Could floating help you sleep better?

Research suggests that it can. A fascinating Swedish study from 2010 looked at how flotation-REST therapy (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) helps people experiencing burnout. The researchers — Anette Anette Kjellgren, Hanne Buhrkall and Torsten Norlander — found significant benefits for sleep.

In the study, four women and two men took part in a ten-week program. It combined psychotherapy with 45-minute float sessions twice a week. As a result:

“Clients reported that their sleep improved during the treatment period, especially on the nights following their flotation-REST sessions.”[1]

In other words, floating may benefit anyone:
• People who feel overwhelmed at work
• Athletes recovering from intense training
• Anyone who simply wants deeper, better sleep

Benefits that continue over time

The benefits were strongest on float days. However, participants also slept better on the days they did not float. That is encouraging, especially if you cannot float twice a week.

Not only did sleep quality improve, but relaxation became easier at bedtime:

“Clients noticed a state of effortless relaxation at bedtime, along with the deliberate or unconscious ability to increase their state of relaxation by
regulating their breathing and recreating the resting body position experienced inside the sensory deprivation tank.”[2]

This suggests that long-term use of flotation therapy can help us maintain that incredible sense of relaxation far beyond the session itself and experience benefits in many areas of our lives. Regarding the extreme fatigue caused by a poor night’s sleep, participants said they felt “more rested and more energetic upon waking.”[3]

Your Ticket to Deep, Peaceful Sleep

Overall, the study showed that flotation therapy can:

✅ Help you fall asleep faster
✅ Improve sleep quality
✅ Boost energy the next day
✅ Reduce the stress that keeps you awake

Therefore, if you have tried everything and still struggle with sleep, you are not alone. Even if you sleep well but want to experience “effortless relaxation”[4], floating may become your new favourite ritual.

Try Floating at Spa Ovarium

Experience the power of deep relaxation in our sensory deprivation tanks.
Let your mind and body unwind — and rediscover what it feels like to wake up refreshed.

→ Learn more about floatation therapy

References

[1]^{, 2, 3, 4} Kjellgren, A., Buhrkall, H., & Norlander, T. (2010). Psychotherapeutic Treatment in Combination with Relaxation in a Flotation Tank: Effects on “Burn-Out Syndrome.” Qualitative Report, 15(5), 1243–1269.