Keeping the balance between work and wellbeing is never easy; it requires constant readjustment and effort. With that in mind, Camille Pierson, founder of Float Spa, works meticulously to ensure her business and happiness can coexist.
Float Spa is a ‘hidden haven’ in Hove providing yoga classes, floating, massage therapy and much more to nearly 30,000 clients. Central to its practice is floatation therapy. Camille explained that a float session is all about relaxation. “It’s doing absolutely nothing for an entire hour in your own pod filled with 500kg of Epsom salts and a thousand litres of water.” We live in such a busy and overstimulating world that the ability to do nothing for an hour is of huge benefit to our bodies and minds.
When Camille was first introduced to floating as a form of therapy, she was in a tricky headspace. “I was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression, and was working in a horrendously stressful job, so I know what it’s like to hit burnout. I vowed to never get back to that dark place again.”
Floating was her entryway to prioritising self-care in every aspect of her life. Now, she diarises her own schedule of personal wellbeing in her diary on a Sunday. While she might not work a normal nine to five, Camille ensures she takes time out where needed to take a class or have a float.
Exercise is another important facet of Camille’s self-care. While she was at school, exercise for Camille was her escape from bullies or not fitting in. It has been an important part of her life ever since.
She now runs triathlons with her club in Brighton. “This incredible community trains all disciplines, every day of the week – and then you’re surrounded by these amazing specimens of humans who constantly inspire me.”
With her own carefully managed wellbeing, Float Spa is Camille’s way of reaching out to and supporting her local community. When she founded the business, external validation of her efforts through awards was her primary driver. Now it’s all about supporting people.
She explained, “You watch your clients who’ve been in chronic pain and not worked or they’ve gone through cancer and it’s been quite amazing to see how their lives have changed after using Float Spa’s services.”
As well as looking after her clients, Camille works hard to ensure her team of nine permanent employees and over 50 freelance teachers and therapists are well cared for. “My team is my most important asset, so it is vital that they look after themselves.” As well as offering the team free float sessions, she also makes sure they take breaks throughout the day.
Camille is also aware that being a yoga instructor or massage therapist can be quite isolating. For this reason, she has started running meet-ups every six weeks. This helps create a sense of community and support among her team. The extent to which this has paid off is evident when you look at her employee retention rate – a rarity for the industry. Yoga teachers working at Float Spa do not leave, with some teaching for the organisation since 2016.
To ensure her business was as well cared for as her mind, Camille began working with MDHUB. She was introduced to the MDHUB through the judging process for the Brighton & Hove Business Awards. MDHUB sponsored the Business Pivot Award in 2021, and Camille and her team went on to be the very worthy winners for that year.
Camille then enrolled on the Coast To Capital Peer Programme which was delivered by MDHUB. She subsequently joined the organisation as a member. She finds the peer-to-peer workgroups particularly valuable as a sounding board and source of continued advice and inspiration.
“People in my group have already been there, done that and worn the T-shirt. The whole point is that they can help you.”
These workgroups have been particularly useful during the process of moving Float Spa to a new premises after months of renovation. Having a group of experienced professionals from a range of industries on hand to offer advice has been invaluable as she navigates the tricky process.
Float Spa’s new location on Church Road, Hove doesn’t just provide more room. It is also much more accessible to those with physical disabilities, something she takes pride in.
The new site also includes a post-treatment relaxation room called The Dream Room in what was once an old bank vault. This special space provides somewhere to decompress and process after a class or treatment, meaning clients don’t immediately have to step out of Float Spa onto the busy high street.
Float Spa officially reopened in September last year, with Camille’s workgroup including facilitator Kerry Kyriacou in attendance to celebrate. We’re excited to see Camille and her team continue to bring wellbeing to their community in this new era of Float Spa.
www.mdhub.co.uk
www.thefloatspa.co.uk
