How Kairos Float & Wellness Studio's Modalities Support the Menopausal Brain

If you're experiencing brain fog, sleep disruptions, or mood swings during perimenopause or menopause, you're not imagining it. Groundbreaking research from neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi reveals that menopause is a profound neurological transition that reshapes your brain—but her work also identifies a critical midlife window when specific interventions can support brain health and potentially reduce future cognitive decline. In this article, we'll explore how evidence-based wellness modalities like float therapy, infrared sauna, cold plunge, and halotherapy address the exact neurological changes happening during menopause, offering practical, science-backed tools to navigate this transformation with clarity and resilience.

Let's explore each one.

Float Therapy: Giving Your Brain a Complete Rest

What It Is

Float therapy, also known as Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) or sensory deprivation, involves floating effortlessly in a private tank containing 10-12 inches of water saturated with approximately 1,500 pounds of Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). The water is heated to skin temperature (around 93-94°F), and the environment is light- and sound-reduced, allowing you to experience near-weightlessness in complete sensory quiet[5].

The Neuroscience Behind Floating

When you float, something remarkable happens in your brain. Without the constant barrage of sensory input—no gravity to fight, no sounds to process, no visual stimuli—your brain can finally rest. Research shows that about 40 minutes into a float session, brain wave patterns shift from normal waking states (Beta and Alpha waves) into deeper Theta and even Delta states[5].

Theta waves are typically experienced only briefly during the transition between waking and sleeping, but in a float tank, you can sustain this state indefinitely while remaining conscious. This state is associated with deep relaxation, enhanced creativity, and mental clarity.

How Floating Supports the Menopausal Brain

1. Cortisol Reduction and Stress Management

Dr. Mosconi's research shows that brain changes during menopause involve regions that process stress and emotion[1]. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol can exacerbate these changes and interfere with the brain's adaptive processes.

The science on floating and stress is compelling:

• A meta-analysis of 27 studies with 449 participants found that floating significantly reduces cortisol levels (the primary stress hormone) and lowers blood pressure[6]

• Research shows a 22% drop in cortisol levels after a series of float sessions[7]

• The effects on stress reduction are immediate and cumulative with regular sessions[8]

By lowering cortisol, floating may help protect the brain during a vulnerable transition period and support the compensatory mechanisms Dr. Mosconi identified.

2. Sleep Quality Restoration

Sleep disruption is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of menopause—and Dr. Mosconi's research confirms it has neurological underpinnings related to disrupted circadian rhythms[1].

A randomized controlled trial found that float therapy significantly improved sleep quality, particularly in participants with chronic stress. The deep relaxation achieved during floating helped people carry that relaxed state into their daily lives, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep[8].

Sleep is critical for brain health, affecting everything from memory consolidation to cellular repair. By improving sleep quality, floating supports the very processes the menopausal brain needs to adapt and recover.

3. Cognitive Function Support

Remember Dr. Mosconi's finding that subjective cognitive decline in menopausal women was associated with altered brain mitochondrial bioenergetics[9]? Floating may help address this.

Research by neuroscientist Dr. Justin Feinstein at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research has shown that floating:

• Decreases activity in the brain's salience network (involved in stress response)

• Produces immediate, significant reductions in anxiety, muscle tension, and sadness

• Creates "robust relaxation" that supports mental well-being[10]

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By giving your brain a break from processing sensory information (which typically consumes about 90% of brain activity managing gravity and sensory input), floating frees up neural resources for rest, repair, and restoration.

4. Magnesium Absorption

The 1,500 pounds of Epsom salt in float tanks isn't just for buoyancy—it's also a source of magnesium that your skin absorbs during the session. Magnesium supports:

• Nervous system regulation

• Healthy brain and heart function

• Stress reduction

• Improved sleep quality[11]

  
  

Many women become magnesium-deficient during menopause, making this transdermal absorption particularly valuable.

