It wasn’t until I experienced a recent bout with insomnia that I realized how truly important sleep is to one’s mental and physical well-being. When you’re sleep-deprived, it affects everything—from your mood and energy levels to your immune system and more.

Fortunately my insomnia was temporary (it was caused by a medication I was taking and have since stopped), but as a result of my experience, sleep is something that I no longer take for granted and I have since changed my sleep hygiene habits so that I can lead a better quality of life every day.

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So when Langham Hospitality Group announced that it had launched Sleep Matters By Chuan, a comprehensive global sleep wellness program developed in conjunction with the World Sleep Society that is designed to help their hotel guests enjoy a better night’s rest, I was immediately interested and eager to learn more about it and to test it out for myself.

Langham Hospitality Group’s Amy Chan on Sleep Matters by Chuan and How the Spa Improves Sleep

The program, which rolled out across the globe in time for World Sleep Day on March 18, is available at Langham Hospitality Groups’s various properties around the world including Langham Hotels and Resorts, as well as Cordis Hotels and Resorts. Each location is offering different services and amenities that range from a special Sleep Matters Menu and Turndown Kit to pajama sets and more. For the complete list of Sleep Matters by Chuan offerings and locations, click here.

Recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, which is close to where we live (and also where we got married a few years ago!) to experience their Sleep Matters By Chuan Program.

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena is an iconic historic hotel located in the beautiful Oak Knoll neighborhood of Pasadena. In 2014, the elegant 23-acre property celebrated 100 years as the Huntington Hotel and is near local landmarks like The Huntington Library, Art and Botanical Gardens as well as downtown Pasadena.

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With lush manicured grounds, enchanting cottages, and world-class service that begins the moment you valet your car, the hotel maintains its Old World charm and elegance. As soon as I walked through the front doors, it felt as if I had stepped back in time to another era.

After checking in, we headed to our room—a one-bedroom Huntington Suite located on the first floor of the main building.The spacious 850-square-foot suite included a separate living room area, a beautiful Italian marble bathroom with a luxurious soaking tub and large shower, as well as two sets of French doors that led out to a garden patio that offered beautiful views of the hotel’s Horseshoe Garden lawn, where many weddings and other grand events have taken place.

As part of the Sleep Matters By Chuan Program at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, a special Sleep Matters Turndown Kit awaited us on one of the tables in our room. It included two packets of Kerstin Florian Mineral Wellness Soaks with Eucalyptus, ear plugs, SNOOZ sleep eye masks, and two cans of SOM Sleep beverages.

There was also a turndown card that offered 10 expert tips for better sleep, and on the back side was a QR code that linked to a digital menu with more Sleep Matters By Chuan offerings such as breathing exercises and a Find Your Element Chuan questionnaire. It also offered a list of additional amenities that are available for guests to enjoy (some are complimentary while others are available for purchase).

Complimentary items that guests can borrow to enjoy in room are yoga mats, yoga balls, a white noise sleep machine, and a fitness kit (stress ball, resistance band and massage ball).

Items that are available for purchase include additional sleep masks ($28), SOM Sleep drinks ($7), as well as a kettle with an assortment of calming herbal teas ($18). There are also healthy dining options that are available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks (see the Private Kitchen Menu or dial 3700 on the in-room phone for details).

Aside from the accommodations for up to two guests, the other special component that is included as part of The Langham Huntington, Pasadena’s Sleep Matters By Chuan Program is a 60-minute Chuan Harmony Massage with an aromatherapy enhancement. Our spa appointments were scheduled an hour after we arrived, which gave us plenty of time to get checked in and situated in our room before heading to the spa.

Spa Profile: Chuan Spa at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena

The Chuan Spa was less than a five-minute walk from our room, located in the hotel’s former carriage house near the driveway entrance. The award-winning spa features a calming and beautiful interior with features that include 12 treatment rooms, a couple’s suite and VIP suite, men’s and women’s locker facilities with showers, sauna, herbal steam room, whirlpool, and a fully-equipped fitness center. The spa’s treatment menu offers signature treatments inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), along with cutting-edge skincare technology.

