World Sleep Day: 'Sleep retreat' searches have increased by 1,100%! Why is this and where you can you travel for a sleep retreat?
'Sleep retreat' searches have increased by 1,100%! Why is this and where you can you travel to for a sleep retreat?
World Sleep Day (March 17th): Did you know that the number of people Googling 'sleep retreats' have increased by 1,100% in the past month alone, proving that sleep-focused holidays are gaining more momentum within the travel industry?
With this in mind, Martin Seeley, the CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay has shared why more people are choosing to go on sleep retreats, what the benefits of going on one are, and what to expect should you decide to go on one.
What is a sleep retreat, and what can you expect at one?
As the name suggests, a sleep retreat is a trip where the holidaymaker focuses on getting deep, restorative sleep whilst being taught how to build healthy sleep habits by experts at the retreat. Many people go because they have trouble falling asleep at night because their minds are racing with thoughts about work or life in general. Others have trouble staying asleep due to stress or anxiety about what tomorrow may bring. Some have even been diagnosed with insomnia by their doctor and told that they need help sleeping better in order to function properly during the day.
Some of the most common services provided on these kinds of holidays include:
- Massages and other forms of bodywork: Massages are often used as a way to relax and reduce tension. They can also be helpful in treating various health conditions, including stress-related disorders, muscle aches and pains, headaches or other ailments.
- Reflexology: Reflexology is a form of alternative medicine that involves applying pressure to different points on your feet to promote overall well-being. It's believed that reflexology stimulates nerve endings in your feet that correspond with every part of your body. The idea is that stimulating these nerve endings can help regulate key organs in your body, which may improve their function and lead to better overall health.
- Yoga classes: Yoga is another popular form of relaxation therapy that involves physical postures (asanas) combined with breathing exercises (pranayama). Some yoga practitioners believe that practising yoga regularly can help them achieve greater levels of peace and calmness through meditation — which is one reason why many people take up yoga during their vacations!
- Meditation classes: If you're looking to learn more about the many benefits of meditation, you can check out some introductory meditation classes at your local yoga studio or community centre. Many people believe that meditation can help reduce stress levels by slowing down breathing and heart rate.
- Sleep doctors: Sleep doctors are trained to diagnose and treat sleep disorders, which can include insomnia and other problems that affect your quality of life (such as snoring). They will then provide advice on how to overcome these problems and improve your sleep quality and duration.
Sleep expert reveals seven factors making this travel trend more mainstream
Martin Seeley said, "As you can see, the number of people Googling 'sleep retreats' have increased by 1,100% in the past month, suggesting that this niche travel trend is on its way to becoming more mainstream. However, for full clarity, sleep tourism isn't a whole new concept. It's been around for centuries — think of all those artists who used to visit Paris or Rome just to paint or write — but it has become increasingly popular among people in the past couple of years."
Martin has, however, raised the seven factors driving this trend:
1. People aren't getting enough restorative sleep.
Whilst the reasons why people seek out sleep treatment vary from person to person, people simply aren't getting enough restorative sleep. For example, between 50 and 70 million Americans have sleep-related problems, as do 16 million Brits, which is worrying given that sleep helps the body maintain healthy cognitive functioning and physical performance. It also helps us learn new information and consolidate memories. And finally, lots of studies show that a lack of sleep can make you more prone to depression or anxiety as it can affect your moods and emotions.
2. The growth and influence of social media
The growth of social media has made it easier for people to share their experiences with friends and family members. This has made travel trends more visible and accessible to a wider audience
3. People want to try new things, otherwise known as the "experience economy"
The rise of the "experience economy" has made it more important than ever for businesses to offer unique experiences that customers can't get anywhere else. Naturally, this had led to people expecting more from their holidays, whether it's practising yoga or having access to unique spa treatments. Sleep tourists are no exception; they want to try something different from what they're used to at home by spending time being able to focus on their sleep, and everyone in the hotel feels the same way, too.
4. Wellness practices have become much more popular
It's driven by technology - many people now use apps like Sleep Cycle or Headspace to track their sleep patterns and try to improve them. And many people have become more aware of how important meditation and mindfulness are for their mental health, which has led them to seek out yoga retreats or meditation centres overseas where they can practice these skills more regularly.
5. People are working longer hours and getting poorer sleep
More people are working longer hours than ever before which means they're getting less restful sleep at night. This has led many people to seek out sleep tourism as a way of getting their much-needed rest
6. Air pollution can affect your sleep
Air pollution is becoming an increasingly serious problem across many cities in the world which can negatively affect our ability to get quality rest at night time. As a result, travellers are looking for alternative places to stay that are cleaner and more breathable than their home cities.
7. More people are becoming more health conscious
People are becoming more health conscious, and this trend is especially prevalent among younger generations. Sleep tourism offers a chance for people to relax and sleep in a clean environment without worrying about bed bugs or other pests that can infest hotels and hostels when travelling abroad.
