Universal Sleep

Do you wake up with a buzz? Do you feel set for the day, or is morning a slug and a slog? Sleep is so important in all aspects of body and mind health, nobody can function without it. This is the time when your body works to repair itself, to be bright and spritely for a new day. Most people it’s fair to say know this, yet in the UK sleep in a recent study, reported that only 1 in 5 Brits got at least 6 hours of sleep a night when the NHS recommends 7-9 hours. There are standard practices for good sleep prep, such as no blue screens before bed, exercising during the day and incorporating lavender into your nighttime routine, certain vitamins, silk pillowcases and more. But do some other countries and cultures drift off into blissful rest and recuperation with a different approach to sleep? and is there anything we can learn? Find out more here in Universal Sleep

Creative direction Jo Phillips Images Jasmine Gillanders

Shot 1 Left-hand side

Sleep.8 Pillow Alpha anatomical pillow is filled with Neo Taktile foam. Perfectly conforms to the shape of the head and keeps the neck in the correct position during sleep. It has the effect of thermoregulation and air permeability. Anatomē Rest + Relax Hand & Body Moisturiser is a calming body lotion that keeps skin nourished and hydrated. With Geranium, Lavender and Lemongrass. Made with only ethically sourced, sustainable ingredients. Anatomē Rest + Relax Hand & Body Wash Infused with essential oils of Lavender, Rosemary and Frankincense, this calming hand and body wash is gently cleansing, naturally moisturising, and nourishing to support the health of the skin after an intense day. For all skin types, even sensitive skin, ideal for use in the evening. Anatomē Recovery + Sleep Cornish Lavender Essential Oil is a better night’s sleep and a bestselling essential oil that supports sleep and calms the mind for deeper rest. Anatomē’s signature, 22-ingredient essential oil is a unique blend of three different types of lavender, Cornish, Himalayan, and Provençal. This formula promotes relaxation and better sleep due to high levels of linalyl acetate and linalool, which reduce the body’s cortisol levels.  Anatomē Reset, Relax + Sleep Magnesium Supplement Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep? Anatomē’s unique blend of Magnesium, L-Theanine, and 5-HTP are supercharged by adaptogens and botanicals to support optimal relaxation and sound sleep. By resetting the mind and relaxing tense muscles, this blend of minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts helps achieve peaceful and restorative sleep and alleviates the twitching, tossing, and turning that can be a problem for many of us as we settle into bed and begin recovery. This formula was specifically created for those with an active, hurried lifestyle and who may exercise in the evenings.

The Spanish, for example, are known to have Siestas which are afternoon naps taken to recharge. Most people participate, even in schools. Whilst over in Japan lifestyles are so hectic that many have taken to utilize “Inemuri”. Meaning sleeping when present, highlights the person’s wants to participate in where they are and what they’re doing but they have been working so hard that they take what we would commonly know as a power nap. It is culturally accepted and can be taken in the middle of the workday. 

Shot 2

Sleep.8 Pillow Alpha anatomical pillow is filled with Neo Taktile foam. Perfectly conforms to the shape of the head and keeps the neck in the correct position during sleep. It has the effect of thermoregulation and air permeability. Cherry Night Tonic Cherry Night is a natural bedtime tonic that combines Morello cherries, red date extract, glycine and magnesium in a pleasant-tasting nutritional nightcap. This unique blend of active ingredients includes Morello cherries – a natural source of melatonin, along with the amino acid glycine and red date extract. The addition of magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue, supports electrolyte balance, the nervous system, normal muscle function, and normal psychological function and contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. This all-natural supplement doesn’t contain any sedatives, meaning you can establish a nighttime routine with Cherry Night and feel vibrant the next day. Florgia Sleep + Peel Micro-Peeling Night Cream 40ml is a cream that stimulates cell renewal during the night for a new skin effect at awake. Inspired by professional peels, this night cream with an ultra-soft cream texture incorporates a complex of hydroxy acids (AHA and BHA) concentrated at 4.5% and combined with soothing brown seaweed for resurfacing cosmetic effectiveness in candy. The skin is smoothed, the complexion illuminated, and the skin texture refined. Kelsey Midnight Reset Overnight Sleeping Balm is a powerful overnight balm containing a clinically proven lavender complex to reset your circadian rhythm, together with Kelsey’s enzymatically activated raspberry seed oil, (EZ Rubus ID®)  hyaluronic acid and fermented probiotics to support and promote an optimum overnight renewal of the skin, boost cellular turnover, restore firmness and radiance whilst helping to prevent cellular ageing. Fragranced with a relaxing blend of 100% natural orange blossom with grounding woody notes to lull both skin and mind into a state of soft, soothing sleep. Slipsilk Pillowcase Slipsilk difference – Slip pure silk products are made using Slipsilk. Slipsilk’s silk pillowcase mulberry silk has been developed and refined for over ten years to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness, and durability. It is a washable silk pillowcase. Slip’s pure silk pillowcase is the #1 preferred brand of silk pillowcases for hair and skin by dermatologists for their patients.