Infrared Sauna: Energizing Your Cells and Brain

What It Is

Unlike traditional saunas that heat the air around you, infrared saunas use invisible light wavelengths to penetrate deep into your body's tissues. Kairos offers a full-spectrum infrared sauna that includes:

• Red/Near-Infrared light: Penetrates deepest, stimulating ATP (cellular energy) production

• Mid-Infrared: Improves circulation and metabolism

• Far-Infrared: Closely matches your body's natural heat wavelengths for deep, gentle warming[12]

Sessions typically last 20-45 minutes, with the infrared light penetrating up to 1.5 inches into your skin.

The Science of Infrared and Brain Health

The therapeutic effects of infrared therapy go far beyond simple heating. Near-infrared light, in particular, triggers a process called photobiomodulation—it directly stimulates mitochondria (your cells' energy factories) to produce more ATP[12].

This is significant because Dr. Mosconi found that brain mitochondrial ATP production correlated with preservation of cognitive performance post-menopause[1]. By supporting cellular energy production, infrared therapy may help maintain the brain's energy metabolism during a time when it's challenged.

How Infrared Sauna Supports the Menopausal Brain

1. Addressing Menopause-Related Symptoms

A randomized controlled trial published in 2011 found that treatment with far-infrared heat (20 minutes, twice weekly) significantly decreased menopause-related symptoms in postmenopausal women, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood disturbances, and cognitive symptoms[13].

Counterintuitively, using heat to combat hot flashes actually works. Research suggests that regular infrared sauna use (three times weekly) can stimulate the production of proteins that regulate body temperature and may even influence estrogen levels, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes[14].

2. Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Regulation

Dr. Mosconi identified disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms as key neurological symptoms during menopause[1]. Infrared sauna therapy directly addresses this by:

• Promoting relaxation through endorphin release

• Putting the body into a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state

• Creating a natural post-sauna cooling effect that signals the body it's time to sleep

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Research published in Sleep Medicine Reviews shows that raising body temperature through heat therapy before bedtime triggers a cooling response that improves sleep onset and quality[15]. Many women report improved sleep with just a 20-minute sauna session before bed[14].

3. Mitochondrial Function and Cellular Energy

This is where infrared therapy directly supports Dr. Mosconi's findings. Her research showed that mitochondrial ATP production was critical for cognitive preservation post-menopause[1].

Near-infrared light therapy:

• Directly stimulates ATP production in cells through photobiomodulation

• Supports cellular repair and wound healing

• Enhances cellular function throughout the body, including the brain[12]

By supporting mitochondrial function, infrared sauna may help maintain the energy metabolism that Dr. Mosconi identified as essential for cognitive health during menopause.

4. Mood Support and Depression Relief

Menopause involves neurological changes that can affect mood, with depression and anxiety being common symptoms[1]. Infrared sauna therapy:

• Increases production of endorphins (natural mood elevators)

• Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety through relaxation

• Creates a calming environment that supports emotional well-being[16]

  
  

5. Inflammation and Pain Management

Research shows infrared therapy significantly reduces inflammation and alleviates pain. A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that infrared saunas can reduce inflammation markers and improve conditions involving chronic pain[17].

Since inflammation can affect brain health and is often elevated during menopause, reducing systemic inflammation may indirectly support the neurological transition Dr. Mosconi documented.

Contrast Therapy: Training Your Brain's Stress Response

What It Is

Contrast therapy involves alternating between temperature extremes—in Kairos's case, between the infrared sauna (warm/hot) and the cold plunge tank (typically around 50-55°F). This creates rapid, controlled changes to your cardiovascular and nervous systems[18].

The protocol typically involves:

• Warming in the infrared sauna (10-20 minutes)

• Immersing in cold water (2-5 minutes)

• Repeating the cycle 2-3 times

  
  

The Physiology of Contrast Therapy

When you're in the hot sauna, your blood vessels dilate (vasodilation), increasing blood flow to your skin and periphery. When you plunge into cold water, your blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction), pushing blood back toward your core and vital organs.

This alternating creates a "vascular workout"—your circulatory system gets pumped in both directions, improving overall cardiovascular function and blood flow throughout your body, including to your brain.

How Contrast Therapy Supports the Menopausal Brain

1. Enhanced Cerebral Blood Flow

Here's where contrast therapy directly supports Dr. Mosconi's findings. Her research showed that menopausal brains compensated for volume and metabolic changes with increases in cerebral blood flow in affected regions[1].

