“ When we developed this conceptually , it was really just understanding that if you want to be taking care of yourself in all the different ways , including sleeping well , one has a lot of things to do ,” Soraparu said .“ It makes it seem like it ’ s unattainable and what we wanted to do is make it attainable and make it in one ecosystem that supported your well-being on all of these fronts .”
They crafted a place that offers solutions to every aspect of a person ’ s life — personally , professionally , emotionally and physically . Members can sign up for a concierge medical plan , use their co-working space , eat in their restaurants , work out with a personal trainer , get spa services or even take a nap in their nap room .
Every member who joins gets paired with an advisor and they do a deep dive into their expectations and goals . They then create a six-month plan .
Their goal for sleep is to help their members have better overall sleep hygiene and health , which means
there is no one-size-fits-all approach or a single service . Instead , they consult with each member and create a plan customized to their needs . This might include acupuncture or IV shots or guided meditations .
“ Just as there is not one way of living well , the same goes for sleeping ,” Soraparu said .“ There is not one quick fix . There ’ s definitely common variables that contribute to sleeping better — not having caffeine too late , watching your nutrition — but there are many other things one can do .”
When a member first tells Bian they are having trouble sleeping , the team conducts an audit of their lifestyle . Most people , she said , have sleep problems for one of three reasons : stress , pain or a medical situation . They then help to create a regimen that fits their needs , such as acupuncture to improve sleep , life or nutrition coaching or medical treatments drawn from both Eastern and Western practices .
“ We always try to look at the lifestyle and all of its variables and if they ’ re hitting the most fundamental things they could do to best set them up for better sleep ,” Soraparu said .
No matter what the type of spa , professionals are looking for new ways to incorporate sleep treatments into their menus , responding to the ever-growing market of people seeking out better sleep .
Most professionals say they continue to tweak their protocols and look for ways to meet the needs of the guests who come to them . As they do so , their guests are responding with gratitude and loyalty .
Wilson said she remembers giving a massage to a man with a highpowered job who was experiencing a lot of stress . He shared how he would put his child to sleep at night by gently stroking her face .
“ I said ,‘ would you like me to end our service today like that ?’ He said yes and ( when I did it ) he fell right to sleep ,” Wilson said . “ I ’ ll never forget that moment . It was so special .” n
BRIDGETTE REDMAN is the co-author of the ISPA publications Retail Management for Spas and SPA : A Comprehensive Introduction , and a Pulse contributor . Her writing focuses on arts and travel , along with marketing , hospitality , education , business and anything else that catches her fancy .
34 PULSE n NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023