How to use float therapy to train better & recover faster

Training for a marathon is about more than just working your muscles, am I right? It's about the whole picture — making sure your body is healthy, your mindset is right, and you're preventing problems before they set you back. Adding float therapy to your training routine can help you get the most from your effort, using relaxation to train smarter, recover faster and reduce injury.

What floating is, and how it helps

The float tank is your gateway to rest and recovery. In your own private room, you've got your own tank to relax into: 500kg of Epsom salt mixed with skin-temperature water to create a restful, gravity-free environment. You float right on top of the salty water with zero input from yourself — no swimming skills necessary — effortlessly creating the ultimate holiday for the muscles and joints working so hard to get you to your goal. With that much Epsom salt (aka magnesium sulfate) in the tank, you are literally floating in magnesium: muscle-relaxing, health-promoting magnesium.

What happens during a session

Inside the tank is distraction-free. Without lights, sounds, tasks or phones, your body can finally get a proper rest — and it so deserves it. That pain-inducing lactic acid that builds up in your muscles after a hard session? It's dramatically reduced within an hour-long float. Less pain and soreness slowing you down: win.

Train better

Obviously you're using great tools to train your body — but have you ever tried using visualisation to mentally rehearse a big win? If so, you have that in common with some of the world's top athletes. Right here in Auckland, Olympic competitors, UFC fighters and long-distance runners are among the athletes who've come into Float Culture and used the tank to get their mental programming just right.

Recover faster

When you push past your limits, how long are you usually out of the game? A few studies — including at Waikato University here in New Zealand — show that floating can help muscles recover faster. And it's no surprise: magnesium, plus deep relaxation, plus blissful freedom from gravity, is a recipe for speedy healing.

Prevent injury

How many times have you heard that muscle tension causes injury? Probably heaps. Floating provides a legendary environment for tight muscles and knots to loosen up. The distraction-free space also gives you a prime opportunity to tune into your body and catch injuries before they become a problem — in the tank, you're far more aware of what's happening, and athletes can use this to adjust their training around a strain before it becomes a major setback.

Adding floating to your routine

The most fun and affordable way to float regularly is a monthly membership. But if you've never floated before, you might prefer to start with a three-float package — low on commitment, high on benefit.

Mental preparation, physical recovery, and rest for the sake of your brain — all in one hour.

Whether it's for the mind or the muscles, adding regular floating into your training routine might just be what it takes to make this race your new personal best. Ready to try? Here's the intro offer.