Contrast therapy provides rapid changes to blood flow throughout the body. While research hasn't specifically examined contrast therapy's effects on cerebral blood flow during menopause, the vascular training effect likely supports the brain's compensatory mechanisms that Dr. Mosconi identified.

2. Autonomic Nervous System Regulation

Dr. Mosconi's research documented thermoregulation disturbances during menopause—the classic hot flashes and night sweats that disrupt so many women's lives[1]. These symptoms reflect dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system.

Contrast therapy trains the autonomic nervous system to become more resilient and balanced. By repeatedly challenging your body to rapidly adapt to temperature changes, you're essentially teaching your nervous system to regulate more effectively—potentially reducing the severity of thermoregulation symptoms over time.

3. Stress Resilience

The controlled stress of alternating hot and cold builds what researchers call "stress inoculation"—your body becomes better at handling stress in general. Given Dr. Mosconi's findings about stress-related brain changes during menopause[1], building stress resilience through contrast therapy may provide protective benefits.

4. Inflammation and Recovery

Research shows contrast therapy helps reduce inflammation and accelerates recovery from physical stress[19]. By reducing systemic inflammation, contrast therapy may indirectly support brain health during the menopausal transition.

Halotherapy: Salt Therapy for Stress and Respiratory Support

What It Is

Halotherapy, or salt therapy, involves inhaling micro-particles of dry pharmaceutical-grade salt in a controlled environment. While you relax in a salt room, a halogenerator grinds salt into tiny particles that you breathe in, where they can reach deep into your respiratory system[20].

How Halotherapy Supports Menopausal Wellness

While halotherapy doesn't have direct research links to brain changes during menopause, it provides valuable complementary support:

1. Stress Reduction

Halotherapy promotes relaxation and stress reduction through the calming environment and the therapeutic effects of salt[20]. Given Dr. Mosconi's findings about stress-related brain changes during menopause[1], any practice that reduces stress supports overall brain health.

2. Respiratory and Immune Support

Improved respiratory function supports better oxygenation and circulation throughout the body, including to the brain. While indirect, this systemic support contributes to overall wellness during the menopausal transition.

3. Complementary Relaxation

Kairos recommends using halotherapy before float therapy or infrared sauna, creating a progressive relaxation protocol. Starting with halotherapy can deepen the relaxation response in subsequent treatments, maximizing the stress-reduction benefits that support brain health.

The Power of Combination: A Holistic Approach to Menopausal Brain Health

What makes the offerings at Kairos particularly powerful is how these modalities work synergistically. Dr. Mosconi's research shows that menopause is a dynamic neurological transition affecting multiple brain systems simultaneously[1]. A single-modality approach may not adequately address this complexity.

By combining these evidence-based therapies, you can address the menopausal transition from multiple angles:

For Stress and Cortisol Regulation:

• Float therapy directly lowers cortisol

• Infrared sauna triggers endorphin release

• Halotherapy provides calming effects

For Sleep and Circadian Rhythm:

• Float therapy improves sleep quality

• Evening infrared sauna sessions facilitate sleep onset

• The combined stress reduction supports better sleep patterns

For Cellular Energy and Metabolism:

• Infrared (especially near-infrared) stimulates mitochondrial ATP production

• Enhanced circulation from contrast therapy delivers nutrients and oxygen

• The stress reduction from all modalities reduces energy-draining cortisol

For Circulation and Blood Flow:

• Contrast therapy provides vascular training

• Infrared sauna improves circulation

• These support the cerebral blood flow increases Dr. Mosconi identified as compensatory mechanisms

For Cognitive Function:

• Float therapy gives the brain deep rest and recovery time

• Infrared therapy supports cellular energy production

• Stress reduction across all modalities protects cognitive resources

  
  

The Critical Midlife Window: Why Timing Matters

Dr. Mosconi's research on hormone therapy timing has crucial implications for all midlife interventions. Her meta-analysis found that midlife estrogen therapy was associated with significant dementia risk reduction, but late-life therapy showed no benefit[3,4].

