“Around the world, chronic sleep problems are growing exponentially due to upended routines, more screen time and irregular physical activity, increased food and alcohol consumption, and dissolving boundaries between work and private life.”
ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS LAUNCHES NEW SLEEP ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Holistic and multi-disciplinary wellness program addresses sleep disorders.
This month is National Sleep Awareness Month. An award-winning destination spa and wellness retreat Ananda in the Himalayas introduces a new holistic program for sleep enhancement. The multi-disciplinary wellness program addresses the growing global phenomenon of sleep disorders. A luxury wellness retreat on a 100-acre Maharaja’s Palace Estate in the Himalayan foothills overlooking the spiritual river Ganga and Rishikesh valley, Ananda in the Himalayas’ new Sleep Enhancement Program utilizes lifestyle modifications, dietary corrections, Ayurveda including Panchakarma and Shamana therapies, Yoga and Emotional Healing, Traditional Chinese Medicine including Acupuncture, Cupping, and Moxibustion. The program aims to improve sleep quality, energy, and attention, and remove associated memory difficulties, cognitive dysfunction, or fatigue.
Sleep Disorders: A Growing Global Phenomenon
The quality and quantity of sleep are essential to one’s health and well-being, renewing bodily functions, mental abilities, and sensory perception. Around the world, chronic sleep problems are growing exponentially due to upended routines, more screen time and irregular physical activity, increased food and alcohol consumption, and dissolving boundaries between work and private life. Circadian misalignment induced by sleep deprivation could lead to inflammation, cardiovascular conditions, hypertension, obesity, attention disorders, mood, and anxiety disorders, and depression but the underlying cause of chronic sleep issues and holistic solutions are rarely addressed.
Ananda in the Himalayas’ Ayurvedic Approach
From an Ayurvedic perspective, different constitutions and bioenergies have an impact on sleep. The Vata-type tends to experience irregular sleep patterns and tends to sleep fewer hours than other types. Pitta-types generally sleep well and crave a moderate amount of sleep but can easily forego sleep when they are preoccupied or up against a deadline. Kapha-types are heavy sleepers and are not easily disturbed or awakened but when out of balance, experience feelings of heaviness and sluggishness.
The first step is to introduce certain dietary corrections to remove incompatible, indigestible foods while avoiding overheated spicy food and excessive consumption of stimulating foods. Ayurvedic Brimhana diet is introduced which nourishes the dhatus (tissues) and balances Vata and Pitta. Lifestyle modifications are next which include yoga and physical movement early in the day, setting bedtime and wake-up times, drinking herbal teas and infusions that use herbs such as Ashwagandha, saffron, cardamon, Brahmi, and more, to calm the mind, relax nerves and support a sound, restful sleep.
Breathwork and meditation are incorporated into the nighttime sleep preparation routine along with herbal supplements to pacify Vata and Pitta and relax the mind. Panchakarma therapies followed by shamana therapies such as Abhyanga (full body massage), Pada Abhyanga (foot massage), Netra Tarpan (eye ritual), and Shirodhara (healing technique focused on the third eye chakra) are very beneficial in harmonizing body and mind.
Ananda in The Himalayas’ Oriental Therapy
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), yang energy is active during the day, and towards evening the yin energy takes over to induce a sense of calm. An imbalance in this rhythm causes sleep issues. An over or under stimulative liver and heart energy are some of the primary reasons to experience sleep disturbances. TCM remedies for sleep enhancement at Ananda are acupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion along with restoring the yin and yang balance through diet and food therapy and herbal infusions.
Yoga and Sleep Enhancement
Yogic practices within the program commence by starting the day before sunrise with asanas, pranayama, and meditation and practicing Yoga Nidra (psychic sleep) at sunset. This reaches the subconscious region of the mind going closer toward the bridge of wakefulness/sleep border which is the beginning of the sleep cycle. Mantras are gradually incorporated to create positive vibrations and aid the sleep process.
Emotional Healing and Sleep Enhancement
Emotional Healers at Ananda address sleep enhancement by working on the subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy has been found to be extremely effective with sleep-related disorders. Energy balancing of the auric field helps release any impressions or incompletions from people and events in one’s life that could be subconsciously affecting them. These techniques help understand the root cause of the sleep disorder and provide people with tools like self-hypnosis to decompress on a daily basis to aid with better emotional health and sleep hygiene.
Sleep Enhancement Program Goals
Creates improvement in sleep quality and/or time causing an improvement of energy and attention and removal of any associated memory difficulties, cognitive dysfunction, or fatigue. The secondary goals are to educate to manage work-life balance, reduce stress and anxiety levels, and teach traditional methods to handle mental disturbances in an effective way.
Ananda in the Himalayas Sleep Enhancement Program Includes:
- Program available from 7 nights, 14 nights recommended for optimal results
- Pre-arrival assessment of sleep issues and lifestyle
- Individual consultations with a team of experts including Ayurveda, Yoga, TCM, and Emotional Healers
- Customized wellness meal plan based on Ayurvedic principles
- Average of 2 therapies / personal sessions per day across Ayurveda, Yoga, TCM, and Emotional Healing
- Program price range based on the season – from $800 to $1000USD per night in single occupancy plus applicable government taxes based on accommodation in a Deluxe Palace/ Garden View room
