Floatation Therapy

So what is floatation? Floatation therapy involves lying in a harmoniously designed float pool in which you are suspended in 1000kg of magnesium sulphate (pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salts) the density of the water means it so buoyant that you float effortlessly and experience an incredible feeling of weightlessness.

Floatation therapy is backed by over 200 studies showing it to be of benefit for a vast range of mental and physical conditions and ailments, assisting anxiety conditions for many people. Research on floatation therapy constantly shows that with repeated use the benefits are greatly enhanced.

Our luxurious & exclusive Floatarium Pools will transport you to the times of Ancient Rome where bathing rituals were practiced every day in opulent bathhouses. Our Floatariums contain a high concentration of Epsom salt to allow your body & mind to de-stress, reach ultimate relaxation & provide natural pain relief. The ancient Floatarium can be experienced alone or with a loved one.

After years of research supported by the knowledge and expertise in the float industry, we have designed the most spacious, elegant and sophisticated float pool on the market. Our Floatariums surpass other float tanks on the market in sophistication, sanitation and size. Almost double the size of the largest float tank currently in the market place. Our Floatarium rooms are exclusive to Blue Lagoon Float and Spa Hyde Park and are perfect for couple floats, family floats, those suffering from a disability that require extra room to those that suffer from claustrophobia. Our Floatariums tick all the boxes.

Preparation For Float Therapy

For your best experience please observe these tips prior to your floating session

Eat before you arrive (within 2 hours) even a snack, as magnesium is best absorbed with food in the belly and hunger could distract you from relaxation! 

Hydration is a must, as the body will replenish and detox with therapeutic magnesium  - H20 is needed to replenish tissues to allow that healthy exchange to take place!

Avoid caffeine! even if you are used to a regular coffee, it make you feel edgy and will disallow your body to enter a beautiful theta state - zero stimulants is vital to floatation

If you have any minor abrasions on the skin please advise staff before you float, so staff can advise provide you with a solution to salt stinging on that area of your body!

Read our FAQ's - so you feel prepared before you arrive ready for your floatation session!

Spray tans and hair dyes - if you have had either within seven days you will be unable to float, due to reds and brown dyes dropping out in the crystal clear tank water! Please allow 3 washes for hair dyes and 3 showers for spray tans before you float. If your hair colour still runs when you wash it, please do not float!

Pregnancy

Floatation during pregnancy is a beautiful and nurturing experience connecting mother and bub is a weightless, harmonious environment

Benefits of floatation during pregnancy are:

nourishing tired tissues and joints

taking the weight off the spine and hips

weightlessness

replenishment - 1 hour float 

restoring circadian rythms

lymphatic flow- light and even pressure of water on the body

rest - 1 hour float is equal to 4 hours sleep replenishment

immune system recharge

relax the nervous system 

hypnobirth clients can listen to their pod casts while floating (arrive early to load the system) 

...many, many more beneifts

Safe and available from 2nd Trimester onward

Note : With complicated pregnancies or low blood pressure, allow time to seek doctors advice 1st for clearance to ensure that floatation is suitable for you

Feel free to contact the spa should you have any questions with floatation and pregnancy

Contraindications

In most cases floatation is safe and available to all people! - as individuals we also have varying health journeys, so we ask you to observe the following contras to floating

Kidney disorders - dialysis, 1 kidney etc - if your kidneys are unable to filter, you will be unable to take on the large dose of magnesium in the tank, like wise certain prescription medication may inhibit your kidney function 

Low Blood Pressure  - floatation naturally lowers your blood pressure, if you are at risk of fainting due to low blood pressure, floatation therapy may not be suitable for you

1st Trimester of Pregnancy - precautionary period for all treatments, we ask you wait until 2nd trimester before floating

Cancer and serious illnesses - if you are undergoing any medical care, we recommend you consult your doctor if floatation is right for you, as medication's may compromise kidney function and floatation requires healthy kidneys to filter the high dose of magnesium!! Please seek a clearance letter from your GP prior to your appointment. 

Vertigo - floating is not recommended during an active vertigo stage, we advise you have your condition assessed and treated by a GP / health professional before trying floatation.

Recent illness - recent illness such as gastro or vomiting is not an indication for floatation, we recommend that you stay at home and rest until all illness has cleared 

Epilepsy/seizures - for safety reasons we do not allow people with epilepsy or prone to seizures to do floatation

Other medical conditions - we ask that you to seek permission from your GP prior to floating to ensure it is safe for you. Please call the spa if you need further information.

FAQ's

Claustrophobia!? You may wonder if you may experience claustrophobia?

Our float pools are the largest in Australia, designed to provide you with a sense of space. You can also choose to sit in the float pool and absorb magnesium - a beautiful soft light gives a feeling of calm - often clients are relived when they see how spacious the space is and progressive floats can improve your anxiety toward a this perception. 

Is there any lighting in the Pool? Yes. We have soft coloured lighting or no light - the option is yours. You may turn the light off in the pool if you are seeking a sensory deprivation experience.

Do I wear bathers? Bathers are optional, however if you feel you may relax more with bathers, then you are welcome to bring yours and shower before hand in them, to remove any phosphates from the fabric. Floatation without bathers has other benefits, such as lymphatic flow in the body.

How long do I float for? Session times range from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. We recommend for 1st time floaters to start with a 45 minute- 60 minute float this will allow yourself time to relax into the experience and truly let go!

Can I float with a friend? Yes our float pools can accommodate couples or groups of 4 at one time.

