How Urban Float Renews Bodies, Refreshes Minds and Revives Senses Through Clinically Proven Floatation Therapy

Joe Beaudry floated for the first time in 2011. He was looking for a natural way to improve his memory and focus while decreasing stress so that he could excel in his career. His experience—better sleep, increased optimism, and a heightened sense of well-being—blew him away. Two years later, Beaudry co-founded Urban Float alongside now-CEO & Chairman Scott Swerland with the mission to dramatically improve everyday people’s lives through the clinically proven physical, emotional and mental health benefits of floatation therapy. Urban Float is now available all around the U.S., with 10 current franchise locations—and counting.

The physical benefits Urban Float offers are unlike any other therapies available on the market today. It’s no wonder floating has been recommended by NBA players Steph Curry and Harrison Barnes. Floatation therapy aids in post-workout recovery, reduces chronic muscle tension and eases everyday aches and pains. In fact, floatation has been proven to help relieve even the worst experiences of pain, an invaluable benefit for those suffering most.   Professional sports teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys have gone so far as to install floatation tanks in training facilities. And Urban Float has sold float pods to the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians.

The mental relief of floating is just as transformative.  “I just float for clarity and stress relief and to unwind” says Co-Founder Joe Beaudry.   

Clinical studies have shown the therapy to significantly reduce stress, one of modern society’s most common shared ailments. With the ever-rising popularity of casual yoga and meditation, Americans continue to search for a natural way to increase mindfulness—and therapeutic floating has emerged as the answer. Urban Float guests fully disconnect from everything outside of the pod and unplug from distractions. Improving mindfulness has real-world benefits that keep clients coming back - guest report that they see productivity, creativity, and mental focus soar.  “I can’t tell you how many guests come from a float and say to me ‘I just haven’t felt this good in years”, continues Beaudry.

Further, floating has clinically proven emotional benefits as well, including heightened feelings of overall well-being. Floaters report enjoying a more optimistic outlook on life, with these benefits increasing the more often an individual floats. Clinical studies have even found floating to measurably decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. And with less pain, depression and anxiety also comes more restful nights, sustaining the restorative qualities day in and day out.

Urban Float’s state-of-the-art pods are specially designed to eliminate outside noise for a completely unplugged spa-like experience. Guests are given full control of the light in the room and pod to personalize an environment that puts them most at ease. Weightlessly relaxing in pristine, purified water precisely matched to body temperature and filled with 1,200 pounds of Epsom salt, guests are kept entirely afloat with zero effort, allowing the body and mind to be completely at-rest.

While floating has been around for millennia, the scientific benefits have been studied in a clinical environment since the 1950s. “Urban Float takes the science of float-therapy seriously, and we focus on published, peer-reviewed research,” explained Gabe Goldberg, Chief Marketing Officer at Urban Float. “There are some myths about floating, so we want to make sure that when we talk about the benefits, everything we say is backed by legitimate data.  We hired a third-party physician to validate research findings and teach us how to best talk about all the incredible benefits of floating.”

Urban Float’s thoughtful approach even snagged the company an investment offer from Mr. Wonderful Kevin O’Leary on the television show Shark Tank, before accepting guest judge Matt Higgins’ offer.  Urban Float is thrilled the business achieved its overall goal of reaching viewers with a message of effective & safe relief through floating.

“Shark Tank received 46,000 applications from brands, and we were one of the just 96 to air,” said Scott Swerland, Urban Float co-founder, CEO & Chairman. “The experience of being on Shark Tank was an epic personal experience. But the real thrill was to be able to talk about the positive benefits of floatation therapy to people around the country and world.”

Urban Float doesn’t just rely on state-of-the-art technology and science. To enjoy the full benefits of this revolutionary service, guests are treated to a high-touch customer experience from start to finish. With nearly a lifetime of retail service experience, Scott Swerland designed the entire customer process with an end-to-end approach that keeps customers coming back.

Included in the experience are soothing waiting rooms, pristinely filtered water, and expert-construction builds that block out sound—even if on a busy downtown street—so guests are guaranteed a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of  the real world. It’s no wonder so many first-time customers become passionate advocates of Urban Float.

“There’s never been a time in history when we’ve been more connected than we are now.  Smartphones, social media, smartwatches, tablets have left most of us unable to turn off noise.  Many customers talk to us about the blurred lines between work, family, and personal time. People used to be able to leave work and then spend time with family. Now, you’re getting texts from co-workers while you’re coaching your child’s weekend Little League game.  Everyone is trying to cope with balance” said Goldberg. “People have come to us and said, ‘This changed my life. People often don’t realize the compound effect of all these stressors being introduced into their lives until they hit a crisis point. We want to help people better manage that stress.”

“Customers tell us that floating has become a moment of isolation in the day where they can take a break, really reconnect with themselves, and then show up in a more present way for other people in their lives.”