I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lain in bed, unable to close my eyes because I was thinking about everything I hadn’t yet done, needed to do, and would need to do later. Shutting my brain down at night isn’t easy. The Sound Oasis ‘Glo to Sleep’ Sleep Therapy Mask is supposed to help, but can it?
I’ve tried all kinds of things with varying degrees of success to counter my occasional bouts of insomnia, and while I’ve found success with a few of the methods I’ve tried — expensive options and listening to hypnosis tracks — nothing has been a good long-term solution that didn’t ultimately disturb my pocketbook or my husband sleeping next to me. The Sound Oasis ‘Glo to Sleep’ GTS-2000 Sleep Therapy Mask appears to be an adjustable foam sleep mask that has a little something extra built-in. It doesn’t make noises, it isn’t expensive, and it doesn’t require sleeping with earphones on.
Glo to Sleep mask is a revolutionary new idea that builds on ancient wisdom, to clear the mind, deeply relax the body, and lead to sleep. For thousands of years, enlightened ones have told us to close our eyes, look up and achieve a calm state of mind. Now, with Glo to Sleep™, you simply raise your eyes and gaze on a focal point of blue lights. Without any previous training, practice or concentrated effort, you can instantly stop repetitive and worrying thoughts and quickly achieve a deeply relaxed state that leads to sleep. Glo to Sleep therapy mask works to slow the frequency of the brain’s electrical activity, an objective shared with meditation and self-hypnosis.
Included in the box are the ‘Glo to Sleep’ Sleep Therapy Mask, a user guide, and a mail-in warranty card.
The sleep therapy mask measures approximately 11″ across and about an inch thick. The parts that touch your face are soft hypoallergenic black foam, and the top of the mask is a stiffer fabric with a snap on/off black soft-touch plastic box housing the included (and easily replaceable) CR2032 coin battery and controls. There is a raised on/off button on the upper left of the control box.
The soft strap is easily adjustable from both sides so you can get a comfortable fit.
The black plastic control box cover is easily removed; you’ll need to pull the tab on the battery before using the sleep therapy mask for the first time, and you can move the slider between 10, 20, or 30 minutes. If you deal with an overactive mind, as I do, 30 minutes is probably a good place to start.
Inside the mask, there are four white bars, the Points of Glo. When you turn the mask on, they all glow blue. Sound Oasis says that the Points of Glo “do not emit enough light to slow the release of melatonin, so the light will not keep you awake in any way.”
How it works:
When using the Glo to Sleep mask, the objective is no longer trying to fall asleep. Simply raise the eyes, hold the gaze on a blue point of glo and breathe deeply. Thoughts slow and the mind clears. The body relaxes and arms and legs feel heavy. The eyelids begin to feel heavy as the individual continues to gaze at the Point of Glo. What happens next is what many Glo to Sleep therapy mask users find so amazing: the transition from consciously looking up at the blue Points of Glo to the first stage of sleep often seems instantaneous. At no time is the user thinking “they must get to sleep”. The Glo to Sleep mask rapidly slows the brain’s activity level to a deep relaxed state. Looking up at the blue Points of Glo will be the last thing the user remembers upon awakening. Both subjective and objective examinations agree, meditation, self-hypnosis and the Silva Alpha technique, all demonstrate that raising the eyes and finding a focal point can aid in relaxation by lowering brain-wave frequencies. The Glo to Sleep therapy mask shares fundamental mechanisms, in regards to the interconnecting physiology of the brain and eyes, with meditation, self-hypnosis and the Silva Alpha technique. If an individual is looking for a resolution to their sleeping problems, but does not have the time or inclination to learn and practice relaxation therapies, the Glo to Sleep therapy mask is an ideal solution. The Glo to Sleep mask will allow the individual, whether they have chronic insomnia or struggle to get to sleep a few nights a month, to relax quickly, clear their mind and get to sleep naturally.
The sleep therapy mask is soft and comfortable for back or side sleepers. If you’ve ever used a sleep mask for blocking light, it feels similar without smashing down on your eyes, which is an issue I’ve had when trying the typical sleep mask. The mask is completely opaque; it will block out all light in the room even if all of the lights are on while you are trying to nap. For no other reasons than because it is completely opaque and it doesn’t smash your eyes, I can recommend it as a sleep mask. But the light therapy is an added bonus because I have found that it actually works!
All you have to do is get in a comfortable sleeping position, lie there with your eyes open (which you’d probably be doing anyway), and focus on the highest glow point that you can. Taking long, abdominal breaths, inhaling and exhaling while looking at the lights, as the lights start to fade you’ll soon find yourself slipping into a glorious, restful sleep.
It is best to gaze naturally at the Points of Glo, allowing your eyes to move up and down the four rows of lights. It is O.K. to blink. The simple act of “looking up” at the Points of Glo relaxes the brain – this is a commonly followed element of meditation.
The Sound Oasis ‘Glo to Sleep’ Sleep Therapy Mask is easy to use, comfortable to wear, and it actually works. It works so well that I will be getting one for my mom to use; she deals with insomnia, too, and since this is such an easy device to use, I don’t have to worry about being her product support past the initial setup (and a future battery change). If you struggle with shutting your mind off at night, this sleep therapy mask can help; it doesn’t disturb your bedmate, and it doesn’t cost a lot. It’s a great tool for a sound rest!
The Sound Oasis ‘Glo to Sleep’ Sleep Therapy Mask retails for $39.99, and it is available directly from the manufacturer and from other retailers including Amazon [affiliate link].
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Comfortable sleep mask that doesn’t mash your eyes and blocks out all outside light; Points of Glo that you focus on while breathing deeply; Glo lights are not bright enough to mess with your melatonin; It works!
What Needs Improvement: Nothing — it works as advertised
