💦 Why do some of the biggest names in sports attribute part of their success to floating?
Relaxation techniques like floating have become very popular strategies among elite athletes recovering from the psychophysiological demands of training and competition.
In 2021, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became Super Bowl champs with star quarterback Tom Brady at the helm. Would it surprise you to know that Brady incorporates regular floats into his training regimen? The previous year, the Kansas City Chiefs took home their first title in 50 years, again with regular float sessions as part of their training. The Los Angeles Dodgers floated during their dramatic 2018 season; Steph Curry, the Golden State Warriors, JJ Watt, several USA Olympic teams, and UFC fighter Pat Healy are just a few more of the many pros that utilize floating to achieve and maintain their competitive edge. For decades now (the Dallas Cowboys famously used float tanks in the 1980s), floating has made a difference for thousands of pros the world over. So what is it about floating that benefits all athletes, pro and amateur alike?
Devoid of any outside stimulation while floating effortlessly in a few inches of saltwater, floatation therapy provides the perfect environment for athletes to work on their inner game. At the 1984 Olympics, Carl Lewis successfully used float therapy to visualize bringing home the gold medal for the long jump – and then (no surprise) did just that. Athletes like the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry, meanwhile, spends tank time picturing hitting perfect 3-point buzzer-beaters in clutch situations – a talent that has helped keep the Warriors at the top of their game.
These pro athletes regularly push their bodies to the limit, so seeking out the most effective treatments for pain relief and recovery makes sense. Several studies have examined the effects of flotation therapy on the physical and emotional demands of training. Floating has been scientifically proven to be an effective method of exercise recovery, improving aspects of performance, pressure-to-pain threshold, perceived muscle soreness, physical fatigue, and sleep quality.
While a number of factors come into play, the soothing Epsom salts in the float tank help tired muscles recuperate and increase blood circulation – which in turn helps bring on faster recovery times. Add injury prevention to the long list of physical benefits, and it’s not surprising that athletes the world over have made floating a big part of their training regimen.
Even if you are not a pro, you can reap the benefits of floating. No matter your sport, use the float tank to visualize what excellence looks like in your sport. Did you know, even a single float session can significantly enhance both physical and psychological recovery following training. Without any adverse effects and significant and meaningful benefits for managing soreness and enhancing performance readiness following exercise, try floating prior to – and directly after – your next sporting event (prior for visualization, relaxation, and confidence – after for pain relief, recovery, and post-game analysis). Book a Float Today. 💦 http://bit.ly/JaxZenFloatNow
Steph Curry speaks to the impact of floating on his game
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