May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re exploring the science-backed benefits of floating for stress reduction and mental wellbeing.
Living in London, or any bustling UK city means navigating a near-constant barrage of stressors. From manic morning commutes on the tube to never-ending work notifications and the general sensory overload of urban life, our bodies rarely get the signal that it’s safe to relax.
The result? Our adrenal glands pump out cortisol at levels our ancestors would have experienced only during genuine life-threatening situations. In prehistoric times, cortisol helped humans survive by triggering our “fight or flight” response. Today, this same mechanism is being activated by work deadlines, financial worries, and that bloke who cut you off on the A40.
When cortisol remains elevated for extended periods, the consequences can be properly serious:
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. With stress-related issues costing the NHS an estimated £11.5 billion annually, finding effective interventions is a matter of both personal and public health.
Enter the float pod, a unique environment specifically designed to create optimum conditions for stress reduction.
During a float session at Floatworks, you’ll enter a specially designed pod containing water heated to skin temperature (35.5°C) and infused with 525kg of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate). This creates a buoyancy that allows you to float effortlessly, removing all pressure from your musculoskeletal system.
The float pod environment is also carefully controlled to minimise sensory input:
This sensory reduction is what researchers believe creates the perfect conditions for significant cortisol reduction.
The scientific evidence supporting floating for cortisol reduction is quite robust and rather impressive.
A landmark study published in the International Journal of Stress Management found that a single one-hour float session reduced cortisol levels by an average of 21.6%. This wasn’t just a small sample either; the research looked at 65 participants across multiple sessions.
What makes these findings particularly noteworthy is the speed and consistency of results:
Another study from the journal Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences found that regular floating (twice weekly for four weeks) not only reduced cortisol but also increased endorphins and improved sleep quality. Participants reported a 37% reduction in perceived stress levels and demonstrated measurable improvements in heart rate variability which is a key marker of autonomic nervous system balance.
Dr Justin Feinstein, a neuropsychologist at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research, has conducted some of the most compelling research on floating and anxiety. His team’s findings suggest that floating may be particularly effective for conditions like generalised anxiety disorder, PTSD, and panic disorder. These conditions are often associated with chronically elevated cortisol.
Whilst cortisol reduction is a major benefit of floating, it’s only part of the story. The float environment creates a cascade of positive physiological changes:
Magnesium Absorption
The Epsom salt in the water contains magnesium, which is absorbed through the skin during floating. Magnesium plays a crucial role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body and has been shown to reduce stress hormones and promote relaxation. Many Britons are actually magnesium deficient, making this passive absorption quite beneficial.
Theta Wave States
EEG studies of the brain during floating show increased theta wave activity; the same brainwave state experienced during deep meditation. This state is associated with heightened creativity, profound relaxation, and improved learning ability. Even if you’ve struggled with meditation practices, floating can effortlessly guide your brain into this beneficial state.
Reduced Inflammation
Research published in the journal Pain Research and Management demonstrated that floating significantly reduced inflammatory markers in the blood. Since chronic inflammation is linked to both physical pain and mental health conditions, this reduction offers multifaceted benefits.
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, it’s worth considering how complementary therapies like floating can support overall mental wellbeing. Whilst floating should never replace appropriate medical care for serious mental health conditions, research suggests it can be a brilliant addition to conventional treatments.
Many mental health professionals across the UK now recognise floating as a valuable tool in a comprehensive treatment approach. As Dr. Mark Williams, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Oxford University, notes: “Mindfulness-based approaches help patients change their relationship with stress rather than eliminating stressors entirely. Floating offers a unique environment where this mindful awareness can be developed with minimal distraction.”
If you’re feeling the effects of chronic stress, difficulty sleeping, racing thoughts, physical tension, or mood disturbances, a Floatworks session might be just what your nervous system needs.
At Floatworks, we’ve helped thousands of Londoners reset their stress response and experience profound relaxation, often for the first time in years. Our Angel location makes it easy to incorporate floating into your regular wellness routine.
First-time customers often report feeling a bit sceptical before their session but emerge with a noticeable shift in their stress levels. As Tom, a regular Floatworks member, describes it: “I went in with my mind absolutely racing about work deadlines. Sixty minutes later, I couldn’t remember why I’d been so wound up. It was like someone had reset my entire nervous system.”
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we invite you to experience the cortisol-reducing benefits of floating for yourself. Whether you’re managing diagnosed anxiety, dealing with work-related stress, or simply need a proper break from the constant sensory bombardment of London life, floating offers a science-backed solution with no side effects… just better mental wellbeing.
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