For the last seven summers, we’ve traveled to Portland for the annual Float Conference, a place where float enthusiasts from around the globe gather to share stories, present research, show off new technology, and uncover new ideas for the future. This year’s visit to Portland felt just a little bittersweet, as it’s the final year that this event will be hosted by the original Float Conference Team. Needless to say, it also left us feeling grateful for the tremendous progress we’ve made as an industry and still eager to see the where future takes our industry.

As always, this year’s conference was filled with an overwhelming sense of community and featured a wide variety of presenters from all different divisions of the flotation world. As the full video presentations make their way onto the conference website, here are our top three takeaways from this year:

 

1. 1. LIBR receives a grant from the NIH to study flotation therapy as a long-term treatment for anxiety. Dr Justin Feinstein unveils the results from a recent study measuring what happens in both the body and the brain during a float session. The study includes patients spanning the spectrum of different anxiety disorders, including PTSD, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Phobia, and Generalized Anxiety. This groundbreaking research has clinically identified that flotation therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety. Floating can reduce symptoms of anxiety for 20-36 hours after the float, but it also significantly increases feelings of peace and well being.

 

1. 1. The launch of ClinicalFloatation.com. Created by the team at LIBR, this new website provides a database of news and publication sources that reinforce how floating is able to powerfully counter the deleterious effects of stress in modern life. If you have been looking for a comprehensive list of all the peer-reviewed studies and publications behind flotation therapy – look no more!

 

1. 1. Poonacha Machaiah of the Deepak Chopra Institute founder of Above Technologies and ex-CEO of Qyuki, discussed how floating covers practically all of the eight limbs of yoga. One of those eight limbs, Pratyahara, is a practice of deep relaxation and the withdrawal of the mind from it usual pursuits. Sound familiar? Pratyahara practices lead to a profound state of relaxation, expanded self-awareness, and inner stability, helping us master both body and mind for optimal health.

 

From everyone here at True REST, we extend a heartfelt thank you to Graham, Ashkahn and the entire Float Conference team for the dedicated years of hosting this event. We thought it only would be appropriate to turn back the clock and share some highlights from our most cherished memories at the Float Conference.

 

1. The Debut of the Float Pod in 2013:

Before we were a national brand, the original True REST team from Tempe, AZ announces the technology that will drive the future of True REST – The Float Pod.

2. Float Conference 2014:  Launching True REST Franchising
The following year, we launched our franchise model. Our first franchisees and executive team were in attendance to wave the True REST flag high!

3. Nick Janicki and friends on The Float Podcast

Nick interviews 2015 conference attendees on their takeaways and discusses how the float industry emerged from a $4 Million a year hobbyist movement to quickly approaching a $100 million niche industry.

4. The True REST concept Float Pod
A glimpse into the  future’s potential with the entire True REST franchisee family in attendance as the 2016 conference main sponsor.

5. The “Final” Float Conference
Graham and Ashkahn close out the 2018 Float Conference in Portland with the full Float Conference crew!

We’ve certainly come a long way as an industry. As we prepare to gather this month for our own annual True REST convention, we’re excited to be along for the journey. We know the future of floating is looking bright for us all.

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