Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Rainforest Retreat

Starting point is 00:00:00 Before tonight's episode, I want to let you know about our supporters' feed Get Sleepy Premium, the best way to experience the show and get a good night's sleep. With Get Sleepy Premium, everything is ad-free. You'll receive a bonus episode every week, and have full access to our entire back catalogue. Your support really helps, and means so much to us. Simply tap the link in the show notes to learn more. Now, a quick word from our sponsors who make it possible for us to bring you two three episodes each week. Do you have a baby that won't fall asleep? A noisy neighbor you need to block out?

Starting point is 00:00:42 Or maybe you're looking for relaxing music, nature sounds and atmospheres to work, relax or study too. If so, the deep sleep sounds app is for you. It has a huge library of sounds from nature and daily life, ASMR triggers, plus ambient sounds and music. You can even combine sounds to create your own unique mix and use them as a background soundscape for your favorite Get Sleepy stories. Through our partnership with Deep Sleep Sounds, you can get a 30 day free trial by going to deepsleepsounds.com slash get sleepy. That's deepsleepsounds.com slash get sleepy.

Starting point is 00:01:33 Or just follow the link in the show notes for a 30 day free trial of the Deep Sleep Sounds app. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. I'm your host, Thomas, thanks for joining us tonight. Marcellus will be reading this evening's story, which is about a young traveler who finds a sense of calm and inner balance during a rainforest retreat. Let's get nice and settled, ready for tonight's story. When your cozy and comfortable in bed, allow your eyes to gently close, and take a deep breath in through the nose. Then slowly out, letting your muscles loosen and relax. As you repeat that relaxed rhythm of breathing, giving your body a chance to transition into

Starting point is 00:03:02 the calm of night. I'd like you to think about the positive impact of your care, kindness and compassion. I'm reminding you because I think we all have times where we forget just how important and valuable our kindness can be. I've spoken to friends at times when they're feeling low on purpose and direction in their lives and I've felt that way myself plenty of times too. plenty of times too. But one thing I try to remind myself of, and anyone I'm supporting, is that the way we are as people, the way we act towards others, and the good deeds and moments of kindness we share with the world, really are so impactful. Not only do they directly impact those closest to us, but these moments of positive interaction can be exponentially far reaching. Just think about it, if someone is feeling at a loss, perhaps they're feeling bad about themselves, or about the way other people have treated them.

Starting point is 00:04:34 Your moment of kindness and support, you'll feel better about yourself, and it can begin a domino effect. The next time that person sees or speaks to someone in need, perhaps they will feel inspired by your words, or simply by your kind nature, and they will be more likely to spread that same positivity to others. And so, the cycle continues. It can be easy to feel like our place in the world is limited or confined to a small portion of it, but I challenge you to think openly, think big and be absolutely assured that your small acts of kindness and compassion hold the power to impact many, many lives. So take one more of those big, deep breaths. breath and as you exhale, reassure yourself that you have the power to make a difference.

Starting point is 00:06:16 As you continue making your way to sleep, you can just listen to our story in the background. We'll be joining a traveler named Jeremiah, who has just made his way into the Mexican rainforest for a rainforest retreat. With his backpack still strapped to his shoulders, he's ready for new experiences. His sense of adventure brought him to the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula, where he plans to explore the coastline at all its natural glory. He will hike with friends, take long bike rides at sunset, and snorkel with tropical sea creatures. Before his adventure begins though, Jeremiah is going to relax. His number one priority is calming his mind before heading off into the unknown.

Starting point is 00:08:00 After checking into his resort, he walks up to the concierge, a friendly young man in a white linen shirt and tan pants. Luckily, the resort has a world-renowned spa. He asks the concierge if he can book a treatment. I will schedule a water journey for you, replies the young man, smiling kindly. Jeremiah likes the sound of this. A water journey sounds so simple, yet delightful, he thinks. Then he recalls a quote from Leonardo da Vinci,

Starting point is 00:08:51 simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Jeremiah takes the first available appointment. The timing is perfect. It allows him to find his room, drop off his backpack, and arrange his belongings in his temporary home. The concierge was very specific with his instructions for the water journey. He towed Jeremiah to wear comfortable swimwear and the white robe he finds in his room. Once unpacked and changed, Jeremiah makes his way to the spa. He walks through a tall glass door and is met by the scent of eucalyptus.

