Skincare brand Comfort Zone has teamed up with neuroscientist and skin expert Dr Claudia Aguirre to create a massage to promote better sleep. The Tranquility Pro-Sleep Massage targets three senses – smell, hearing and touch – to clear the mind and create a deep level of relaxation.

The limbic system is stimulated with oil and massage cream, while a specially created soundtrack provides a slow, hypnotic rhythm. The massage is inspired by ayurveda and Malay massage, kneading movements are replaced by gentle touches and overlapping hands, as well as the use of soft brushes to induce relaxation.

“The repetitiveness of the music becomes familiar to our brain and enables the mind to disconnect since there’s nothing new to process and disturb it,” says Dr Aguirre. “While the gentle touch and the alternated and combined use of two extremely soft brushes stimulates nerve fibres, the C fibres, which have been identified as conveying pleasant sensations to the brain.”

Aromatherapy Associates has been selling products to help promote sleep for over 30 years, with Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil being the most popular. The company has just introduced two sleep experts to its panel of advisors: Dr Neil Stanley – who has more than 35 years of sleep research behind him and Terrence the Teacher – a clinical hypnotherapist, mindfulness expert and NLP coach.

CEO, Tracey Woodward, says interest in sleep and relaxation is growing as spas offer more related services to guests and people become more aware of how important sleep is in terms of repairing their mind and body. Many spas are now offering one of two Aromatherapy Associates’ sleeping kits based on the Deep Relax, De-Stress and Renewing Rose ranges. This May, the company will be launching an in-room Sleep Ritual with selected spas, hotels and resorts. Aromatherapy Associates also offers a Sleep Guide which spas can give to customers after treatments if they’re having sleep problems.

From the outset, sleep has been central to the concept of US urban day spa brand, YeloSpa, which gives guests the chance to have a kip after their massage, in the patented Yelo Cab sleep pod.

This hexagonal cabin features curved walls, LED lights, aromatherapy scents and a zero gravity bed. Guests can control the sound, lighting and smell and are woken up after their session by a simulated sunrise. And the concept is set to go international as YeloSpa prepares to expand via franchising.

“Initially people thought we were crazy to offer napping as an option, but now they see us as visionary,“ says Nicolas Ronco, CEO of YeloSpa. “We felt there was huge potential to help people with their sleep problems, so we’ve built an environment conducive to a quick relaxation effect. Sleep is the backbone of our model and because of it we have a much higher frequency of visit than the average day spa, with guests visiting two to three times a month.”

Underwater Dream, a signature sleep treatment in a tranquil underwater treatment room, has just launched at Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives. Clients rest on their back, mesmerised by tropical fish and coral, while a therapist starts at the feet with reflexology and shiatsu methods to promote relaxation. Breathing techniques are incorporated to complete the energy circuit in the body and further promote sleep. A soothing massage on the head, neck, arms and legs completes the offering.

The treatment has been designed to take the power of touch to another level and has been created by Beata Aleksandrowicz, co-founder of the Pure Massage Spa Training Method.

Swiss health resort Grand Resort Bad Ragaz runs an established sleep diagnostics programme which examines an individual’s sleep and gives them solutions to work with at home. It involves a consultation, laboratory tests to check the metabolism and uses video polysomnography to measure sleep. Guests receive comprehensive documentation of examinations and recommendations, which they can then discuss with their own GP, if necessary.

“We’ve been offering our sleep diagnostic programme for years, however, it had been used very little until recently, because the subject of how sleep affects health has been neglected by medicine,” says managing director, Mark Däppen. “Now there’s more dialogue on the subject of sleep, we’re seeing greater interest, with up to 100 examinations annually.”