Pulse July 2017 | Page 50

treatments can help those who suffer from sleep disorders in many ways as it is the perfect setting to boost relaxation, manage stress, eat healthy and practice guided physical activity,” adds Dr. Martins. “First things first, an accurate diagnosis will make all the difference in administering the most beneficial treatment.” Kurotel Longevity Medical Center and Spa offers a Polysomnography test, which is a sleep study that detects primary sleep disorders. In addition to this test, Kurotel offers a very specific program to identify and treat sleep disorders through a stress and anxiety assessment. This diagnosis tool, based on scientific evidence, matches up the disorder at hand with special therapies such as sleep hygiene, behavioral cognitive therapy, meditation, yoga, Watsu, Shiatsu, and massage sessions, which can all help treat sleep disorders The Spa at Ojai aims to teach guests tools like proper yoga and mediation that they can use to improve their sleep at home. 48 PULSE ■ July 2017 at the origin and not just the symptoms alone. As most spas don’t have access to these extensive tests, it can be difficult to hone in on exactly what your customer is searching for. A one-on-one consultation between client and therapist before the first treatment can work wonders in getting to the root of a guest’s individual problem and allows your therapist to customize treatments to their specific needs. Another great idea might be to partner with a local sleep clinic or specialist to provide their patients with special sleep therapies. A partnership like this could mean more accurate treatments as well as additional referrals to the spa. Helping Guests Recognize Relaxation “Certain sleep disorders require medical attention and evaluation. Many people, however, suffer from stress related sleep disorders,” says Ilana Alberico, founding partner and CEO of Innovative Spa Management. “The stress can be positive or negative but either way it affects their ability to stay and fall asleep. Regular visits to the spa can aid in developing a habit of recognizing relaxation.” When guests receive a spa treatment, they are given a space to focus on nothing but relaxation: their breathing changes, thoughts shift, they relax. The environment is also enhanced for guests through aromatherapy, high quality linens, lighting, and music. By helping guests recognize this sensation of relax- ation, you can teach them to foster it again at home through altering breathing, observing thoughts, meditating and using aromatherapy. Alberico adds, “Once at home, guests can use the same relaxing aromatherapy