At Recovery Base Shellharbour, recovery isn’t just physical, it’s mental, too. One of the most powerful ways to calm the mind and restore the body is through float therapy.

Also known as sensory deprivation or isolation therapy, floating gives you a rare moment of complete stillness. It’s a chance to switch off, release tension, and allow your body and mind to rest deeply, something that’s increasingly hard to do in our busy lives.

Here’s everything you need to know before you float.

What is float therapy?

Float therapy takes place in a specially designed float tank, filled with warm water and Epsom salt to create complete buoyancy. The water is heated to skin temperature, so you lose the sense of where your body ends and the water begins.

At Recovery Base, we have a private room that provides a calm, quiet environment where sound and light are minimised. You simply float weightlessly, letting gravity and the world slip away for a while.

It’s a powerful reset for the nervous system, one that supports physical recovery and mental clarity in equal measure.

Benefits of float therapy for recovery

Floating supports your body’s natural recovery processes in several ways:

Muscle relaxation: Magnesium-rich Epsom salts soothe sore muscles and reduce inflammation.
Improved circulation: The zero-gravity environment promotes blood flow and reduces pressure on joints.
Pain relief: Floating can reduce discomfort associated with chronic pain, tension or fatigue.
Stress reduction: With minimal external stimulation, your body naturally lowers cortisol and releases endorphins.

Many people describe floating as the ultimate rest, where both body and mind can completely let go.

Float therapy for mental health

Float therapy is widely recognised for its mental and emotional benefits.

The quiet, weightless environment reduces sensory input, helping calm the mind and slow racing thoughts.

Studies have shown that regular floating can help:

Reduce anxiety and stress
Improve mood and focus
Support better sleep
Encourage mindfulness and self-awareness

It’s not about escaping the world, it’s about reconnecting with yourself in the absence of distractions.

What happens to your body in a float tank

During a float session, your body goes into a state of deep relaxation known as the “rest and digest” mode.

Your muscles release tension, your heart rate slows, and your brain waves shift into a meditative alpha or theta state, similar to those reached during deep sleep or mindfulness practice.

By reducing sensory input, floating gives your brain a chance to reset, leading to improved recovery, creativity and mental clarity.

How float therapy supports physical recovery

Athletes and active individuals use float therapy to speed up muscle recovery and manage fatigue. The buoyancy of the water removes pressure from the spine and joints, allowing the body to rest completely.

Combined with magnesium absorption from the salts, this helps reduce inflammation, ease tight muscles and restore balance to the nervous system - making floating a valuable complement to other recovery tools like saunas, ice baths and compression.

How often should you float?

For most people, floating once every 1–2 weeks is ideal.

However, if you’re training intensely, recovering from injury or managing stress, more frequent sessions can offer additional benefits.

Each session typically lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, giving your body time to fully relax into the experience.

What to expect at Recovery Base

When you arrive for your float, our team will walk you through the process, making sure you feel comfortable before your session. Our private room includes a shower and all the essentials you’ll need.

You will shower before and after the float (especially after to make sure you wash all the salt off your skin).

You’ll enter the tank, lie back and let the salt water support you. After the session, many people feel lighter, calmer and clearer, the kind of recovery that goes beyond the physical.

Float therapy for every body

At Recovery Base, we’ve created a space that’s inclusive and community-led.

Whether you’re an athlete, parent or professional needing time to slow down, float therapy offers a safe and accessible way to recover, reflect and recharge.

It’s one of our most-loved experiences, because it helps every body find balance.

Ready to experience it for yourself?

Join us at Recovery Base for your first float session and feel the difference.

Recovery for Every Body.

The complete guide to float therapy