Some people exercise to relax, others bake, and a new option now is to float. Floatworks is a new studio in London with two locations (Vauxhall and Angel) where you can go to float, relax in silence in a lounge and enjoy a cup of tea. My mom had actually told me about floating before I had heard of it in London. There is a place in my hometown where her friends have already tried it. I was excited to be invited for a complimentary float at Floatworks Angel when they opened in July 2019.
What is floating? Clients spend 60 minutes submerged in salty water (each pod has half a tonne of Epsom salt) with no lights or sound. Epson salt reportedly helps with muscle soreness, reduces swelling and pain, and promotes sleep. The first 10 minutes offers relaxing music to help you settle in, and then the music comes back on five minutes before the float ends. Without any sensory input, you can completely switch off and relax, even enter a bit of a trance. The high level of salt allows you to float effortlessly and the water temperature is meant to be the same as your skin, which means you can’t tell where your skin meets the water.
The facilities at the Angel studio are fantastic. There are lockers to secure your belongings, a room to style your hair and apply makeup, a quiet lounge for relaxing before or after your float and another area to enjoy a complimentary cup of herbal tea. You can arrive early to start to unwind or stay a bit after your float to maintain that zen feeling. Much like a massage, I suggest leaving a few hours free after your float to chillax.
Each pod room has hooks and a shower for you to use, along with towels, earplugs, organic shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. The Hair and Mirrors room has Parlux hairdryers, GHD hair straighteners, organic body moisturiser, cotton buds, and vaseline. You can float naked, which is what I did, or bring your swimsuit. I found it a little chilly and the staff put a note in my record to warm the water another 0.5 degrees C to make me more comfortable. The rain showers were incredible and I had plenty of time after my float to shower and dress.
As you can imagine, I found it extremely hard to switch off for my first float. I was rinsing off in the shower when the music started. So I hopped in the pod and tried to keep my face dry (as the salty water can sting your eyes). I can confirm you definitely float around inside the pod (I gently bumped into the wall a few times). When the lights turned on at the end of my 60 minutes, I was sure the music didn’t turn on as a warning that my time was almost up. The staff member at the desk said I had zoned out so much that I didn’t hear the music, which happens often. I am impressed that I was able to tune everything out and actually relax. Working full-time, training for marathons, and blogging on top, doesn’t leave me much time to do absolutely nothing. Usually, there is multi-tasking happening, or I am thinking about how I can multi-task later. It felt good not to think for a short period of time.
I have another float booked in soon and cannot wait. Now that I know what to expect, I think I will be able to settle in and enjoy the float sooner. Are you curious and want to give it a try? Use the code FLOATMOLLIE for a 20% discount off your first single float experience. Here are all the FAQs in case you still have questions. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
Thanks to Floatworks for the complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
Recent Comments