The Floatworks is the world's largest and most successful floatation tank centre and is located at 1 Thrale Street in Bankside. Better Bankside caught up with Simon Blake, Directos of The Floatworks.

 

Floatation tanks contain 10 inches of skin temperature water, super-saturated with over 500lbs of Epsom Salts. No matter how big or small the individual, they float effortlessly on the surface. Once settled in the tank, it is impossible to distinguish between the parts of the body in contact with the water and those that aren’t, in effect “fooling” the brain into believing that the individual is floating in mid air. With external stimulation kept to a minimum, the usually dominant logical side of the brain slows down until it synchronises with the creative side, leaving the client in a dreamlike state, similar to that experienced each night just as you are about to drift off to sleep. On emerging from the tank, the client feels totally free of all stress and anxiety, with the effects lasting for several days after.

 

Floatation is invaluable in the treatment of many medical conditions and ailments. Blood pressure and heart rate is reduced dramatically during and after a session, and sufferers of migraine, back pain and arthritis all report noticeable improvements through regular floatation. It is also incredibly effective for sufferers of jet-lag, and women in the latter stages of pregnancy love the gravity-free environment as it removes the strains and pressure placed on the body by carrying children. These benefits have all recently been backed up with research published in Science Daily.

 

We originally chose Bankside in 1993, as we believed that development and regeneration would eventually come to the area. Originally we started the business in Clink Street and at that time is was extremely run down, with most of the wharfs being derelict and empty. We spotted the potential of the area and also enjoyed our 400 year old wharf which backed on to the river Thames.

 

The Floatworks is actually seeking Britain's most stressed out person to conduct an experiment into the effectiveness of floatation tank relaxation therapy. We are confident we can completely de-stress Britain's most frazzled people within a maximum of 5 sessions! So if you feel you are one of them or know someone who is, please contact stressedout@floatworks.com

 

The challenges for 2008 are as always raising the profile of floatation therapy and its many benefits, as there are still so many people that have not heard about the good floating does.

 

I hope that Better Bankside will help us obtain customers and raise awareness with our local business and residential communities.

 

For more information about The Floatworks, call on 020 7357 0111 or visit www.floatworks.com