Getting Your Beauty Sleep

A recent study by the National Sleep Foundation reports that the average American gets 6 hours and 40 minutes of sleep per night (scarily, that is down from the 7+ hours reported last year!). We all know that we need sleep for mental clarity, immunity, and mood stabilization, but did you know that a good night's sleep also provides cellular detoxification and renewal of the skin?

Sleeping is actually the easiest way to look better! Knowing this, it will therefore come as no surprise that many orally administered medications prescribed by dermatologists for skin conditions such as acne and eczema contain small amounts of sedatives; looks like even modern medicine is forcing us to sleep more for enhanced beauty results.

Even if you don't have specific skin problems, puffy under-eyes and a pale complexion is never a good look, so why do we routinely deprive ourselves of this much-needed restoration?

An increased average workday is the top culprit, but other factors such as lifestyle, increased stress levels, and sleep disorders are also to blame. (This whole time I thought it was because Leno doesn't come on until 11:30!)

Ever-dedicated to encouraging all to reach full wellbeing potential, the spa world's answer to this imbalanced dilemma is The Sleep Spa, of course!! One of the top trends in the spa industry in 2008 is the prevalence of sleep programs in the spa environment, according to Spa Finder's CEO, Susie Ellis. That's right, the power nap has returned, and this time, it's trendy! (Just a little note here, the siesta midday break has been more of a staple than a trend in European and Latin countries; are we finally accepting that they may have been on to something this whole time?)

If you pay attention to your inner circadian rhythm, you'll find that there is a late afternoon lull, about 8 hours after you wake up, and that it is natural to want to sleep. So, instead of going for that 4pm coffee jolt, it's actually more natural and beneficial to take a 20-minute nap.

Yelo, a Manhattan-based sleeping haven, is on the cutting edge of this trend. They offer signature YeloCabs, ideal cubbies for optimized napping that can be booked in 20 or 40-minute increments. You can justify a midday visit to your boss by explaining that it's likely that your productivity will increase while your stress will decrease, but you can justify it to yourself by knowing that following your body's natural rhythms will likely keep your skin looking radiant and young.

Look for more dedicated sleep spas and designated sleeping areas and therapies to be incorporated into your local spa soon...sleeping never looked so good.

Will you be a true sleeping beauty?

Prescription: Spa

I am fortunate enough to work in an industry that accepts alternative healing remedies as gospel and encourages participation in indulgences such as beautification and stress relief.

Science tells us that an estimated 90% of our maladies are stress-related, and yet many continue to view the spa as a frivolous luxury. If a traditional spa therapy such as massage has been clinically documented to reduce stress, why, then, do we not proactively treat our troubles?

I would like to share a story about a spa guest who understood the value of the healing spa environment. Andrea was diagnosed with breast cancer and had just finished her last round of chemotherapy when she walked into the spa. Her doctor recommended that she incorporate various stress-reducing activities into her daily life so that her body would, in turn, continue to heal itself without distraction. As most would, she turned to the spa for regular massage therapies.

In today's spa world (fortunately for Andrea!) most spas are also true wellness centers, and can therefore provide even more support than at first glance. Because Andrea was so forthcoming with her intentions and goals for visiting the spa, she was recommended other expertly acknowledged stress reducing disciplines such as meditation, Yoga, and acupuncture.

Having been an athlete much of her life, Andrea recognized the value in cross-training, and applied that same concept in her recovery. She started taking private Yoga sessions and working with a massage therapist and acupuncturist weekly. After 4 weeks, I received a call from her doctor, who was very carefully monitoring her condition, thanking me for our dedication and special attention to his patient. I assured him that her progress had everything to do with her dedication to making stress-reduction a priority in her life.

Clearly this stress-reduced living has its merits, but for many who are time-starved in this stressful world, adding another 'to do' to the list seems very Catch22-ish. Unfortunately, it often takes a 'have to' situation to nudge us in the right direction. Andrea's situation, however extreme, demonstrates the importance of incorporating stress-reducing elements into our daily lives for the betterment of our general health. Identifying wellness centers is as easy as a Google search, yet some of the most well known healing centers exist as destinations (Miraval, Canyon Ranch, Golden Door).

While it's important to maintain a stress-free life, you can jumpstart this by scheduling a week or more in some of these reputable places, all while being monitored by medical doctors. Whichever wellness path you take, remember that your goal is to make you feel better for your greater good, and though it may feel indulgent and extravagant, it doesn't lessen the therapeutic benefits of stress management.

The fact that stress management via the spa environment is increasingly more accepted by the medical community speaks volumes; are you listening?


How do you manage your stress on a daily basis?