After hearing about the supposed benefits of floatation therapy, I was invited down to Floatworks in London to try out one of their state-of-the-art floatation tanks.
I’d been meaning to try out a floatation tank for a while and was curious about what it would be like, so I headed down to Floatworks in Vauxhall for an hour-long session to see what all the fuss was about.
Official website: floatworks.com
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Floatworks London – The Basics
Floatworks has been around since 1993 and their main centre is located right next to Vauxhall tube station, with another centre due to open in Angel this year.
In case you didn’t know, floatation, or floatation therapy, is a sensory-deprivation experience that can help you fall into a deep meditative state.
American neurophysiologist Professor Dr John Lilly developed the first floatation tank in 1950, perfecting it in the 1970s. He designed the float tank as a system to help him investigate conscious activity in the brain.
The Floatworks i-sopod tank is 8ft 6″ long by 5ft 6″
Inside your own private pod, you lie flat on your back in super-saturated salt water (which fully supports your bodyweight) and let yourself drift away.
The Epsom salt saturated water is heated to skin temperature (exactly 35.5°C), as is the air in the pod, meaning that you enjoy a weightless-like sensation for the duration of your ‘float’.
The water is 25cm deep and contains 525kg of Epsom salts.
There are said to be lots of benefits to floating regularly, from promoting a sense of calm and relaxation, to helping to reduce muscular fatigue and ease postural aches and pains.
“If you think about it, gravity is always making your joints and muscles work to support your frame to some extent, even when you’re lying down in bed,” explains Floatworks co-director Chris Plowman.
“Floating removes that stress entirely, allowing your body to assume a fully natural position, which also helps to improve blood flow.”
The Experience
After rinsing down in the shower in my own personal pod room and fitting in some of the provided silicon ear plugs, I climbed into the pod and closed the lid shut.
The pod is huge, and you can easily lift the lid open at any point if you need to.
When you first get in, there is calming music playing and some soft blue lights to help you orient yourself and ease into the experience.
The music lasts for 10 minutes, after which there is complete silence and you have the option to turn the light off in the pod.
At that point, you are shrouded in complete darkness. There is no sound and only the very faintest of sensations of the water on your skin.
From then onwards, it’s just a case of relaxing into the experience and letting your mind wander off.
The air temperature is quite warm and humid, so it’s not uncommon to feel a little bit hot during the float. If you feel too hot, you can always leave the lid of the pod ajar to let some cooler air in.
The relaxing music returns with five minutes remaining, to signal the end of your experience and anchor back into this physical reality.
There is a private shower in your room next to the pod
You have your own private shower to rinse yourself down afterwards, with shampoo, shower gel and towels all provided.
Afterwards, you have use of a ‘chill out’ room with complimentary water and herbal teas.
What Are Other People Saying?
We took a look on social media to see what other people were saying about Floatworks.
The feedback seems to be generally very positive, with many people reporting having enjoyed significant benefits from the experience.
(Photo: Twitter)
Prices and More Information
A single hour-long float costs £55, and you can buy a four-float package for £180.
Floatworks also offer a monthly membership. It costs £40 per month and gives you access to one float per month and discounts for friends and family.
You can relax in the Floatworks Chill Out room after your session
Review Conclusion – Final Thoughts
My Floatworks experience was top-notch from start to finish.
The friendly team made me feel comfortable despite being a first-timer, and the centre itself was clean and well organised.
I definitely felt more relaxed and calm afterwards, and it was a nice relief to be able to escape hectic London life for an hour.
For more information, visit: floatworks.com
