GoFloat Studios Celebrates Seven Years with Fundraiser for Joseph Brant Hospital’s Mental Health Services
GoFloat Studios, the downtown Burlington studio specializing in sensory deprivation therapy, is marking its seventh anniversary with a special event on June 26 from 5 to 8 PM. The event will offer attendees the chance to purchase float sessions. Proceeds from the event will benefit Joseph Brant Hospital’s Mental Health Services, helping to raise awareness and support for mental health initiatives in the community.
Founded in 2018 by lifelong friends Jan Jaroszynski and Geoff Liang, GoFloat’s inception was the result of a shared vision that began when the two were recent graduates of McMaster University. Liang introduced Jaroszynski to floating during a difficult period in his life.
“Immediately, I knew there was something special about the concept of float therapy. It was the first time in a while that my head was really clear, and I wasn’t really thinking about anything. I came out feeling great.” Jaroszynski recalls.
Jaroszynski experienced benefits to both his mental and physical state. At the time, he was working a physically demanding job, often on his feet for 10 to 12 hours a day. Floating offered a chance to take the load off of both body and mind. Jaroszynski had been struggling with mental health issues, including psychosis and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Even when the business officially opened, Jaroszynski’s experience was muted by ongoing depression. One of the reasons GoFloat Studios’ co-founders are giving back to Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital is their recognition of the benefits of a two-pronged approach to mental health, combining allopathic medicine with floating and other more natural, less invasive methods.
“That’s actually why I brought Jan to a float center in the first place. I thought it could help him, and it did, though there were other factors at play,” Liang says.
Liang’s support for Jaroszynski during his mental health struggles was essential, particularly during the early days of GoFloat Studios. Through their fundraiser for Joseph Brant Hospital, Liang explains that while people often view conventional medicine and holistic alternatives as competing, both are ultimately working toward the same goal.
“I believe the holistic approach helps address the root cause of issues. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, but they shouldn’t be seen as competing. Instead, they should complement each other, as they’re both aimed at the same goal which is helping people become healthier,” says Liang.
GoFloat’s anniversary celebration is a testament to how the practice of floating can be a life-changing experience for health, wealth, and relationships, and how it’s become a vital part of both Jaroszynski and Liang’s holistic approach to health and wellness.
Liang’s first float occurred in a float center operation out of a basement, far from the ideal commercial setting. “I pulled up, and we went down to the basement. It felt like the start of a horror movie,” he says with a laugh. But despite the unconventional setting, the experience was life-changing. “It was a great experience, but I realized it wouldn’t be comfortable for the general public. So I started thinking, how could this work in a commercial setting?”
“I definitely support mental health research, I think it’s very important. If I had struggled with this a hundred years ago, it would’ve been a much different story without modern medicine,” said Jaroszynski. “There’s both a holistic and a conventional approach, and it’s important that everyone finds what works best for them. I think everyone should strive for strong mental health, whether that’s through floating, going on hikes, fishing, yoga, or even just dabbling in exercise.”
