Floating for Athletic Recovery

“Hard work requires hard recovery.”

-Steve Fraser, Olympic Wrestling Coach

Every athlete knows the importance of training. Training is integral in the path towards progress. It is the stimulus that pushes us to grow. The growth itself, however, actually happens during recovery.

That seems to be a hard concept for some of us to grasp. We tend to want to put our heads down and grind through our plateaus. All that grinding often leads to burnout and setbacks, and sometimes it leads to injury. The key to getting the most out of your training, and to reaching your athletic goals, is to put just as much thought into your recovery as you do into your workouts.

For many, floating can be the catalyst you need to increase your body’s ability to bounce back and hit the trail, gym, or slopes even harder the next time. Let’s look at several different aspects of recovery, and how floating affects each one.

Tissue repair

Our float tanks are filled with 900 pounds of magnesium salt. Magnesium is necessary for protein synthesis, which repairs the muscles after a work-out. It also assists with calming the nervous system and facilitating proper nerve function.

Floating also increases blood flow, thus delivering nutrients more effectively to healing tissues.

Hormonal support

Stress, like the kind that comes from exercise, raises our stress hormones. Floating relaxes the body, thus lowering stress and freeing up resources to produce anabolic hormones (hormones that build and repair). The magnesium absorbs through your skin and assists in the production of those hormones.

Inflammation reduction

Floating has been shown in studies to decrease blood lactate and pain post-workout. Magnesium has been shown to lower inflammatory markers.

Re-hydration

Magnesium is an electrolyte lost through sweating. Floating replenishes magnesium levels and assists with re-hydrating the body.

Immune System

The deep relaxation that occurs while floating combats the negative effects that stress can have on the immune system.

Fatigue Reduction

Removing sensory input frees up the body to recruit more resources for regeneration. It can also facilitate better sleep. Magnesium is important in the making of ATP, the chemical our cells use for energy.

How has floating affected your recovery? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!