WE LLB E I NG
FLOAT IN THE FOREST Reawaken your senses and enjoy the benefits of flotation in the Forest of Dean.
F
loat in the Forest is a brand-new wellness centre set in the lush Forest of Dean, offering a new way to unplug, relax and explore the mind. Flotation - often referred to as ‘floating’ - is a relaxation therapy that allows you to float effortlessly on the surface of water saturated with Epsom salt, which creates a buoyant environment. This takes place inside a spacious float pod, where the choice is dopamine and endorphins. Research yours as to whether you float with the demonstrates that floating can ease door open or closed, as is the colour of anxiety and depression, increase calmness mood-lighting in the room, or the option and promote a better sense of wellbeing. for complete darkness; here, you are in full control of your own experience. The FREEDOM FROM BAD HABITS water and air temperature are akin to that The float environment puts the power to of your skin surface, so the boundary reprogram unwanted behaviours into between the two is indistinguishable. But your hands. Through regular flotation, don’t be fooled by this seemingly you can insert a pause between the simplistic treatment; stimulus and the backed by thirty years habitual response, of research, the benefits giving you the ‘THE WATER IS DOING of floating go far opportunity to act THE WORK, CRADLING beyond just relaxation. from somewhere MY BODY, ALLOWING MY authentic. Reduced REDUCE STRESS WHOLE SELF TO RELAX’ levels of stress and AND IMPROVE sensory input, MENTAL WELLBEING coupled with deep Floating is one of the fastest and most relaxation and heightened feelings of effective ways to engage the happiness, can help fight cravings and parasympathetic nervous system, the support you through tricky periods. body’s natural relaxation centre, and enter a meditative state where you are IMPROVED HEALTH THROUGH able to quieten the chatter of your mind. MAGNESIUM ABSORPTION Devoid of all sensory input, your body That salt isn’t just helping you float. Epsom lowers its levels of cortisol, the main salt is rich in the essential mineral chemical component of stress, and allows magnesium and has been used for its your brain to release elevated levels of medicinal qualities for centuries. Soaking
LIFESTYLE 34
in this salty, skin-temperature solution promotes the absorption of magnesium, which is the second most abundant element in human cells. It helps regulate the activity of more than 325 enzymes and performs a vital role in orchestrating many bodily functions, from muscle control and electrical impulses to energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins. Additionally, it helps reduce blood pressure and improve circulation. Worryingly, magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet, making a soak in this mineral-rich solution seem like a pretty smart move to us. PAIN RELIEF Released from the effects of gravity, your muscles, joints and bones are given time to rest and recover from everyday wear and tear. Muscle tension and joint pain are reduced through being unburdened by the buoyant water. Floating can also be used as pain management for chronic conditions that include arthritis, fibromyalgia, back, neck and shoulder pain, tendinitis, migraines and inflammation.