This suggests there's a critical window during perimenopause and early post-menopause—roughly ages 45-55 or within 10 years of the final menstrual period—when interventions may have the greatest impact on long-term brain health[4].

This is the time to:

• Support your brain's adaptive processes

• Reduce chronic stress that can impair those adaptations

• Support cellular energy production and mitochondrial function

• Maintain healthy circulation and inflammatory balance

The wellness modalities at Kairos offer non-pharmaceutical ways to support your brain during this critical window, potentially influencing your cognitive trajectory for decades to come.

Practical Recommendations: How to Use These Modalities

Based on the research, here's how you might incorporate these therapies into your routine:

Frequency Guidelines

Float Therapy:

• Start with 1-2 sessions per month to get acclimated

• Build to 1-2 sessions per week for optimal stress reduction and sleep benefits

• Sessions are typically 60-90 minutes

Infrared Sauna:

• Aim for 3-4 sessions per week for menopause symptom relief[14]

• Start with 20-minute sessions and gradually increase to 30-45 minutes

• Evening sessions (1-2 hours before bed) support better sleep

Contrast Therapy:

• 2-3 sessions per week provide good vascular training

• Always start with heat and end with cold

• Listen to your body—never push into distress

Halotherapy:

• Use as a complement to other modalities

• Particularly beneficial before floating or sauna to deepen relaxation

• Weekly or bi-weekly sessions provide good support

Creating Your Routine

A comprehensive weekly routine might look like:

• Wednesday: Float therapy (for stress and cognitive rest)

• Thursday: Halotherapy followed by infrared sauna

• Friday: Contrast therapy (sauna + cold plunge)

• Saturday or Sunday: Float therapy or infrared sauna

The key is consistency. Dr. Mosconi's research suggests the brain's adaptive processes unfold over time[1], so regular, sustained practice will likely yield the best results.

Important Considerations

Hydration: All of these therapies (especially sauna and contrast therapy) require good hydration. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after sessions.

Medical Conditions: If you have cardiovascular conditions, are pregnant, or have other health concerns, consult your healthcare provider before beginning these therapies, particularly contrast therapy.

Listen to Your Body: Every woman's menopausal experience is unique. Pay attention to how you feel and adjust the frequency, duration, and combinations to what works best for you.

The Science-Backed Approach: Why Kairos?

Kairos Float & Wellness Studio is uniquely positioned to support women through menopause because it's founded on scientific principles. Dr. Rebecca Harris, PhD in Physiology from East Carolina University, created Kairos with a passion for sharing research-supported benefits of alternative health modalities[21].

This science-backed approach aligns perfectly with Dr. Mosconi's emphasis on evidence-based interventions for women's brain health. Rather than following wellness trends, Kairos offers therapies with substantial research backing their efficacy.

Moving Forward: Empowered and Informed

For too long, menopause has been misunderstood and under-researched. Women have been told their cognitive symptoms are "all in their head" or simply a normal part of aging they must accept.

Dr. Mosconi's groundbreaking research changes this narrative entirely. Menopause is a real, measurable neurological transition—but it's also one the brain is equipped to handle through remarkable adaptive processes. And as her research suggests, there's a critical midlife window when supportive interventions may have lasting impacts on cognitive health.

The wellness modalities offered at Kairos Float & Wellness Studio provide evidence-based, non-pharmaceutical tools to support your brain during this transition. By addressing stress, sleep, cellular energy, circulation, and nervous system regulation—all factors Dr. Mosconi identified as critical during menopause—these therapies may help your brain successfully navigate this transition and emerge resilient.

Your menopausal transition is not a decline—it's a transformation. With the right knowledge and tools, you can support your brain through this change and set the stage for cognitive vitality for decades to come.

Take Action

If you're in the Greenville, North Carolina area and experiencing perimenopause or menopause, consider exploring the science-backed wellness modalities at Kairos Float & Wellness Studio. Located at 2800 E. Tenth St., Suite 102, Kairos offers a comprehensive approach to supporting your brain and body through this critical life transition.