Treat yourself to a restorative getaway, uninterrupted REM and a top-quality sleep experience
Check into a secluded slice of Myconian paradise to find your inner Zen at Kenshō Ornos, Mykonos
From the moment you step into Kensho Ornos, you'll be enveloped in a world of peace and tranquillity, where every detail is designed to ensure your ultimate comfort and well-being. With its chic bohemian aesthetic, the 5* boutique hotel is the perfect destination to disconnect, reconnect and recharge. This hidden treasure features a Zen Room whose minimalist contemporary design creates the perfect atmosphere for deep and restorative rest. Complete with luxury amenities by Hèrmes, the hotel is the ultimate place to getaway for a restorative and relaxing holiday.
After soaking up some well-deserved shuteye, slip on your bathrobe and slippers and head to the hotel's cave spa – the only of its kind in Mykonos! There you can indulge your senses by selecting from an array of unique treatments.
This month, the hotel is offering a special promotional package with discounted rates on select room types with a minimum 2-night stay that includes a 30-minute cave spa experience, free 10-minute back and neck massage, complimentary signature cocktails and a Kenshō memory gift upon check out.
Try psammotherapy to break your Insomnia Cycle at Nova Maldives
The newly-opened soft-luxury resort, Nova Maldives is bringing the beach inside with the introduction of psammotherapy (hot sand therapy) at its EsKape Spa, inspired by the ancient practice of the Greeks, Egyptians and Moroccans, a re-emerging trend that remains largely unheard of to many.
The treatment involves lying on a special tilting table and enveloping the body in hot sand to slowly warm it up, triggering a zero-gravity inversion feeling that creates a strangely soothing sensation with many benefits, including relief for insomnia and muscular aches while encouraging deep relaxation. Guests will also experience a healing sound bath and massage as part of the process to enter a peaceful headspace where worries melt away.
Committed to being rooted and soulful, Nova offers a wholesome experience for guests seeking a marine retreat that will leave you feeling refreshed. Perched overwater upon the whimsical blue of Nova's lagoon, Eskape spa has all your wellness needs and wishes covered, featuring three blissful treatment rooms, a Thai Sala, a relaxation room, and a yoga pavilion.
To learn more about Nova Maldives click here.
Become a sleep ninja! Learn how to be awake and asleep at the same time at ACRO Suites, Crete
Perched on a quiet cliffside in Crete, ACRO Suites is a luxury boutique resort centring on wellness that offers blissful retreat experiences for those looking to take a break from life to reconnect with themselves amid cinematic backdrops in rooms, suites and villas with naturalistic design.
This season, the resort is introducing a NEW weekly yogic deep relaxation session on Sunday evenings that taps into the practice of yoga nidra (conscious yogic sleep) induced by guided meditation, making sure guests centre themselves and aiding in creating the perfect wellness ritual. The practice ensures the body gets its rest while the brain remains awake, with studies showing the increased time spent in deep sleep by reducing sympathic and increasing parasympathic nervous activity.
ACRO suites also invested in top-of-the-line Simmons mattresses that are hypo-allergenic, aerated, and bactericidal, an inclusive pillow menu to suit your sleep preferences alongside an organic pillow mist spray to ensure a good night's rest for all guests.
Introducing a new signature Lake Como sleep ritual at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Wellness seekers will surely delight in the new Lake Como Sleep Ritual at the sumptuous T Spa, a multi-award-winning oasis of serenity situated at Grand Hotel Tremezzo (Lake Como, Italy). The 110-minute total body experience draws on the beneficial properties of plants and herbs indigenous to the lake to promote deeper sleep, beginning with exfoliating followed by a muscle-relieving treatment before concluding with a relaxing massage.
Experience a restful night's sleep at The Peninsula Hotels with "Life Lived Best"
Last year, The Peninsula Hotels launched a comprehensive new wellness and sustainability programme called Life Lived Best. This brand-wide initiative provides all guests at all Peninsula properties with unprecedented opportunities to pursue their fitness, mindfulness, and nutritional goals.
As part of the Life Lived Best programme, The Peninsula Hotels took on a brand-new partnership with Breethe; a ground-breaking meditation app whose guided audio programmes are preferred by users all over the world. This is Breethe's first global hotel partnership. Every Peninsula hotel offers guests a selection of Breethe content, including guided meditations, relaxing bedtime stories and soothing music, which are available on guests' personal devices or streamed to their in-room TVs.
Guests are also able to experience a special "Sleep Well, Wake Up Well" aromatherapy experience, featuring Ayurvedic essences from Subtle Energies that promote evening rest and morning energy. Each hotel also offers relaxing or invigorating spa-style baths drawn by Peninsula wellness experts in guests' own bathrooms, using mineral-rich salts and aromatic or therapeutic essential oils from Subtle Energies and/or VOYA.
The Peninsula Bangkok offers guests a Subtle Energies Sleep Support Therapy treatment at their holistic spa. This 120-minute clinical therapy is based on ancient practices to assist sleep concerns and insomnia, resulting in emotional and hormonal balance. The treatment begins with a full body Blissful Marma Massage to release tension and bring the body's rhythm back to balance the emotions, release stress and anxiety. The treatment concludes with a Yoga Nidra, which will further assist with relieving stress and help towards a restful night's sleep.