After my husband and I changed into our robes, we met up in the spa’s co-ed relaxation lounge prior to our massages. We snacked on granola and infused water while enjoying the serene atmosphere that included a soothing water wall feature. Within a few minutes, we were both greeted by our therapists who led us each to separate rooms.

When my massage began, I spent the first half lying face down on the comfortable treatment bed. The Chuan Harmony Massage combines acupressure and a therapeutic full-body oil massage to stimulate meridian harmony. My therapist incorporated aromatherapy into the service, starting out by rubbing some oil into his hands before placing them under the face cradle and instructing me to take several deep and slow breaths, inhaling then exhaling.

According to Amy Chan, Langham Hospitality Group’s Corporate Director of Spa, spa treatments (especially massages) can help improve sleep by helping to relax the body, improve circulation and reduce pain, while the addition of aromatherapy helps one to relax and unwind. If a person doesn’t have time to get a massage, Chan recommends adding aromatherapy to one’s room with either a diffuser or by adding a few essential oil drops to a tissue or bowl of water.

My 60-minute massage was incredibly relaxing and felt wonderful. Prior to starting, my therapist asked if there were any areas of my body that I would like him to focus on and avoid, as well as my preferred level of pressure. I opted for medium pressure with emphasis on my back, legs and feet. He used long, slow yet firm strokes that glided across my muscles, effectively loosening up any knots or tight spots that ailed me. I caught myself almost falling asleep more than once during my service—a sign of an excellent massage.

After my treatment ended, I headed to the Dream Room where my husband was waiting for me. The Dream Room is a calm, dimly lit space where guests can relax on their choice of individual water beds or regular beds before or after their spa services. Drapes hang between the beds so that guests can opt to close them for privacy or open them if they are there with company. My husband and I were served a glass of champagne along with some artisan chocolates post-treatment, and we lingered for a while in a state of peaceful bliss before heading to the locker rooms to change for dinner.

After enjoying a wonderful meal at The Terrace, the hotel’s elegant poolside restaurant, we headed back to our room for some quiet time before bed. While my husband relaxed on our garden patio under the stars, I drew myself a bath in the oversized tub and added the Kerstin Florian bath soak that came with the Turndown Kit.

While enjoying a relaxing soak in the bath, I also sipped on one of the SOM Sleep drinks that I had kept chilled in the fridge. The directions are to drink it about 30 minutes before bed and to avoid driving since it induces drowsiness. It had a sweet berry flavor and its key ingredients are magnesium, vitamin B6, L-Theanine and GABA to help calm the mind, and melatonin. It’s also available in two versions: Original and Zero Sugar.

As I relaxed in the warm bath, enjoying the pleasant aroma of eucalyptus while classical music played softly in the background, I felt my eyes getting heavy and struggling to stay open. At that moment, I knew it was time for bed so I hopped out to put on my pajamas and SNOOZ eye mask, and within a few minutes of getting into bed I drifted off into a deep slumber.

The following morning I was gently awakened by the soft sunlight that was poking through the curtains. My husband remarked that he enjoyed a very deep and relaxing sleep, and typically he has trouble sleeping through the night at hotels. I felt slightly groggy for about an hour or so after waking up due to the melatonin (I’m a bit more sensitive to it than others), but after we ordered coffee and enjoyed an invigorating walk around the neighborhood, I was immediately refreshed and ready to go about my day.

Before checking out, we headed down to the swimming pool for a quick dip and ordered some lunch from the Hideaway Pool Bar, which we enjoyed under the shade of the large umbrella by our loungers. It was the perfect end to our overnight Sleep Matters By Chuan experience, and I’m already looking forward to the next visit. I think it’s a wonderful program that really does enhance one’s stay, and I feel that other hotels would also benefit by offering a similar type of experience to their guests.

The Sleep Matters package begins at $925/night (excluding taxes and fees), based on double occupancy. To book, a minimum of five days advance notice are required.

For more information about the Sleep Matters By Chuan Program and to book your experience, visit the website or call 626-568-3900. Follow them on Instagram: @langhampasadena @langhamhotels

[Photos by Kamala Kirk]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk