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L’OCCITANE en Provence stands out in the cosmetics world as a pioneer of holistic wellbeing experiences that address the physiological, psychological and social needs of clients at a deeper level.
Since its inception, the company has a unique vision of beauty that’s reflected in its spas through specially-designed massages and sensory products that promote precious moments of personal care and reconnection – all backed by a rigorous scientific approach.
The latest addition to Spa L’OCCITANE’s holistic repertoire is the Power Nap Massage which turns a spa moment into a multi-sensory journey and brings scientifically-backed relaxation and recovery benefits to spa guests.
Inspired by the centuries-old Provençal art of napping – usually a short sleep to escape the heat of the day – Spa L’OCCITANE has developed a treatment that only takes 25 minutes and leaves guests fully refreshed and energised.
The three different phases of the Power Nap seamlessly blend grounding and breathing exercises with traditional acupressure techniques and percussive movements. The massage is performed clothed and without massage oil, making it easy to integrate into any lifestyle schedule and allowing clients to immediately return to their everyday activities post-treatment. With its sensorial products, such as the Relaxing Pillow Mist and the iconic Shea Butter Hand Cream, the ritual includes breathing rituals at the beginning and end of the treatment.
Sleep lab testing
To truly test the efficiency of the Power Nap Massage, L’OCCITANE en Provence partnered with the European Sleep Center, a renowned institute in the field of sleep and recovery. L’OCCITANE had previously worked with the science centre on the predecessor of the new Power Nap – its award-winning Sleep and Reset massage.
Evaluation of this comprehensive massage showed sleep quality improved by 40 per cent and ‘time to fall asleep’ reduced by 30 per cent, earning it the Treatment of the Year award from Destination Deluxe in 2020.
For the Power Nap testing, a study was conducted on 17 volunteers whose sleep was being disrupted by stress.
Each participant was exposed to four conditions, serving as their own control: Nap, Power Nap Massage, Control and Regenerating Ritual – the home treatment protocol –
Using subjective questionnaires and objective measures such as heart rate monitors and EEG headbands, the study measured overall wellbeing, dynamism, eye openness, cardiac variability and brain wave activity to ensure scientific rigour and confirm the beneficial effects of the Power Nap Massage.
The treatment was shown to enhance relaxation and recovery by 35 per cent, improve perceived wellbeing by 29 per cent, and increase the openness of the eyes by 25 per cent in comparison to a classic nap.
This commitment to proven effectiveness earned the brand the title of Spa Brand of the Year at the 2023 World Spa Awards.
Wellness at home
With its dedication to ‘democratising’ its wellbeing expertise, Spa L’OCCITANE has also taken the step of extending the Power Nap Massage experience to customers in a home environment with the Regenerative Ritual, a five-step ritual for the home that involves self-massage of the head, hands or feet, accompanied by an exclusive free-to-download sound composition, breathing exercises that will allow them to unwind and reconnect to themselves.
Results after testing by The European Sleep Center study, were highly promising. The Regenerating Ritual demonstrated significant benefits in terms of relaxation and overall wellbeing, with subjects reporting a 43 per cent increase in relaxation and 16 per cent less perceived signs of fatigue after the ritual.
The Power Nap Massage is available at the flagship Spa L’OCCITANE at the Couvent des Minimes in Mane in Provence, and in a selection of Spas L’OCCITANE worldwide. The Regenerative Ritual can be found in a selection of boutiques, on the L’Occitane en Provence website, and on the brand’s social media.
More: www.spa.loccitane.com