But what about HOW we sleep? Millions of “civilised” people develop musculoskeletal problems as they age but what if you were to know this could be corrected by learning from how certain tribal village people sleep?

Physiotherapist Michael Tetley grew up with a tribal group and for a year commanded a platoon of African soldiers who taught him how to sleep on his side without a pillow so he could listen out for danger with both ears. A totally different approach to sleeping that had an enormous effect on him.

So much so that he then organised 14 expeditions all over the world to study native peoples’ sleeping patterns. All groups of people demonstrated similar postures and presented few muscle problems.

So what are these instinctive postures and why do they use them?

Shot 4 

NEOM Perfect Nights Sleep Intensive Skin Treatment Candle the NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep Scent to Sleep candle is a really special complex blend using only 100% natural fragrances with 19 of the purest possible dreamy essential oils including English lavender, precious jasmine & sweet basil, plus little touches of other perfectly chosen natural essential oils expertly blended to help you relax and prepare for sleep. Perfect Nights Sleep Scented Candle the NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep Scent to Sleep candle is a special complex blend using only 100% natural fragrances with 19 of the purest possible dreamy essential oils including English lavender, precious jasmine & sweet basil, plus little touches of other perfectly chosen natural essential oils expertly blended to help you relax and prepare for sleep. Perfect Nights Sleep Bath Foam create your own pre-sleep haven and let the feeling of calm wash over you. Softening with marshmallows and coconut oil, and soothing with aloe and sweet almond oil. Specially formulated with the NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep fragrance, containing English lavender, sweet basil & jasmine. Bettervits Probiotic Complex a powerful, complex blend of diverse probiotic cultures in a temperature-stable simple-to-take daily dose ensuring your body works in balance all day, every day. Aids in digestion, bloating and overall gut health. Sleep.8 Pillow Alpha anatomical pillow is filled with Neo Taktile foam. Perfectly conforms to the shape of the head and keeps the neck in the correct position during sleep. It has the effect of thermoregulation and air permeability. NEOM Bedtime Hero Magnesium Body Butter it’s Bedtime Hero Magnesium Body Butter, with added magnesium and created to help you sleep and for the anti-lavender lot. The blend of chamomile, ylang ylang and cedarwood means it’s fruity yet calming and soothing. Combined with shea butter, aloe vera, grapeseed oil and coconut oil to nourish and soften skin. To be used as the name suggests, at bedtime. Bettervits Magnesium Complex A potent blend of 3 unique types of Magnesium with Zinc and D3. This bespoke formula helps support muscle and nerve function, and energy production and powers the body’s natural defence against conditions such as depression, heart disease and PMS.

When lying on one side the arm is not needed as a pillow when the lower shoulder is fully hunched, the neck is completely supported. When the head is down neck vertebrae realign themselves and the breathing movements keep the joints lubricated. Modern life says to keep the spine straight, a pillow must be used, but our monkey relatives never use them or substitutes whilst sleeping up in the jungle trees. Animals also use sunlight when in this position to encourage the relaxation of the muscles.

Another way of rest that is extremely unusual to us is shin sleeping, this is when people are living in more open, colder and wetter climates they have to adapt to their surroundings in order to recover their bodies and get optimal rest. The Tibetan caravaneers, travellers, slept on their shins this way it was the only skin and bone touching the bitter ground beneath them, this conserves body heat everywhere else in the body.

