that the structure of brains undergoing theta-state meditation resemble those that are twenty to thirty years younger.

Do the benefits of the therapy last?

Yes - the aim is to rewire your brain to achieve lasting benefit with your energy levels, mood and anxiety levels, focus, creativity, productivity and even your immunity! the floatation itself is only part of our therapeutic intervention, we also offer a comprehensive analysis of your lifestyle and provide supplementation and equipment that you can use at home in order to optimise your mental health and fitness.

all of the tools we use are naturally-derived, powerful yet gentle and are based on scientific research from some of the world’s leading hospitals and laboratories.

What can floatation therapy help with?

a combination of floatation therapy with targeted changes to diet and lifestyle can help improve brain performance for work or sports, boost mood, decrease anxiety levels, supercharge your energy levels, decrease levels of pain or injury and even boost your immunity! for the first time, the damage accrued by modern living that causes brain ageing can be reversed in a safe, convenient and proven manner.

Does this replace the medications and advice I get from my doctor?

no - therafloat was founded by a medical doctor and nurse with decades of experience treating neurosurgical, neurological and mental health conditions in the nhs. our belief is that there will always be a number of patients who need treatment with medications from their gp or hospital specialists.

however the vast majority of people can make huge gains with their physical and mental fitness and performance without having to become patients simply by using simple, scientifically-proven and naturally-derived techniques.

Who typically uses floatation?

Floatation therapy is used by a huge variety of people from executives to professionals to athletes to homemakers in order to improve their mental fitness. the therapy is also used to access the ultimate form of waking relaxation to reverse brain ageing and improve mental performance.

carl lewis, the american athlete famous for winning nine olympic gold medals, used floatation therapy extensively in the 1980s. the dallas cowboys football team and golden state warriors basketball team have made extensive use of floatation therapy to boost performance and recover more quickly from muscular injury. closer to home, the footballer wayne rooney is known to own a floatation tank at home and reportedly spends approximately ten hours a week flOATING.

My Float

Do I get wet?

no - therafloat uses the latest dry floatation technology which separates you from the heated water with the use of a special membrane. this means that, unlike using traditional floatation pods, you do not share water with anyone else and do not even have to remove your clothes. This makes the floatation experience both easy and convenient to try.

Is the floatation private?

yes - because everyone is an individual, the entire floatation experience is exactly tailored for your mind and the particular way it works. that means there is only ever one person undergoing therapy at one time. All therafloat staff are from healthcare fields and interactions are treated in a fully confidential manner to the same standards as a discussion with your hospital doctor. there is a private entrance and exit and private parking so that your discretion is assured. whilst you ar ewith us, therafloat is your own private mental oasis.

What is the parking situation?

there is a private car park just for you.

our only request for each guest is that you arrive and leave on time so that privacy between guests can be maintained. if you arrive early or would like to explore the beautiful grounds of the nunnery estate there are two nearby carparks within the grounds to use for your convenience.

Is floatation safe?

yes - since there is no contact with water, utilising the zero gravity bed is as safe for you as lying in a normal bed. unlike normal wet float pods, there is no enclosing cover causing claustrophobia. there is always a therafloat therapist individually attendant to you throughout your session. floatation using our technology is therefore safe for everyone in general including pregnant women.

nevertheless, if you are pregnant, have a significant medical condition or something that affects your mobility you should always check your suitability for floatation with your doctor and therafloat would be happy to supple any necessary information as required.

watch this wonderful video about floating and pregnancy.

How long should I float for?

all treatment sessions are 90 minutes in duration (including a five minute session at the beginning and end to prevent guests crossing over).

during the first floatation session, a thirty minute consultation with the therapist will help us to gather the necessary information to learn how we can best tailor the session to give you the maximum benefit. you will then have a short trial floatation session to understand how to position your body. finally you will have the treatment floatation session which is approximately fifty minutes. although many people completely lose a sense of time during floatation this is usually the right length of time for a first experience of floating.

in either the first or subsequent sessions you may choose to forego the consultation entirely and spend the entirety of your time floating. our aim is to tailor the experience exactly to your requirements so that you are in a completely relaxed state of mind.

Can I end the float whenever I want?

of course! the session is exclusive and entirely private and there is always a therafloat therapist in attendance if you would like to terminate your floatation early. we have a number of locations in which you can relax and recover.

What do I bring?

our zero-gravity bed utilises dry floatation technology so you will not get wet or even have to remove your clothing. simply wear comfortable clothing. in order to avoid piercing the membrane which separates you from the water, you may be asked to remove any sharp jewellery or clothing accessories.

For exposure to light therapy you may find it helpful to bring shorts with a vest top.

Do you take precautions against Covid-19?

please see our covid policy here.

dry floatation is a non-touch therapy which does not involve sharing water with others unlike traditional floatation tanks. we believe that everyone should do their part to limit the spread of the covid-19 and consequently we use hospital-grade cleaning products and screen every guest on arrival. all therafloat staff are fully vaccinated against covid-19 as per government guidelines.

policies

Can I float with another person?

unfortunately not - therafloat is designed to centre around a bespoke experience tailored for a single person at a time.

What is your cancellation policy?

please see our terms and conditions here. we request that at least two working days notice is given in order to arrange a refund should one be requested. efforts will be made at the discretion of the floatation centre manager to reschedule any relevant appointments.

What if I’m running late?

please contact us in person and let us know as soon as you are able as we may be able to adjust your appointment time. if not, your floatation therapy will be reduced as we still need to end your appointment time as arranged in order to ready the facility for the next person.