Spas Help the Sleep-Deprived

While we’re happy to report that the 2014 Healthy Hairdresser Survey indicates a majority of salon professionals getting seven or eight hours of sleep, a worrisome 36% of respondents reported averaging six or fewer hours of sleep each night. The spa segment of our industry is trying to do something about our national sleep deprivation problem.

“Time and time again we hear that sleep is crucial to our overall wellbeing, and there is a reason for that,” says International SPA Association (ISPA) Medical Advisor Dr. Brent Bauer, director of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at the Mayo Clinic. “The number of health concerns associated with lack of sleep is astonishing. Sleep is critical.”

Studies show that lack of sleep may decrease someone’s ability to adequately complete a task, concentrate and make decisions, as well as impacting aging and risk of developing diabetes. The spa industry is on the case!

“The number one reason worldwide for visiting a spa is to learn how to manage stress,” says ISPA President Lynne McNees. “By getting your stress under control, you in turn have a more restful sleep.” Spas targeting sleep issues include:

*Yelo Spa, New York City, where guests can reserve a private chamber for 20-40 minutes, specifically designed to facilitate sleep.

*Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, AZ, which hosts an “Are You Sleeping?” workshop that outlines the body’s activities during sleep so that guests can craft a plan that works with the body’s natural abilities to sleep well. Miraval also offers a “Tranquil Nights” sleep-inducing body scrub and massage service.

*Allegria Spa at Park Hyatt, Beaver Creek, CO, which offers the “Slumber Massage,” incorporating aromatherapy oils and hot stones into a Swedish massage that transitions the guest into a deep state of relaxation aided by custom music and sounds. The treatment ends with a 20-minute nap accompanied by a scalp or foot massage.

Salon pros, heal thyselves! To improve your sleep, spa professionals recommend:

*Schedule your bedtime and your wake-up time according to the number of hours of sleep you need.

*Spend time “winding down” approximately two hours before bedtime. Stop phone calls and watching television; read or listen to music instead.

*Condition yourself for sleep: Create a routine around the act of getting ready for bed, and make your bedroom as visually pleasing and comfortable as possible.