There are also some unusual rest positions universally, such as sitting upright on your heels, some Arabs use this when sitting in the Sahara desert for hours, or those who squat rather than sit resting on the ground. People that use this position tend to not suffer from osteoarthritis, which is the mechanical wear and tear of the joints, as they age.

Shot 5

Sleep.8 Pillow Alpha anatomical pillow is filled with Neo Taktile foam. Perfectly conforms to the shape of the head and keeps the neck in the correct position during sleep. It has the effect of thermoregulation and air permeability. ESPA Restful Bath Milk (SET) rich botanical lipids help leave the skin feeling nourished while Valerian is carefully balanced with calming Hops and Ashwagandha, a revered Ayurvedic plant that’s renowned for its relaxing properties. These ingredients are combined with our Restful aromatherapy blend which harnesses the natural relaxing aromas of Eucalyptus, Clary Sage and Lavender help you to wake in the morning feeling refreshed. ESPA Restful Night Cream (SET) makes bedtimes more blissful, this Restful Night Cream has been expertly developed as part of a calming evening routine that promotes a sense of well-being. After a warm bath, massage the body in the rich cream and allow the restful actives and essential oils to help bring a sense of stillness. ESPA Restful Pillow Mist (SET) aromatherapy body, room, and linen mist for blissful bedtimes. Powered by nature’s Restful botanical offerings. Simply spritz onto pillows and bedlinen for a fragrant caress of blissful aromatherapy to cradle the senses as you fall into a heavenly night’s sleep. ESPA Restful Pulse Point Oil (SET) this beautiful pulse point oil is designed to be used as part of a calming evening routine that promotes a sense of well-being. Enriched with ESPA’s Restful aromatherapy essential oil blend: Lavender, Clary Sage, and Eucalyptus. This Works Deep Sleep Bath Oil pampering both body and mind, this exquisite bath-time remedy aids restful nights and energised mornings. A true bedtime indulgence, this sumptuous bath oil will help you unwind, calming your mind as you rest and wind down. This Works Power Nap Sleep Spray is a proven natural sleep aid, with Lavender, Camomile and Vetivert, to help fight lethargy and boost your daytime performance. Maximise your day and power up with a planned short sleep to help fight tiredness and boost daytime performance. Rest and recover at any time with an invigorating nap that you control. This Works Deep Sleep Night Oil unwind after a long day with this deep sleep body care ritual. A sumptuous non-greasy, easily absorbed body oil to help you relax. Enjoy delicately scented limbs at night and feel beautifully soft and rested upon waking. Use in the evening or after bathing, when your skin is warm, to lock in moisture, soothe muscles and calm the mind before sleep. Bettervits Probiotic Complex is a powerful, complex blend of diverse probiotic cultures in a temperature-stable simple-to-take daily dose ensuring your body works in balance all day, every day. Aids in digestion, bloating and overall gut health. Bettervits Magnesium Complex a potent blend of 3 unique types of Magnesium with Zinc and D3. This bespoke formula helps support muscle and nerve function, and energy production and powers the body’s natural defence against conditions such as depression, heart disease and PMS. Neals Yard Goodnight Pillow Mist wake up refreshed with Neals award-winning bedtime mist, proven to improve your sleep from the first night. The tranquil blend of organic lavender, vetiver and mandarin essential oils promotes a sense of calm for a peaceful night.

Another example is called quadrupedal lying this is ideal for stretching collagen fibre throughout the body. Lying in the reverse recovery position with the elbows out sideways and chest on the ground many spinal lesions can be corrected. 