Kairos Float & Wellness Studio 2800 E. Tenth St., Suite 102 Greenville, North Carolina 27858 Phone: (252) 298-7749 Website: www.kairosfloats.com

Whether you're dealing with brain fog, sleep disruptions, stress, or simply want to proactively support your brain health during menopause, these evidence-based modalities offer a path forward grounded in solid neuroscience.

Remember: Your brain is remarkable, adaptive, and resilient. Give it the support it deserves during this transformative time.

Scientific References

[1] Mosconi L, Berti V, Dyke J, et al. Menopause impacts human brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism, and amyloid-beta deposition. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):10867. PMID: 34108509

[2] Mosconi L, Jett S, Nerattini M, et al. In vivo brain estrogen receptor density by neuroendocrine aging and relationships with cognition and symptomatology. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):12680. PMID: 38902275

[3] Nerattini M, Jett S, Andy C, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of menopause hormone therapy on risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023. PMID: 37937120

[4] Mosconi L, Nerattini M, Williams S, Fink M. New Horizons in Menopause, Menopausal Hormone Therapy, and Alzheimer's Disease: Current Insights and Future Directions. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025. PMID: 39815764

[5] Kairos Float & Wellness Studio. What is floating? Retrieved from: https://www.kairosfloats.com/what-is-floating

[6] van Dierendonck D, Te Nijenhuis J. Flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) as a stress-management tool: A meta-analysis. Psychol Health. 2005;20(3):405-412.

[7] Fine TH, Turner JW Jr. The effect on relaxation and sleep of flotation REST. Conscious Cogn. 1995;4(1):70-75.

[8] Jonsson K, Kjellgren A. Beneficial effects of treatment with sensory isolation in flotation-tank as a preventive health-care intervention – a randomized controlled pilot trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014;14:417. PMID: 25344737

[9] Mosconi L, Williams S, Carlton C, et al. Neurophysiological correlates of subjective cognitive decline in perimenopausal and postmenopausal midlife women at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Menopause. 2025;32(5):433-442. PMID: 40067757

[10] Feinstein JS, Khalsa SS, Yeh HW, et al. Examining the short-term anxiolytic and antidepressant effect of Floatation-REST. PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0190292. PMID: 29394251

[11] Hope Floats USA. About Floating in a Sensory Deprivation Tank. Retrieved from: https://www.hopefloatsusa.com/flotation-therapy/about

[12] Kairos Float & Wellness Studio. Infrared/RED Light Sauna. Retrieved from: https://www.kairosfloats.com/infrared-sauna

[13] Liu CC, Weng CF, Yen SF, et al. Local thermal therapy effects on menopausal symptoms and bone mineral density. Climacteric. 2011;14(6):679-685. PMID: 22104026

[14] Sunlighten. Discovering Menopause Relief with Infrared Sauna Therapy. Retrieved from: https://www.sunlighten.com/blog/menopause-relief-with-infrared-sauna-therapy/

[15] Harding EC, Franks NP, Wisden W. The Temperature Dependence of Sleep. Front Neurosci. 2019;13:336.

[16] Soejima Y, Munemoto T, Masuda A, et al. Effects of Waon therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study. Intern Med. 2015;54(3):333-338.

[17] Oosterveld FG, Rasker JJ, Floors M, et al. Infrared sauna in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. A pilot study showing good tolerance, short-term improvement of pain and stiffness. Clin Rheumatol. 2009;28(1):29-34.

[18] Kairos Float & Wellness Studio. Cold Plunge/Contrast. Retrieved from: https://www.kairosfloats.com/copy-of-infrared-sauna

[19] Higgins TR, Greene DA, Baker MK. Effects of Cold Water Immersion and Contrast Water Therapy for Recovery From Team Sport: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(5):1443-1460.

[20] Kairos Float & Wellness Studio. Halotherapy. Retrieved from: https://www.kairosfloats.com/blog/categories/halotherapy

[21] Kairos Float & Wellness Studio. About the Owner. Retrieved from: https://www.kairosfloats.com/about-the-owner

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. The information presented is based on current scientific research and the services offered by Kairos Float & Wellness Studio. Always consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any new wellness regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications. Kairos Float & Wellness Studio is not a medical facility and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.