When up against chronic strain and drain on your energy levels, mental clarity, body pain, or ability to sleep well, discovering effective ways to overhaul stress is nothing short of crucial. One way a local Halton area business is aiming to help is by offering Burlington’s premiere 6 Week Stress Release Program — a proprietary approach from GoFloat Studios.
Complemented by video tutorials and coaching, this multi-discipline stress management and relief program orbits around the Studios’ namesake, where clients float fully buoyant in a float tank filled with saline water for 90 minutes at a time. The six-week series also includes GoFloat Studios’ proprietary ‘‘Stress Relief Toolbox’ — including paced guidance on topics around breathwork, hydration, and sleep quality, plus weekly action items, 1:1 accountability support, access to the Program’s community, and a mobility ball to support the myofascial release portion of the series.
What is floating? Exploring the health benefits of float therapy
Also (and appropriately) known as R.E.S.T. (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique), floatation therapy has been widely studied as an effective modality to help soothe and support symptoms around chronic pain, high blood pressure, anxiety, digestive disruption, and more. Further, the practice has been proven to help lower cortisol levels, increase the ability to concentrate, and improve sleep.
It’s not just the physical relief of removing gravity’s pressure on the body, either; floating has been widely studied for providing profound mental, emotional, and nervous system regulation support.
To float, clients lay in a specially designed tank filled with approximately 10” of water mixed with 1,000 lbs of Epsom salt; the water is warmed to simulate skin-neutral temperature. “With all that high salt content, you don’t have to swim; you don’t have to use any energy; you just lie on your back as if you’re lying on your bed, and then your weight is distributed evenly so that you just float effortlessly,” GoFloat Studios’ co-founder Geoff Liang explains.
“Our rooms are designed to be soundproof, and you can control the light inside your tank,” he continues. “The tanks have a door that never locks so you are in full control of your experience and can get out anytime. The water is heated to your skin temperature; it’s meant to be so that you don’t feel the difference between your body, the water, and the air. All the forces of gravity on the musculoskeletal and nervous system are eliminated and, due to the body temperature of the water, you eventually lose track of where your body ends and the water begins.
“The idea is that we are taking away as much as possible from you having to do anything and, since all of the stimulus has been taken away — no light, no sound, no touch, no having to use your muscles or body to keep you in the position that you’re floating in — your nervous system and your brain are able to shut down and relax. This essentially turns on what’s called the parasympathetic response, which is the part of your nervous system that helps you recover, sleep, heal, and relax.”
The benefits of floating when it comes to stress relief
Most commonly, those piqued by the sounds of a 6 Week Stress Release Program often need extra support to achieve the ultimate relaxation found in floating. “It’s similar to working out and getting really strong arms, and you’re able to carry a bigger bag of groceries in from the car,” Liang offers. “It’s the same with floating; if you stay at it and practice, you’re going to notice better results.
“We hear this all the time from clients in our program,” he continues. “They’ll share that they’re able to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up actually feeling rested, or that they’re able to manage stressful situations in a calmer manner with improved recovery times. Also, because many concerns like gut health issues such as IBS, or skin issues like eczema, can be triggered by stress, our clients are able to see improved results in a variety of ways.”
While those who have participated say the 6 Week Stress Release Program delivers their desired results for stress and lifestyle management, Liang is quick to confirm that it takes more than passively signing up to see a similar outcome. “Funnily enough, a lot of people find it difficult to do nothing for long periods of time, so I don’t want to sugarcoat it,” Liang offers. “Your first float can be challenging in terms of dealing with the potential boredom or chatter going on in your head; if you haven’t done it before, it can feel difficult to quiet it down.”
With that, Liang says he and the team find that, through the program’s six-week structure, this particular hurdle is often short-lived. “Since you’re committing to doing multiple floats in a short time span like that, you get better at it very quickly.”
The custom approach of GoFloat Studios’ stress relief experience
GoFloat Studio’s 6 Week Stress Release Program is completely bespoke, with potential candidates receiving a private consultation to ensure the best, and most custom possible fit. “We see some people seeking it out because they are going through a very stressful time in their lives, and others are looking more for balance and a more preventative approach,” Liang says. “Some people may not need the full program, depending on what other practices and habits they have in place, and we can just offer them parts of it; it truly is custom.
“A big thing we tell people in the program is, ‘look, we’re not going to reduce all the stress in your life’ in the sense that we can’t take away all the things that stress you out,” he continues. “But what we are able to do is teach clients the practices, techniques, and habits so that, over time, they learn how to manage their response to stress and stressors.
“We are there as your guides so that, even if you’re dealing with the same things that have stressed you out before, you’re able to have a different, more measured approach so they don’t have the same impact.
“It’s not just about these six weeks and you’re on your own, either,” he adds. “It’s about teaching you stress relief techniques and stress management habits that are sustainable for you to not just memorize, but truly understand and then integrate into your life.”
Due to the custom nature of GoFloat Studios’ 6 Week Stress Release Program, pricing varies and is established following a free consultation and vetting process. Single floats at GoFloat Studios are $89 per 90-minutes, and the first and last floats of the day are extended to 120 minutes at no additional charge. Multi-float packages and monthly memberships are also available.
Geoff Liang is the co-founder of GoFloat Studios, located at 390 Pearl Street in downtown Burlington, Ontario. For more information, see their full feature here on Methods of Care or visit their website directly at GoFloatStudios.com
The content shared here is for informational purposes only, and not intended as medical advice. Please always consult with your doctor before making any changes to your care plan.
