What is flotation tank therapy and how it could benefit you.

Simon Preedy explains the potential benefits of a session at the Zero Gravity Float Spa in Altrincham.

Simon Preedy at the Zero Gravity Float Spa in Altrincham (c) June Poston (Image: Archant)

Floatation Therapy is a method of achieving deep relaxation by spending an hour or more lying quietly in darkness, suspended in a warm solution of salt.

There are a number of reasons why float tank therapy could be beneficial to you, in both physical and psychological terms.

Many people who undergo flotation therapy treatment do so to assist with physical ailments. Floating in the tanks removes all the pressure from your muscular and skeletal system which allows for increased blood flow which could assist in relieving muscle tension, pain reduction and recovery from injuries.

Floatation therapy could also help you achieve a sense of deep relaxation which can also assist in combating stress. Removing everyday stimuli such as gravity, temperature, touch, light and sound means that your mind has a lot less information to process, this reduction in sensory input causes our brainwaves to slow down and allow us to drift into a sense of deep relaxation that is similar to a state of meditation.

The Zero Gravity Float Spa in Altrincham is offering some of the most advanced flotation tank therapies in the UK that can offer a wide range of benefits.

The Zero Gravity Float Spa creates an atmosphere to prepare you for your therapy (c) June Poston (Image: Archant)

A typical one-hour session at the Zero Gravity Float Spa starts with a quick introduction by the team who can tailor your experience to suit your preferences. Many customers may feel more comfortable with the lights on, or with the pod lid open which will be explained to you before your session.

You will then be guided to your own private room complete with a private shower and changing facility, the room is set up with towels and hair dryers, which means you don’t need to bring anything apart from your trunks or swimming costume.

After taking a shower you can then enter the spacious i-sopod tank that is filled with a solution of water which lies a foot deep.

One of the common fears surrounding around flotation tank therapy is claustrophobia, the pods at the spa are the same size as an average king-size bed which makes this easier for people who may have concerns about feeling uncomfortable in enclosed spaces.

The spa has four i-sopods available on-site, making it the largest facility outside London to offer this cutting edge therapy.

Relax in the chillzone after your flotation tank therapy session (c) June Poston (Image: Archant)

After turning off the lights, relaxing music is played to make you feel comfortable within the environment and after ten minutes the music will gradually fade away, leaving you with a complete sensory deprivation experience.

The water is maintained at body temperature and with of 500kg of Epsom salt added to the solution. You will be constantly floating in the space without coming into contact with any of the surfaces of the tank. The water is filtered during and after every individual session which means that the service meets the highest standards of hygiene.

Many of the spa’s customers report a sense of deep relaxation upon completing a one hour session at the spa and some have reported a deeper sleep in the night after the therapy.

The spa is across the road from Altrincham Interchange on Stamford New Road (c) June Poston (Image: Archant)

An added bonus to a session at Zero Gravity Float Spa is the location; the spa is across the road from Altrincham Interchange on Stamford New Road making it easily accessible and many customers often take the option of leaving the car at home to prolong that feeling of relaxation without enduring the drive home.

A hour float session at Zero Gravity costs £35, for more details visit zerogravityfloatspa.com