SPA DOCTOR treats... INSOMNIA
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
It has been a very long time since I had a really restful night’s sleep. I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea about 15 years ago and although surgery helped to resolve that problem, the cumulative effect of lots of life’s little stresses have made insomnia a constant foe. I’ve tried herbal treatments, exercise and, very occasionally, my GP provides me (reluctantly) with some sleeping pills.
And yet, a restful night’s sleep continues to elude me. The effect is that I’m left with permanent dark circles under my eyes and I’m constantly exhausted. So when I heard about a Slumber And Restore yoga retreat, offering an annual sleep workshop for recuperation and restoration, it sounded like the answer to my problems.
WHERE’S THE SOLUTION?
Vale De Moses yoga retreat, in a picturesque valley with spectacular views beneath the tiny village of Amieira, near Olieros in central Portugal. Here, guests spend a week on the edge of the wilderness, nurturing their minds and bodies with yoga, clean mountain air, nutritious vegetarian food, and early morning hill walks.
WHAT’S THE TREATMENT?
Daily yoga sessions with the incredibly spiritual and exotically named Vonetta Winter (who runs the retreat with her husband Andrew) are designed for all ages, body shapes and abilities.
Thai massage, acupuncture, cleansing Ayurveda meals and a rustic lifestyle that includes ‘dry’ toilets and cold open-air showers create the perfect mind-set to reset the mind and learn how to improve sleep. Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, a physiologist at the Nightingale Hospital London, specialises in sleep and stress management. She runs three workshops on how to achieve deep, quality sleep.
Some of the lessons now seem very obvious. For example: never bring your work life into the bedroom – it should be a technology-free zone.
I also learned that power naps during the day lasting ten to 20 minutes can help to rejuvenate and give the body more energy.
Another top tip: if you wake during the night, avoid looking at the clock. Instead, lie on your back and try to relax each part of your body, starting from your toes and working up to your head and face.
DOES IT WORK?
I left the retreat feeling more rested than I have in years. I now try to be in bed by 10.30pm, where I meditate to clear my mind before drifting off to sleep to a CD playing sounds of the forest. Courses cost from £370 per person, including accommodation, food and transport to and from the town of Oleiros. TAP Portugal has daily flights from Manchester, Heathrow and Gatwick to Lisbon, with fares starting at £121 return.
flytap.com; valedemoses.com