Six Senses Spas have added a yogic sleep programme to its recently-launched yogic programmes to boost the quality of relaxation and improve sleep using gentle yoga practice and relaxing spa treatments.

Yoga nidra, also known as yogic sleep or sleep with awareness, is a simple practice most often taught lying down. The goal is to induce full body relaxation and a deep meditative state of consciousness, addressing practitioners’ psychological, neurological and subconscious needs, according to Six Senses Spas.

Anna Bjurstam, vice president of Six Senses Spas, commented: “The news about the importance of sleep is all around us and yet we are not getting enough of it. As we are entering into the winter season, some of us will be experiencing colder weather and less light and these seasonal changes can have a big effect on our overall wellness. The cooler dry air dries out the body’s mucus membranes and makes it more susceptible to illnesses such as the cold and flu and the lack of light can cause the body to produce more melatonin, making the body feel tired and sluggish. What's more, our eating habits from Halloween to Christmas often slide down towards foods high in sugar and high-calories.

“I live in Sweden, where I get about five hours of daylight per day in the winter season, and the grim darkness is mitigated by having a lot of festive events and so having an established routine around sleep, daylight and Vitamin D is crucial in order to stay healthy,” added Bjurstam.

“At Six Senses, we have asked for advice from some of the world's leading experts in sleep and nutrition and are delighted to share their advice during our yogic sleep programme.”