Starting point is 00:09:51 He breathes it in, filling his lungs with the soothing fragrance. Then he looks around, taking in the space, the walls are painted in muted earth tones, and the flooring is made of stranded bamboo. There is a small stream with rocks flowing right through the middle of the reception area. The sound of gentle water dancing over the rocks is like a tranquil lullaby. Jeremiah has been in plenty of spots before, but this one might be the most inviting of them all. At the reception desk, stands a woman with dark brown eyes and chestnut hair pulled into a sleek bun.

Starting point is 00:10:57 She's dressed in an elegant white uniform. She greets Jeremiah with a warm smile and introduces herself as Rosa. She will be his water journey guide for the day. Rosa offers Jeremiah a tiny glass of green liquid, presented on a silver tray. She explains it's a room temperature tea, specially formulated for relaxation. Jeremiah takes a sip from the tiny glass. It tastes like cucumber and mint with a dash of something sweet he can't pinpoint. He finishes the drink and sets the empty glass on the tray. Smiling rose until Jeremiah to follow her. They walk down a hallway and through an ornately carved door. On the way, Jeremiah listens to the soft soundtrack playing on overhead speakers.

Starting point is 00:12:22 He appreciates the sound of nature, a symphony of chirps woven together with a peaceful rustling of leaves. The water journey officially begins in a much quieter voice, even though no one else is around. She tells Jeremiah that his journey will start in the sauna. From a nearby cabinet, she collects aisting bottle labeled lemon grass water. Then, guide Jeremiah inside a glass enclosure. The interior is made entirely of cedar wood planks, and smells fresh and would see.

Starting point is 00:13:20 There are three empty benches in front of him. Jeremiah chooses the one in the center, and Rosa drapes a long white towel over it. Jeremiah lies on top, face up, and makes himself comfortable. He soon begins to feel the heat of the sauna against his bare skin. Taking a deep, slow breath in, Jeremiah notices the heat of the air, entering his nose.

Starting point is 00:14:04 He likes the warm feeling. He closes his eyes so that Rosa can place a cool, wet cloth over them. She asks him if he would like a lemon grass-miss. He smiles and thanks her, and she spritzes the mist over him. It's wonderfully refreshing and smells divine, like sweet herbs mixed with crisp citrus fruit. Rose has been told Jeremiah that she will return in a few minutes. She leaves the bottle of lemongrass mists next to him, in case he wants another spritz. He lies there and relaxes, enjoying the warmth and peaceful sounds of a tropical rainforest. Later Rosa comes back and lightly taps Jeremiah on his arm. When she asks him how he feels, he doesn't need to answer with words. His wide relaxed grin says it all.

Starting point is 00:15:29 He removes the cool cloth from his eyes to discover he is being presented with another tiny glass of liquid on a silver tray. This time, the liquid is orange in color. Rosa says it's tangerine, ginger, and fused water. Jeremiah drinks it all, enjoying the sensation it gives him as it cools his throat. This refreshing feeling then spreads right through his body. He stands and Rosa picks up the lemon grass misting bottle. She points the nozzle and sends two puffs of the mist into the air. Jeremiah intuitively walks through the lemming grass cloud,

Starting point is 00:16:29 breathing in the fragrance again. It brings some a burst of happiness. Rows of emotions for him to follow her to another room. Light blue iridescent tiles, the size of coins cover the floor, walls, ceiling, and even the built-in seating. In the center of the room, there is a large glass bowl on a pedestal. The bowl is filled with ice. Jeremiah takes a seat and watches Rosa unfold a small damn cloth made of cotton.

Starting point is 00:17:20 She sets the cloth next to him and scoops some ice into her hands. Gently, she places the ice in the middle of the cloth, then folds the corners of the fabric around the ice, twisting the top. The creation reminds Jeremiah of FOIL-RAP chocolates. Just then Rosa calls it an ice kiss as if she was reading his thoughts. She hands him the ice kiss that explains the exfoliation benefits of cool textured cloth on skin. She tells him she'll return in a little while. Jeremiah presses the ice kiss against his shoulder and slowly glides it down his arm to his

Starting point is 00:18:24 wrist. Since his body is already warmed from the sauna, it's invigorating and that is cold as he expected. He repeats this with his other arm, and then the back of his neck. When he is done, the ice kiss is almost completely melted in his hand, leaving him with an empty wet cloth. He puts the cloth on top of his hand, relishing the cool sensation. A moment later, Rosary appears with a small saucer of aloe vera gel.