Unwind with a Tranquillity and Sleep Enhancing Programme at Marbella Club, part of The Leading Hotels of the World
Located on Marbella's spectacular Golden Mile, Marbella Club – part of The Leading Hotels of the World- is a luxury beachfront resort boasting enchanting gardens, elegant guest rooms and beautiful beaches.
Guests can unwind with the hotel's Tranquility and Sleep Enhancing programme, which uses evidence-based techniques proven to improve sleep. The gentle programme includes an extensive variety of therapeutics including a sleep-inducing ritual; Tibetan singing bowl vibrational massage; hydramemory facial; stress-reducing ritual; marine magnesium or calcium wrap; personal guided meditation or yoga sessions; and lifestyle and nutrition consultation with Quest.
www.lhw.com/hotel/Marbella-Club-Hotel
Buchinger Wilhelmi
Celebrating over 100 years of the Buchinger method, the Buchinger Wilhelmi wellness clinic in Lake Constance was founded by Dr Otto Buchinger who was a medical doctor, philosopher, and pioneer of medical fasting. Complete with approximately 150 rooms distributed across six residences, the serene clinic boasts eight themed gardens, a large Kneipp facility, heated outdoor pool, sports grounds, a teaching kitchen, massage department, sauna, gym and more. Every year, 3,000 guests benefit from the expertise of the clinic's 10 doctors and 40-strong team of certified experts, capable of more than 250 different treatments in the areas of massage and relaxation therapy, fitness, physiotherapy, nutrition, and psychotherapy.
Studies were carried out where guests at Buchinger Wilhelmi were asked about their sleep. Around 20% answered that when they fasted, they noticed that their sleep patterns were different. Despite the fact that in the first few days of fasting guests typically sleep less, they tended to wake up feeling far more refreshed. Some guests even claimed that they jumped out of bed like a small child. On the first day of resuming food intake after fasting, some patients reported that their sleep patterns returned to normal and that they felt less refreshed in the morning.
A stay at a Buchinger Wilhelmi clinic is also time away from everyday routine, with a different rhythm and more time to oneself. Fasting leads to a more structured daily routine, which is also one of the most important prerequisites for a good night's sleep.
For more information and advice on fasting, integrative medicine, mindfulness and health-conscious nutrition tune into Buchinger Wilhelmi's podcast or YouTube channel.
Combat tiredness with Sleep Therapy at The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa
Once a personal residence in the city's leafy Sandhurst outskirts, the hotel marries contemporary comfort with classic South African design, excellent culinary offerings based on traditional dishes and flavours, and a holistic approach to wellbeing at the two-storey Saxon Spa. Set within 10 acres of lush, landscaped grounds, the hotel comprises 53 luxury suites, six swimming pools, a private library, two restaurants, a bar, wine cellar, piano lounge and more.
For the tired or jetlagged, a 30-minute sleep therapy treatment at The Saxon's state-of-the-art Spa is the equivalent of four hours of undisturbed sleep. Guests are encouraged to settle onto the flotation bed and allow programmed lighting to aid them in drifting off to a restful sleep. Expert spa therapists are present to guide guests through a body treatment designed to enhance relaxation.
Wake up feeling refreshed with a "Grandmothers Hug" at Palmaïa - The House of AïA
Located in the heart of Riviera Maya, Palmaïa - The House of AïA is an exclusive beach enclave and environmentally conscious sanctuary offering a progressive wellness concept designed to awaken and enhance the connection between humans and nature through immersive jungle & beach experiences.
Atlantis Spa
Set within the jungle, the Atlantis Spa, home to its very own natural cenote, offers a programme of transformative holistic treatments including the ancient Temazcal ceremony. Carried out by the master healers, the treatments are designed to achieve inner harmony by working on different energy centres to facilitate being in the eternal present. The five treatment temples feature floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the jungle. There is also the Avalon Beauty Room offering manicures, pedicures, and hair treatments, as well as a fully equipped fitness centre.
"Abrazo de las abuelas" ("Grandmother's Hug")
"Abrazo de las abuelas", also known as a "Grandmother's Hug" is one of Palmaïa's most traditional treatments. Therapists use a combination of massage techniques and essential oils, such as rosemary and basil oil, to provide a therapeutic massage experience.
The warmth from the heated basalt stones soothes tense muscles and promotes a sense of calmness throughout the body. The use of specific essential oils such as rosemary and basil has a calming effect on the mind, helping to reduce anxiety and promote a restful night's sleep, helping individuals fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
Palmaïa is based around the all-inclusive 'Gifting Lifestyle' concept which means guests enjoy unrestricted access to all the daily wellness classes, Rituals of Sound series, Awen Kid's Club, à la carte meals and beverages, pool and beachside service, bike-sharing service, Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service and more. www.thehouseofaia.com
