What Is Float Therapy and Is It Worth Trying?

(Float Spa in Mitchell, SD | The Healing Oasis)

Float therapy, also known as flotation therapy or sensory reduction therapy, is a wellness practice designed to give your body and mind a break from constant stimulation. Inside a float pod, you’re placed in warm water with a high concentration of Epsom salt, allowing your body to float effortlessly. The environment is quiet, dim, and free from distractions, creating space for both physical and mental reset. At The Healing Oasis in Mitchell, SD, float therapy is used as one of many tools to support relaxation, recovery, and overall wellness.

What Actually Happens When You Float

The goal of float therapy is simple: reduce external input so your body can shift into a more relaxed state.

When you float:

• Your body experiences near “zero gravity,” reducing pressure on joints and muscles

• Your brain processes less sensory input (light, sound, touch)

• Your nervous system has a chance to slow down

This environment allows many people to reach a level of relaxation that’s difficult to achieve in everyday life.

What the Research Says

Float therapy (also called Floatation-REST) has been studied for its effects on stress, anxiety, and recovery.

Research suggests it may:

• Reduce stress and anxiety levels

• Improve relaxation and mood

• Support better sleep and mental clarity

• Help reduce perceived muscle pain and tension

• Enhance creativity and cognitive function

Some studies also show that float sessions can lower stress-related hormones like cortisol, helping the body shift out of a constant “on” state. It’s important to note, float therapy isn’t a cure or replacement for medical care. It’s a tool that can support how your body and mind recover.

Real Experiences (What People Actually Say)

While everyone’s experience is a little different, there are some common themes:

• “I didn’t realize how tense I was until I got out.”

• “It felt like my brain finally slowed down.”

• “I left feeling clearer than when I walked in.”

• “It’s one of the only times I’m not on my phone, thinking, or rushing.”

Some people feel immediate relaxation, others notice it more after they leave, better sleep, less tension, or just feeling more grounded.

Pros of Float Therapy

• Deep relaxation without effort

• Reduced pressure on joints and muscles

• Quiet space away from screens and stimulation

• Can support recovery after workouts

• Helps create intentional time to reset

Cons (or Things to Consider)

Float therapy isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.

Some people may experience:

• Discomfort with silence or stillness at first

• Mild anxiety or restlessness (especially first session)

• Claustrophobia in enclosed pods

• Minor side effects like dry mouth or itchiness

• Some say they are cold at first - but you do settle in nicely

It can take a session or two to fully settle into the experience.

Is Float Therapy Right for You?

Float therapy works best as a tool, not a one-time fix.

Some people use it:

• As part of a weekly or monthly routine

• During high-stress seasons

• For physical recovery

• As a way to unplug and reset mentally

Others just come in when they feel like they need it.

Float Therapy in Mitchell, SD

At The Healing Oasis, our float pods are designed to feel private, quiet, and approachable, whether it’s your first session or something you’ve built into your routine. This space isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about giving yourself time to step away, reset, and come back feeling a little more like yourself.

Final Thought

You don’t need to fully understand it before trying it.

Sometimes the best way to know if something works for you…is to experience it.