Starting point is 00:19:19 She encourages Jeremiah to apply the gel liberally to his skin, which he does with both hands. The gel provides a lovely contrast after the texture of the cool cloth. Rose gives him a few more minutes to himself. Then reappears with another tiny glass of liquid on the silver tray. This time, the liquid is a deep red. Its strawberry cinnamon water, according to Rosa, and its combination of flavors Jeremiah has never tried before. He gladly drinks the concoction and decides it's his favorite one so far. Now it's time for another Rome, the steam Rome.

Starting point is 00:20:26 This part of the journey includes a special treatment for Jeremiah's face. Rosa presents him with a jar of light brown clay. She uses gestures to explain the process, pretending to dip her fingers into the jar, then swiping her own face. He takes his cue and scoops out some of the substance, rubbing it onto his forehead, cheeks and chin. It smells surprisingly fruity. Rosa explains the facial mass is made of pomegranate, which is full of antioxidants. This explains the fragrance. The substance is also mixed with sea kelp, which is why it has this distinctive pale brown color.

Starting point is 00:21:34 Jeremiah lets the mask soak into his skin and ask himself, why haven't I tried this before? Why haven't I tried this before? He imagines that he can already feel the skin relaxing and getting softer. The steam room is very dark. The layout is almost identical to the ice room. Yet the coin-sized tiles are navy blue and there are twinkling lights in the ceiling, mimicking stars. The temperature and the steam room is similar to the temperature of But it feels so different. The sauna was dry, whereas the steam room is anything but. Rosa spreads a fresh white towel over a tiled lounge chair. Jeremiah lies down on the towel and closes his eyes.

Starting point is 00:22:47 Next, Rosal places two cucumber slices on top of his eyelids and whispers that she will retrieve him in a few minutes. He takes that time to reflect and clear his mind some more. The face mask is starting to tingle ever so slightly. It's nice to feel pampered. He decides, breathing in the gentle steam, wafting about in the room. Rosa soon returns, entering the steam room with yet another small glass of liquid on the silver train.

Starting point is 00:23:39 It's picked this time, delicious high-biscus lemonade. It's pink this time. Delicious highbiscus lemonade. Once Jeremiah has placed his empty glass on the tray, rose emotions for him to follow her. They go into a white-towed room. Above, spaced a few feet apart, are two rainfall shower hands. Each one has a beaded metal rope dangling nearby.

Starting point is 00:24:12 Rosa says the shower on the left will be invigorating and cool, while the one on the right will be warm and toasting. She tells Jeremiah that he doesn't need to choose one over the other. He can and should try them both. The cool shower is great for rinsing off the Hallow Veragelle and facial mask, while the warm shower offers comfort. It's so comforting, in fact, the Jeremiah takes his time, savoring the heat. But there's no rush, and Rosa is happy to wait outside until he's ready to continue. After the rainfall shower room, Rosa offers Jeremiah a small glass of peach tea and a

Starting point is 00:25:20 soft cranberry orange cookie. He pops the cookie into his mouth, eating it in a single bite. It's unbelievable how much flavor such a small treat can hold. He grins like a child, remembering the cranberry muffins his grandmother used to make around holiday time. Rose smiles at Jeremiah, and once again tells him to follow her to a new area. This is the second to last room and the smallest one yet. However, it represents the best of each of the previous rooms.

Starting point is 00:26:23 The floors are cedar, like in the sauna. In the center of the room, there's a tiled lounger, like in the ice kiss room. Only this time, the lounger is a shiny beige color. There are twinkling stars embedded in the ceiling, like in the steam room, and the temperature is ideal. Rosa places a dry towel on the other one's Jeremiah has tried. This one was specifically designed with zero gravity in mind to alleviate pressure in certain areas like the lower back. Jeremiah knows what to do. He lies down and instantly fills a pleasant warmth. The tiles of this lounge are heated. Rosa sets a delicate lavender pillow across his eyes and gives him a gentle scalp massage for

Starting point is 00:27:46 a few minutes. Then she places the light, soft blanket over him and says that she'll return later. During this time, Jeremiah fills his body into a deeper state of relaxation. He rests his hands just under his and feathery at the same time. For once, there are no thoughts in his mind. All he can feel is tranquility. And only can he imagine his peace. Glad he has no plans for the evening. Jeremiah can truly relax now, savoring this time to himself. He doesn't want it to end. As he lies on the lounger, he continues to do nothing but breathe in and out.