Shot 6

Sleep.8 Pillow Alpha anatomical pillow is filled with Neo Taktile foam. Perfectly conforms to the shape of the head and keeps the neck in the correct position during sleep. It has the effect of thermoregulation and air permeability. VOTARY Pillow Spray Lavender and Chamomile lavender, chamomile and rose oils capture the fragrance of a country garden at dusk. Formulated to help you calm down and unwind, Votary Pillow Spray helps bring tranquillity to your bedroom. Subtle Energies Tranquillity Bath Soak retreat to the inner sanctum of your own bathroom with the beautiful Tranquillity Bath Soak, which contains the dream oils of Kewda and Frankincense, along with 84 essential minerals to care for mind, body and soul. The Tranquillity Bath Soak from Subtle Energies is ideal for finding that blissful moment when you need it the most, as it gently cleanses your body and soothes the senses. VOTARY Super Sleep Lemon Balm and L-Tryptophan Food Supplement promotes good sleep with a blend of calming ingredients, aiding the skin’s natural renewal process. Packed with actives to encourage a deep and productive beauty sleep, these vegan and cruelty-free nutritional sleep supplements feature L-tryptophan and L-theanine to encourage the production of serotonin, a precursor to melatonin, the sleep hormone. Lemon balm and magnesium naturally aid relaxation to help you find balance and wake rejuvenated. Two capsules an evening is enough to send you off into a long and blissful slumber. Blissful Sleep Inhalation Patch is a new innovation in aromatic therapy, designed to enhance and support your daily routine. The Blissful Sleep Inhalation Patch is ideal to wear just before sleep or if one wants to just unwind for the day. These patches that adhere to the skin offer a new way of delivering Subtle Energies’ potent aromatic actives, slowly released over a period of time. The three patches use some of Subtle Energies’ most loved aromatic and therapeutic formulas. Bettervits Magnesium Complex a potent blend of 3 unique types of Magnesium with Zinc and D3. This bespoke formula helps support muscle and nerve function, and energy production and powers the body’s natural defence against conditions such as depression, heart disease and PMS. Bettervits Menopause Complex feel like yourself again and take back control during all stages of Menopause. Our Menopause Complex is a meticulously researched super-blend of 13 different ingredients that have been selected for a real purpose. By targeting a wide range of nutritional benefits, you can get the tangible support you need to fight back. SlipSilk Pillowcase Slipsilk difference – Slip pure silk products are made using Slipsilk. Slipsilk’s silk pillowcase mulberry silk has been developed and refined for over ten years to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness, and durability. It is a washable silk pillowcase. Slip’s pure silk pillowcase is the #1 preferred brand of silk pillowcases for hair and skin by dermatologists for their patients.  

One other way is restful treatments or even time at a spa retreat to soothe the mind and body which ultimately brings the best sleep of all. We understand, now more than ever, mindfulness and inner calm play an important role in maintaining equilibrium for both physical and mental health. Helping you unwind a busy mind, and let anxieties slip away for a renewed sense of positivity, why not try a treatment from ESPA’s range of spas? Their Inner Calm Massage is available at a range of ESPA UK spas. 

The western sleep market offers new and exciting products as a result of people constantly on the lookout for items to aid better quality sleep.

Looking into the internal factors of sleep, of how our internal functions affect this from day to day, a great example of this is magnesium. Magnesium acts as a relaxant to our nervous system helping the wind-down stages of our day this can help universal sleep. There are great options for Magnesium in vitamin forms for daily use available. 

Shot 7 

SlipSilk Pillowcase Slipsilk difference – Slip pure silk products are made using Slipsilk. Slipsilk’s silk pillowcase mulberry silk has been developed and refined for over ten years to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness, and durability. It is a washable silk pillowcase. Slip’s pure silk pillowcase is the #1 preferred brand of silk pillowcases for hair and skin by dermatologists for their patients. NEST Driftwood & Chamomile 3 Wick Candle prepare your mind and body for a peaceful sleep with this scented candle featuring calming, comforting, and soothing notes of chamomile, driftwood, sandalwood, and vanilla bean.

Another overlooked contributor to poor sleep is menopause, people that go through menopause can experience night sweats and regular hot flushes. Supplements that contain maca root and milk thistle, such as the bettervits menopause supplement, fight hot flushes, night sweats and sleeplessness. 

Pillow sprays have now gained popularity and have become an essential helper in dozing off as the aromas cause our bodies to produce melatonin, the hormone that promotes restful sleep and therefore we fall into rest a lot faster than usual. 

In western societies, it is now very recommended to have a “nighttime routine”. This can consist of things like PM skincare, no blue light after a certain time, and avoiding coffee and energy drinks in the evenings. Just a winding down period at the end of busy days.

After all, if we all want to be bright bushy-tailed and vibrant nothing beats a good night’s sleep, we literally can’t live without it.

If you enjoyed reading Universal Sleep then why not try THC the best way forward.

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