Detox and Decompress: Why Float Therapy and Infrared Sauna Are the Ultimate Wellness Combo

In today’s fast-paced world, self-care is a necessity. Whether you're an athlete, managing chronic stress or fatigue, or simply seeking a full-body reset, combining float therapy with infrared sauna sessions offers a deeply restorative experience that targets both body and mind.

The Synergy Between Float Therapy and Infrared Sauna

Infrared sauna therapy uses light to heat the body from within, stimulating detoxification, circulation, and muscular recovery. Float therapy involves floating in warm water saturated with Epsom salts, creating a gravity-free environment that promotes profound physical and mental relaxation.

Used together, these therapies create a powerful, research-backed synergy:

  • Accelerated Detoxification: Infrared heat stimulates sweating and toxin elimination. Floating supports your body's natural recovery process by activating the parasympathetic nervous system—key to healing and stress relief.

  • Enhanced Relaxation & Stress Reduction: Studies show that float therapy significantly reduces cortisol levels and symptoms of anxiety and depression (PMC4219027).

  • Immune & Inflammation Support: Both therapies improve circulation and help reduce inflammation—ideal for athletes, individuals with autoimmune conditions, or those recovering from illness or burnout.

Which Comes First—Sauna or Float?

For best results, begin with the sauna. Here’s why:

  • Warms Up the Muscles: The sauna loosens tight tissue and prepares your body for the float.

  • Flushes Toxins First: The infrared session primes your system for deeper detox and restoration in the float tank.

  • Calms the Mind: The heat triggers a relaxation response, allowing the float session to extend that calm into deeper rest.

A Sample Sauna & Float Routine

  1. Arrival & Hydration (10–15 minutes)
    Avoid caffeine, hydrate well, and arrive early to get settled.

  2. Infrared Sauna (30–45 minutes)
    Sit back and allow the gentle infrared heat to encourage sweat and detox.

  3. Cool Down & Shower (10–15 minutes)
    Rinse off sweat and let your body return to a neutral state.

  4. Float Therapy (60 minutes)
    Enter the float tank and let gravity, warmth, and silence guide your full-body release.

Backed by Research

According to the Float Research Collective, float therapy has been shown to regulate the nervous system, promote brain wave shifts into deeply relaxed states, and enhance recovery and mood. When combined with infrared sauna’s detox and circulation benefits, it becomes a holistic powerhouse for body-mind wellness.

Who Should Try This Combo?

  • Athletes recovering from intense training or injury

  • Those experiencing anxiety, insomnia, or chronic fatigue

  • People seeking a mindful detox and recovery experience

  • Wellness enthusiasts building a self-care regimen

Final Thoughts

The combination of float therapy and infrared sauna is more than a wellness trend—it’s a thoughtful, research-backed approach to supporting your body’s natural healing processes. Whether you're looking to detox, de-stress, or simply disconnect for an hour, this duo offers a balanced way to recover from modern life. Make it a regular part of your wellness routine and experience the deep, lasting benefits for your body and mind.



References
  • Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in a flotation tank as a preventive health-care intervention – a randomized controlled pilot trial: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4219027/

  • Flotation-REST: https://www.clinicalfloat.org/publications