Relax at the ASMR Spa

15th August 2019

-Psssttt…. David Lloyd Clubs becomes the first fitness club in the UK to introduce ASMR into its spa -

ASMR (Auto Sensory Meridian Response) is a craze that’s taken the world by storm. With over 13 million videos on YouTube1 it is proven to help people relax and reduce stress. Given that three quarters (74%) of Britons feel overwhelmed or unable to cope2, regular ASMR therapy could be a useful way to alleviate stress and improve wellbeing across the UK.

With this in mind, David Lloyd Clubs has today announced that it is trailing ASMR sessions in its new exclusive Spa Retreats in selected clubs. Working with ASMR artist Sophie Michelle, the health club has turned the features, objects and sounds from its new state of the art Spas into ASMR therapies.

ASMR is a feeling of soothed relaxation combined with a tingling sensation in the scalp and down the back of the neck. It is triggered in response to certain sounds picked up by microphones, such as a whispering voice or low repetitive noises like gentle tapping, chopping food or pouring water.  

David Lloyd’s ASMR Spa Experience sees ‘ASMRtist’ Sophie Michelle use common spa objects as proven ASMR triggers, including:

- Whispering while slowly slicing lemons and squeezing lemon juice 
- Pouring a jug of ice-cold water into a glass and repeatedly tapping the tumbler
- Whispering while delicately folding spa towels on a table
- Dipping a hand in and out of the Hydro Pool, allowing the water droplets to run off her fingers and drop back into the pool

David Lloyd’s ASMR spa experience is available as an online video (the most common means of experiencing the phenomenon) and can be viewed by anyone here, providing viewers with a quick-hit of spa relaxation wherever they are. 

David Lloyd Clubs is also planning to run live ASMR sessions in its Spa Retreat locations3. These will see Sophie Michelle in a meditation room performing the ASMR triggers into a pair of microphones as headphone-wearing spa visitors look and listen-on and experience the famed ‘brain tingling’. 

Stephanie Holland, Head of Spa at David Lloyd Clubs says, “At David Lloyd Clubs we understand how important wellness is and we’re always on the lookout for new ways for our members to exercise self-care.  Our Spa Retreats are luxurious and high-tech and we want to make sure our finger is always on the pulse when it comes to the latest wellbeing trends, which is why we’re really excited to launch an ASMR spa experience. Our ASMR spa video gives people the opportunity to experience the soothing benefits of the new Spa Retreat wherever they may be, while the planned live sessions will provide the ultimate immersive ASMR spa experience.”

Sophie Michelle, ASMR artist comments, “I'm so excited to see ASMR incorporated into a national spa environment. It works so well due to the complementary nature of ASMR and spa treatments and environments. ASMR is good for helping the mind to unwind and ease tension and it can also help with blood flow and improving mood just as a spa environment aims to do.”

David Lloyd Clubs is introducing unique super-spas; known as the Spa Retreat to support anyone caring for their mental health and overall wellness. The stylish indoor luxury spas are set to be a key destination to take members away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. These new Spa Retreats are located in David Lloyd Farnham, David Lloyd Purley, David Lloyd Chigwell and David Lloyd Royal Berkshire, with David Lloyd Cambridge opening in December. ASMR will be available in David Lloyd Chigwell and may roll out further subject to demand.

For more information on the Spa Retreats, visit www.davidlloyd.co.uk 

- Ends -

Notes to editors: 
1. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/would-let-woman-whisper-sleep-welcome-brain-tingling-world-asmr/
2. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/news/stressed-nation-74-uk-overwhelmed-or-unable-cope-some-point-past-year 
3. The live ASMR spa sessions will be trialled in David Lloyd Chigwell and if they prove successful will be rolled out to further David Lloyd Clubs Spa Retreats.

About David Lloyd Clubs
David Lloyd Leisure has 115 clubs - 99 clubs in the UK and a further 15 clubs across Europe and one in Asia comprising its two brands David Lloyd Clubs and Harbour Clubs (of which there are three - Chelsea, Notting Hill and Kensington). 
It has nearly 620,000 members and employs around 8100 people. This includes an expert health and fitness team of over 2000 while it contracts the services of more than 680 tennis professionals.

Across all clubs, David Lloyd Leisure has over 190 swimming pools (of which half are indoor) and offers over 13,000 exercise classes per week. Every week over 25,000 children learn to swim at David Lloyd Leisure, 16000 children learn to play in the Tennis Stars Coaching Programme.

David Lloyd Club’s racquets facilities are unparalleled with over 1080 tennis courts as well as over 400 badminton and squash courts. Additional facilities include health and beauty spas, club lounges with free internet access, crèches, nurseries and specialist sports shops.