Although sleep is essential to health and wellbeing, nearly 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems. Recognizing the severity of the issue, spas are offering creative solutions like never before to help spa-goers get a better night’s rest. While destination spas were the first to tackle this ongoing problem with on-site sleep experts, resort and day spas are now addressing it with a variety of sleep-themed offerings. In fact, Woodhouse Day Spas (multiple locations) is debuting a collection of sleep treatments this month that encourages spa-goers to get some much-needed shut-eye, and they’re certainly not alone in doing what they can to lull guests to sleep.
The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale (AZ) also recently introduced a new Sleepytime Services menu that includes the Nighttime Repair Facial ($195, 50 minutes) and the Dream Weaver Massage ($225, 80 minutes), both of which can be booked after 3 p.m. each day. “Sleep tends to be forgotten as a powerful element in our overall wellbeing, especially when it comes to the health of our skin,” says spa director Lia Rowland. “At night is when our skin is most receptive to healing and when our body repairs and rejuvenates itself.” On the menu at Anantara Spa Phuket (Thailand), jet-lagged travelers can opt for the In-Villa Anantara Phuket Sweet Dream—Lullaby Sleep Therapy ($183, 1 hour 55 minutes), which features a purifying foot soak, a mulberry tea bath, and a balancing massage before they’re cocooned in essential oils.
At YeloSpa (New York City), facials and massage are on the menu but so is napping. Guests in need of a brief catnap can take advantage of the YeloCab Nap ($1 per minute, 20 to 40 minutes), which takes place inside of a patented treatment cabin with a Zero-Gravity YeloBed and customizable aromatherapy and sound settings. Founder and CEO Nicolas Ronco was a trailblazer when it came to merging sleep and spa. Although he opened the first YeloSpa in 2007, the idea of helping spa-goers to sleep more soundly has only grown. According to him, sleep, or lack thereof, has a huge influence on heart issues, weight gain, and even depression. “Natural sleep is really the secret to good health,” says Ronco.
Getting a good night’s sleep has become so elusive for some that Corinthia Hotel London offers a sleep menu based on balancing blood sugar levels to help guests avoid cravings, which may prevent them from relaxing. Designed by nutritional therapist Jeannette Hyde and executive chef Garry Hollihead, the menu is available at ESPA Life at Corinthia, as well as throughout the hotel. Says Hyde, “Of course, there are many factors that can disrupt sleep, but eating food of excellent provenance containing quality proteins, vitamins, and minerals can only be a good thing if you want to feel better and sleep better.”