Once upon a time, sleep was a natural part of my routine, where there was little I needed to do to invite this form of mental and physical rest. Today, however, this simple routine comes as a daunting nightly visitor, filled with restless twists and turns. My once-a-upon-time came before work and responsibility, and with responsibility came useless home remedies that didn’t fend off the sleepless nights I endured. As a solution, I was given the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops led by renowned sleep therapist Dr. Christopher Herrera, at the illustrious Six Senses Spa at the Hotel Missoni.

The Six Senses Spa went above and beyond in presenting several flexible packages to choose from, and I decided to go all out with the two-day Retreat package. A promise of relaxation and luxury, the package includes a day of ultimate pampering at the Six Senses Spa, a night’s stay at one of Hotel Missoni’s stylish rooms, as well as a following day filled with informative workshops with Dr. Christopher Herrera.

Upon my check-in into one of the hotel’s fabulous rooms, I was eagerly anticipating my evening of pampering ahead. I couldn’t wait to slip into a world of utter relaxation at Six Senses Spa, booking fifty minutes of pure quiet. Paying close attention to creating unforgettably soothing experiences, the massage services at Six Senses are tailored to suit one’s needs. From the spa consultation, the most suitable massage techniques are decided to suit your needs. Given that I was looking to de-stress, I received a treatment tailored, specifically, to that purpose; a full body massage using different techniques, firm pressure applied just to my liking, where the knots in my back were sure to disappear. After my massage, I was mentally prepared to retire to my room, yet opted to dine at the ever-so-glitzy Luna Lounge, which was a Missoni Mediterranean delight. Upon retiring to my luxurious room, the stunning view of the Arabian Gulf soothed my stressed out mind. Accented in a palette of gold, turquoise and beige, it is truly difficult to not relax in such a setting; I simply plugged in my iPod into the docking station, and slipped away into a sound night’s sleep.

Waking up the next day wasn’t even a problem as I slept so soundly! I thought to myself, “So this is what sleep therapy is about? A little TLC!” Thinking that I had all the answers, I headed to the first workshop, “Basics of Sleep”, armed with complete confidence that I solved my never-ending dilemma of not sleeping well.

Entering the pleasantly lit workshop room, an intimately cozy atmosphere made for a comfortable setting. The chairs quickly filled up, with day attendees who came specifically for the workshops taking place, and others, like myself, who chose the two-day retreat. Dr. Herrera truly looks as if he could be anyone in the audience. A man in his thirties with short brown hair, a t-shirt and jeans, he simply shows up with an iPad and connects it to a big screen. Laced with enticing pictures, Dr. Herrera’s presentation begins on an attractive note, and then he shocks us with a picture of the way he used to look, about 25 kilos heavier than he is now. Essentially, this initial conversation built trust with us as attendees. I could completely relate to his rapport, the basic science of human behavior, and accepting one’s self, our surroundings and the importance of choosing happiness inside. Like the choices we make to stay happy, eating healthy and staying fit, sleep is no different. Dr. Herrera first introduced us to the basics; sleep is simply as important as diet and exercise, as it is a journey of information and query on your own life.

At this point, I couldn’t help but ponder these words as they rang true to my experience of the day before. I chose to make time to relax, eat well, and was mindful of the effects of that on my night’s sleep. I found that the whole day of workshops, Basics of Sleep, Commit to Sleep Smart, and Optimize Sleep Schedule, was extremely helpful in educating me about the importance of sleep and the notion of Sleep Hygiene; a set of tools used to promote sleep by helping the body wind down. Before I demand a good night’s sleep, I needed to understand what sleep is, how my body’s natural sleep and wake process works, and I finally understood why and when feeling tired indicates a good time to sleep, and when it indicates fatigue.