Zero Gravity Float, Cork
Float therapy benefits
Floating gives you an hour of quiet, held up by warm water, with very little to see, hear or do. Here is what our clients tell us they notice, and what is worth knowing before your first float.
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The experience
What floating is like
You lie back in shallow water, close your eyes and let go. Three things make it different from anything else you will do this week.
1
Weightless
The water is saturated with Epsom salt, so you float on the surface without any effort. Your head, back and limbs are fully supported.
2
Quiet
Each room is private and calm, so there is very little to see, hear or respond to. You can bring your phone with you, just put it on airplane mode.
3
Warm
The water is kept close to skin temperature. After a while many people stop noticing where the water ends and their body begins.
What people notice
The benefits our clients describe
These are the experiences we hear about most often. Everyone is different, and results vary from person to person and from float to float.
Relaxation
A slower pace
With so little going on around you, many people find their breathing slows and their body softens as the hour goes on. It is a simple way to switch off.
Body
Ease in muscles and joints
The water takes your body weight off your spine and joints. Many people feel their neck, shoulders and back loosen, and say everyday aches and stiffness feel lighter afterwards.
Sleep
A restful night after
Lots of our clients tell us they sleep deeply the night after a float. Floating is not a treatment for sleep problems, but many people find it a good way to wind down.
Recovery
Rest after training
Runners, lifters and team players float to give tired muscles a break. Weightless water and Epsom salt make it a restful way to take time off your feet.
Mind
A calmer, clearer head
An hour without calls, screens or notifications. Many people leave feeling calmer, with more room to think things through.
Focus
Space to reflect
Without distractions, your attention turns inward. People describe it as a good place to reflect, let ideas surface, or practise meditation if they are new to it.
How many floats
Give it two or three floats
Many people notice a difference after a single float, and floating regularly builds on it. Expect to float two or three times before you really see what it can do for you, because your body takes a few floats to adjust to this unusual environment.
We suggest floating once a week for three weeks. If that is not possible, twice a month works too. Then decide whether floating is benefiting your life.
That is why we offer a discounted 3 float intro offer, €159 for three floats. It is the easiest way to find out whether floating is right for you.
Before you come
Good to know before you float
1
Arrive settled
Have a light meal beforehand and go easy on strong coffee. Please do not float under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
2
Hair, tan and products
Wait 7 days after hair colour or treatment, and 48 hours after fake tan. Arrive free of oils and lotions, as they can come off in the water.
3
Fresh tattoos
Salt water can be painful on a fresh tattoo and may fade it. We suggest waiting at least 4 to 6 weeks.
4
Your period
You can float on your period, using a tampon or menstrual cup as you would for swimming. If you use a tampon, coat the string with petroleum jelly, which we provide in the room, so salt water does not wick up it. If your period is heavy, please rearrange your float.
5
Skin and shaving
Open wounds and communicable skin conditions do not mix with salt water. Shaving or waxing on the same day can sting. If salt water irritates a sensitive area, a little petroleum jelly helps.
6
Getting in and out
Salt water is slippery, so take your time. If you have mobility issues, please bring someone you know, as our staff cannot help you in and out of the pool.
7
Phone on airplane mode
You are welcome to bring your phone with you. We just ask that you switch it to airplane mode so nothing interrupts your hour.
8
Leave time afterwards
Avoid anything demanding straight after. Floating can bring up strong feelings or make aches more noticeable, so rest, drink water and eat well. Many people like a herbal tea and a quiet sit before heading back out.
Research and your health
Floating, sometimes called flotation-REST, is studied by university researchers. Early studies have looked at relaxation, stress, anxiety, sleep and muscle soreness, and many report positive results. The studies so far are small, so we describe benefits as what people experience, not as guarantees.
Floating is a relaxation experience, not a medical treatment, and it does not replace care from your doctor. Everyone signs a short health waiver online before their first float. Please talk to us, and to your doctor where it says so, before booking if any of these apply:
- Pregnancy. We ask you to wait until after your first trimester, and to have written permission from your GP or specialist if your pregnancy is high risk.
- Diabetes. This is fine if it is under medical control.
- Epilepsy, vertigo, seizures or blackouts. We ask for your doctor’s permission first.
- Heart or circulation conditions, including high or low blood pressure, thrombosis and phlebitis. We ask for your doctor’s permission first.
- Nervous system or muscle conditions, such as MS, Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, Bell’s palsy or cerebral palsy. We ask for your doctor’s permission first.
- Cancer, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or similar conditions. We ask for your doctor’s permission first.
- Kidney disease, incontinence, or any condition that absorbing magnesium through the skin could affect. Please call us before booking.
- Open wounds or infectious skin conditions. Floating is not suitable until they have healed or cleared.
If you are unsure about anything, call us on 021 485 6748 and we will talk it through.