What is Sensory Deprivation? Sensory deprivation is achieved when you turn the lights off and float silently in your pool in the dark -  you block out all external distractions such as sight, sound, touch, temperature and gravity. Together these account for approximately 90% of your normal neuro-muscular activity. Once these senses are blocked, this allows your mind to truly experience one of the deepest forms of relaxation for your mind and body. 

The Epsom salt water inside the pool is heated to skin temperature (35.5 degrees celcius).

This allows you to lie comfortably in the warm saltwater solution and eventually lose sense of where your body ends and the water begins- giving a feeling of zero gravity as though you are floating in space.

Once inside the float pool, soft relaxation music starts to play signify the beginning of the session. With earplugs in (if you choose) and lights on or off you will drift away into a deep relaxation. Soft relaxation music will play again to signify the end of your session.

Is music available? Yes, we have specific floatation tracks, designed to facilitate meditation and a restful experience for your time in the pod, upon request we record what you liked to play again next time. 

Are the pools clean? Yes! Our float  pools have state of the art filtration systems, with tank water running through micro filters, UV treatment in between each session, with daily monitoring of Ph, phosphate and alkaline water health tests. Our tanks meet the requirements of commercial cleanliness standards.

Will floating damage my hair?

The magnesium used in our float pools is a great natural conditioner for hair and will not damage or dry your hair in any way. However the small amount of bromine used to sanitize the water can in very rare occasions react with your hair depending on the type of hair dye used can cause hair to lighten. For those with light / blonde hair  bromine or on the odd occasion  if you are deficient in the Beta Carotene hormone, it can turn blonde hair a tinge green which can be overcome with several washes of shampoo and conditioner.

• Child Floats (age 8 to 12 years). Every float must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Parent/Guardian float together with their child in our spacious float pool and enjoy a shared bonding experience.

FLOATATION BENEFITS: 

Numerous studies around the world have documented mental and physical benefits of using floatation therapy. These have shown to help a broad range of ailments and medical conditions, as well as having the most profound relaxing experience like no other.

These are just a few of the benefits:

MENTAL BENEFITS

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

Overall float therapy is a gentle and effective form of healing for your body and mind. Float therapy can also be used in conjunction with other therapies.

Please consult your medical practitioner if you have specific medical conditions.

PAIN RELIEF

Floatation therapy has been proven to be a highly effective method of reducing chronic pain. Not only has pain shown to reduce during the session but has also lasting benefits. This is due to three factors that contribute to the success of the therapy which include: The extremely buoyant environment of the water eliminates the effects of gravity on the body by relieving pressure, relaxing muscles and providing relief from chronic conditions.

Second is that floating has been found to stimulate the brain to naturally release large amounts of endorphins which are your body’s natural form of pain relief. They work by blocking pain signals from reaching your brain and improving your mood. Endorphins also alleviate the anxiety and depressive moods often associated with chronic pain.

The third factor is the natural anti-inflammatory effect the Epsom salt water has on the body. The large amounts of magnesium sulphate in the water is one of the best ways to absorb this essential mineral and offer tremendous relief to those suffering from chronic muscular, skeletal and joint pain.

STRESS RELIEF

Stress is linked to many physical and mental health issues such as depression, weight problems, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, pain, digestive issues, sleep problems and skin conditions. These can all take a toll on your relationships, work and general functioning of day to day activities.

Floatation therapy is considered to be one of a few non-invasive techniques to manage stress which works quickly. Studies have shown it is a very effective way of lowering the stress hormone cortisol. Float therapy allows floaters to block out all external distractions which calm and soothe the mind and give an incredible feeling of relaxation. This in turn causes your brain to release endorphins, which enhances your mood and replaces the feeling of stress.

Many people find floating such a relaxing experience and often fall asleep in the tank. This is perfectly safe and natural. It has been reported that 1 hour of sleep in the tank is equivalent to 3 hours of sleep in bed. You will come out feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. This is particularly helpful for sleep problems.

INCREASE CREATIVITY AND LEARNING

During a floatation session, a person’s brainwaves change from beta (wide awake) to alpha to theta which is associated with vivid imagery. Everyone experiences a theta state brainwave by having vivid mental imagery when we are about to drift off to sleep, which only last for … Theta state has been found to be a rich source of access to the subconscious and increase levels of creativity, imagination, visualization and problem solving.

Floatation therapy allows you to reach theta state and sustain it for much longer than you normally would. Usually advanced meditators with years of training are able to sustain theta state, however the float tank provides a much easier method of attaining this. The more often you use the float tank, the quicker your brainwaves can change to theta state and sustain it for longer periods.

Some floaters like to intensify their experience by adding learning tools such as audio to increase their learning and creativity. For example, if you would like to learn a new language, or use powerful visualisation techniques with audio in the background for sport performance.

SPORTS RECOVERY AND PERFORMANCE

Many athletes, sportspeople, bodybuilders, gym workout enthusiasts around the world use floatation therapy to quickly recover from sore muscles/joints/bones and injuries. In some cases, people with aches and pains can sometimes speed up recovery in a matter of hours as opposed to days.

The floatation tank takes away the effects of gravity on the body which causes large amounts of stress and increases blood circulation. The high concentration of Epsom salts has a strong anti-inflammatory effect on the body and helps muscles repair.

Athletes who also use the tank along with visualisation techniques have experienced a strong improvement in their performance. While you are in the tank you access your theta brainwave state making you more open to learning. Even the Australian Institute of Sports endorses the use of floatation tanks for its many benefits to its athletes.

Overall, float therapy can help with: