Why a massage makes you sleepy
Sleep comes more easily when your body is warm, your muscles are loose and your mind has stopped racing. A gentle massage brings all three. Small studies have found better sleep after massage in groups as different as office workers and new parents; most guests simply notice they fall asleep faster that night.
The best massages for sleep
- Aroma Harmony: gentle pressure with warm aromatic oils. Ask for lavender if you like it.
- Swedish Serenity: long, slow strokes over the whole body.
- Abhiyanga Ritual: warm herbal oil, rhythmic strokes; deeply relaxing at the end of a long week.
- Avoid booking a firm deep tissue session just before bed if you are new to it: it can leave you a little sore that night.
When to book
An evening visit works best: you go home relaxed instead of back to your desk. Take a warm shower, eat lightly and keep screens away for the hour before bed to make the most of it.
Habits that help between visits
- Go to bed and wake at the same time, weekends included.
- Keep the bedroom cool, dark and quiet.
- No caffeine after the early afternoon.
- A few minutes of slow breathing in bed: in for four, out for six.