Starting point is 00:29:16 Every muscle in his body is loose and free and even his toes are relaxed. As the minutes pass, Jeremiah feels like he's letting go more and more. Detached from his everyday routine. Sinking even more deeply into the lounge chair, he takes a full breath in, expanding his chest and stomach. He becomes aware of every sensation as his chest rises and falls with each breath. As he enjoys the subtle little chirps and rustling leaves in the background, his mind is perfectly quiet. He sinks further into relaxation,

Starting point is 00:30:22 deeper than he's ever experienced before, Jeremiah could easily fall asleep here near the end of his water journey. For some reason, however, he doesn't drift off completely. It's as if he's floating on the cusp of being slightly awake while in a cozy hibernation. He welcomes and thoroughly enjoys the streaming days. Meanwhile, the birch chirp and the leaves rustle some more. He concentrates on the sounds, his breath and the gentle scent of the lavender pillow on his eyes. There are no thoughts, just serenity. His chest rises with another full, deep breath, then falls. Jeremiah lies in stillness. He is so happy and calm in this cherished moment. The only thing he needs to do is breathe.

Starting point is 00:31:55 In and out. Eventually, Rosa quietly enters the room. She touches Jeremiah's shoulder and asks if he's awake. If she had come in two minutes later, he would have surely fallen asleep. He grins, awakening the muscles in his face, letting Rose know that he is ready for whatever comes next. She removes the lavender-eye pillow from Jeremiah's face with one hand. He is delighted to see the silver tray in her other hand.

Starting point is 00:32:52 This time, there's a small ceramic cup filled with green tea next to a granola square covered in dark chocolate. She offers it to him while explaining they are about to enter the last room. Jeremiah nods and enjoys his two treats. Once again, they're delicious. On their way to the last room, Rosa describes it in detail. The room is multiple pools, and this part of the experience comes with unlimited time. Jeremiah's eyes light up at the news. Rosa tells him that he can spend the rest of the day there if he so desires. Entering the final room,

Starting point is 00:34:01 Jeremiah sees that there are three tranquil pools. Each one is unique in temperature, shape, and water features. With the twinkle in her eye, Brosa tells Jaramaya the pools are like a magical fairy tale. When she sees the Jeremiah is curious to know more, she explains. Some say the plunge pool is too cold. The whirlpool, to some, is too hot. But the last pool where you can enjoy a waterfall and a back massage feature is just right. Jeremiah can try all three, or just one, or two. It's completely up to him.

Starting point is 00:35:05 Jeremiah weighs his options and decides that just right pool as well he'll start. And maybe who in there too, if it's as wonderful as it looks. Rosa leaves him to enjoy his time alone. Jeremiah slowly enters the pool, fully submerging his body. The water must be the same temperature as he is. He swims over to the back massage feature. The extremes of water flow from multiple spounds. He presses his back into the therapeutic feature and closes his eyes. After reveling in the sensation for a few moments, he decides a lapper too might be nice, nothing too strenuous.

Starting point is 00:36:11 It feels good to move his arms and legs through the water. The resistance is calming and reminds Jeremiah to slow down, not just in the pool, but in life. He turns over and floats on his back for a bent. With his ears underwater, he can no longer hear the birch chirping or the leaves rustling. He can only hear himself breathe in and out. Jeremiah floats lazily, booming his hands and feet, back and forth in the Jess right water appreciating the solitude.

Starting point is 00:37:11 There is no one else around. He has the entire space to himself. It really is Jess right, like the fairy tale. It's a reminder that everything in life requires a delicate balance. As he drifts slowly through the water, he remains aware of his relaxed breathing, in and out, Jeremiah knows that he has found more than peace and tranquility. He's also found the perfect balance in mind and body. Floating peacefully, he smiles at this realization. His travels have only just begun, but he's already made a precious discovery that will stay with him forever. you you I'm going to do a little bit of the same thing.

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Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Rainforest Retreat

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