Trying to beat insomnia? Get better sleep with these 7 relaxing therapies

This article was first published in Her World by Karen Fong. Read the original piece here.

We all know the drill, for years statistics and research have been telling us that Singaporeans get awful sleep. Last year, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy called it a public health crisis, citing a recent survey of 43 cities and sleeping habits which showed that Singapore was the third most sleep-deprived city. Only one in four people are getting more than seven hours of sleep daily, and only 17 per cent of respondents sleep through the night.

While it’s easy to dismiss the stats and argue this shows we are working harder than everyone else, that doesn’t translate well health-wise. Lack of sleep has been associated with mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and has even been linked to issues with obesity. 

Fortunately, there has been a greater push lately to make sure better sleep is being incorporated into our wellness routines – or at least to ensure our wellness routines aid in better sleep. But it’s not just therapies and treatments that can help, it also has to start within. “More has to be said about rituals and routines,” says Kathy Gabriel of Soma Haus, who has noticed in the last three years, an increase in clients who report challenges such as insomnia, restless sleep or difficulty winding down.”The cues that we give our brain and body are important. At Soma Haus, we emphasise a holistic approach to sleep health. Regardless of what treatment they are coming in for, we always encourage clients to also focus on stress management, sleep hygiene and body awareness. The more tuned into themselves the easier it is to know what pillar of rest they should focus on.” 

The treatments listed here are not just about finding the deepest form of relaxation, they are also about creating rituals that can help you shut the outside world out and focus on winding down.

Soma Haus Sleep Remedies

Over in the East at Soma Haus, the wellness sanctuary offers a number of treatments which founder Kathy Gabriel says can help in improved sleep quality; these are floatation therapy, hyperbaric chambers and craniosacral therapy. While the first two are quite well-known (floatation therapy is being immersed in a saltwater bath that causes the body to feel a sense of weightlessness, and hyperbaric therapy is a chamber containing increased pressure so your lungs can gather more oxygen), craniosacral therapy is less well-known and involves a therapist working on the body’s craniosacral system including the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. “When people struggle with sleep, their cerebrospinal fluid (which is what moves the metabolic waste in our brain) doesn’t flush properly and impacts the entire body and the nervous system. CST works a lot with down-regulation but also structural change, promoting relaxation and reducing stress, both of which are critical for better sleep,” explains Kathy. 

Check out other wellness centres and services that can help you kick insomnia and rest deeply. Read the full article here.