The inability to easily fall asleep and stay asleep is a big problem for many people. Occasional sleeplessness can be manageable, but consistent issues with getting a restful night’s sleep can cause daytime drowsiness, which in turn, can affect one’s performance at work or the ability to function at day-to-day tasks. It also could impact your health, with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reporting that insomnia, experienced by 30% of adults, is linked to such conditions as diabetes, stroke, obesity, heart disease and cancer.
“This continues to be an issue in our society. People are looking for sleep; it’s so crucial and we’re learning how important it is to keep those circadian rhythms intact,” said Marci Howard-May, director of spa and wellness with Sagestone Spa at Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah.
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The inability to easily fall asleep and stay asleep is a big problem for many people. Occasional sleeplessness can be manageable, but consistent issues with getting a restful night’s sleep can cause daytime drowsiness, which in turn, can affect one’s performance at work or the ability to function at day-to-day tasks. It also could impact your health, with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reporting that insomnia, experienced by 30% of adults, is linked to such conditions as diabetes, stroke, obesity, heart disease and cancer.
Though, many people rely on supplements or prescription drugs to address insomnia, long-term use of sleep aids are not desirable, prompting many people to seek out more natural remedies. With a view toward providing customers with solutions for their most pressing issues, many spas offer treatments specifically designed to promote sleep.
“This continues to be an issue in our society. People are looking for sleep; it’s so crucial and we’re learning how important it is to keep those circadian rhythms intact,” said Marci Howard-May, director of spa and wellness with Sagestone Spa at Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah.
Sleep Retreats
Along with lots of fun, enjoyment and sightseeing, a good night’s rest is the best outcome you could hope for on vacation. But, can you imagine going to a resort for the sole purpose of sleeping? Sleep retreats/resorts are becoming popular, such as the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, which give guests the opportunity to learn about sleep and practice good sleep habits while sleeping in a bed that helps reset your circadian rhythm.
A similar concept exists at the Sensei Wellness Retreats at both the Lānaʻi, Hawaii and Los Angeles locations. Vishal Patel is the president and chief medical officer with the company; he explained that insomnia is a clinical diagnosis, but the non-diagnostic space is where the "wellness" component resides. “It is intended to be non-diagnostic and non-therapeutic. We don’t treat or diagnose diseases; we focus on lifestyle and behavior, because science has shown that changing our lifestyle, habits and behavior can be a better remedy to these types of chronic issues,” he said.
Sensei’s Rest and Recovery program relies heavily on wearable devices, like an aura ring, that will measure sleep and wake cycles. The data helps people understand their sleep quality. “The other aspect of the program involves promoting a conversation with the self and the body. Sleep and sleep hygiene begins with self-awareness and what you’re doing through the day that may or may not be facilitating sound sleep. That conversation is best prompted through a coach, so we have guides that help you unravel your bedtime routines and your habits,” said Patel. In addition to coaches, the experience also includes spa experiences and well-being classes. The end goal is to have guests emerge with tips to continue sleep awareness and good sleep practices at home.
Related: 11 Weirdest Cures for Insomnia
Sleep Focused Massage/Combination Treatments
Massages in general can be beneficial for sleep, as they encourage relaxation. “The pressure and soothing techniques used in massage can help ease muscle tension, calm the nervous system and create a sense of tranquility. This relaxed state can make it easier for individuals to unwind and feel more at ease as they prepare for rest,” said Jacqueline Berry, director of spa and well-being at Miraval Resorts & Spas.
Sleep-focused massages often include elements that evoke other senses besides touch, like olfactory and auditory. A popular massage at CIVANA Wellness Resort and Spa in Carefree, Arizona is called the Unwind-Aromatherapy Massage. Spa treatment manager, Briana Richardson, said that the massage incorporates a blend of lavender, blue tansy, green mandarin, and roman chamomile that specifically focuses on the nervous system and promotes the unwinding of the mind, along with slow, rhythmic movements. “The treatment is designed to engage the parasympathetic nervous system to relax and restore homeostasis and allow for a better night’s sleep,” she said.
In response to guest feedback, Miraval’s Berkshires location in Lenox, Massachusetts has developed the Sweet Slumber Massage, which includes a combination of aromatherapy, acupressure and tapping techniques. “It features a neck and shoulder massage, rhythmic rocking, and the use of relaxing lavender oil. Additionally, warm magnesium-steeped towels are used to help dissolve tension. This treatment differs from a traditional massage by integrating these specialized techniques and soothing elements specifically designed to support a restful experience,” said Berry.
Sagestone Spa at Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah offers a Sleep Tonic Massage, unique in that it includes and ends with singing bowls to help quiet the mind and achieve a meditative state. Singing bowls originated in the Himalayans, and though they are used for other purposes such as spirituality and music, they are often used in Buddhist cultures for meditation and relaxation purposes. “Sound is a pressure wave; that wave is pushing through your body which helps release tension, emotional blockages, and it is really relaxing and gets you into a deep meditative state within a few minutes so you can relax and enjoy sound,” said Howard-May, adding that the treatment can be combined with acupuncture.
Like the Sleep Tonic Massage at Sagestone Spa, Miraval in the Berkshires uses Vibrational Sound Therapy, which Berry described as “…uniquely tuned singing bowls placed on the body to deliver therapeutic vibrations that relax muscles and calm the mind. Another option is the Hara Soother, which combines massage with a focus on the abdominals, scalp, and reflex points, along with guided breathwork and lymphatic dry brushing. This treatment helps balance the body, stimulate digestion, and support mental clarity, fostering a deeper sense of relaxation and connection to your center.”
Herbal Sleep Cocoon is a 90 minute treatment at Ethos Day Spa in Grand Rapids, MI, an ecofriendly spa that utilizes sound therapy and an organic body scrub and massage, in which a client is enveloped in a body wrap for a cocoon-like experience. The primary purpose of this full body exfoliation is to help dissolve physical and emotional blockages and promote relaxation and healing. Jeka Henderson is the spa coordinator and said that her spa is one of the few throughout the US that offers this specific treatment, which is based on a protocol developed by Voya, an Irish organic skin care company.
“This specific treatment combines wellness and massage techniques; both are designed to decompress and relax the mind and body to promote that sense of calmness and peace and serenity. We feel like this treatment utilizes a few different senses, each have their own way of invoking a sense of peacefulness and relaxes tightly-strung muscles,” said Henderson.
For example, clients are encouraged to tap into their sense of smell by taking deep breaths in the beginning of the treatment. After they’re sprayed and rinsed off, clients are wrapped in luxuriously thick body butter, complete with a scalp treatment and exposure to Tibetan singing bowls, for sound therapy.
“A lot of our clients who have had this treatment say it relaxes them so much that they felt they went to another planet,” said Henderson. In the future, the spa is planning on bringing in a CBD sleep facial oil designed to promote sleep. “I predict we will bring that on and that will gain a lot of traction. We are moving toward more wellness treatments, and sleep is monumental for health and wellness,” said Henderson.
Because of the prevalence of insomnia in society, and the proven benefits of certain targeted spa treatments, it might be time to re-evaluate your spa menu to incorporate services that promote sleep.
Hilary Daninhirsch is an award-winning writer who lives in Pittsburgh.
