CREDIT: JEN DOEDE
The new Neurospa nap pods are located next to room SC2016 at the end of the hallway on the second floor of the Student Centre.

Two NeuroSpa nap pods are now available next to room SC2016 for students who are in need of a quick snooze or relaxing massage on campus. According to Carol Balzer, the administrative services manager for the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU), the student union was noticing a number of students choosing to nap on couches and chairs in busy areas throughout the College. As a result of seeing all these students sleeping in uncomfortable places, the FSU chose to purchase two NeuroSpa nap pods to provide comfortable areas for students who need a quick nap or massage.

“We thought it would be a great addition to our Student Centre where students can have a quick 20 minute cat-nap. The students are [on campus] for long days and work late,” Balzer said.

According to the instruction manual for the NeuroSpa nap pods, there are a variety of settings with different objectives. One setting seeks to create a relaxing and soothing atmosphere that immerses students in a calm and tranquil state with the sounds of raindrops. Another mode claims to reenergize the user with a massage featuring aquatic themed music that will help invigorate students for the evening.

The nap pods come with a hood for students to pull down when resting in the seat. The hood displays a quaint sunset setting. The nap pods are also equipped with headphones which will play different sounds depending on the setting students choose. Some selections offer soothing natural sounds to help put students in a state of relaxation. The sessions take in between five to 30 minutes and students can switch settings with a remote.

According to the instruction manual, the NeuroSpa nap pods also provide neuromuscular massages, which assist in reducing stress and chronic pain. The NeuroSpa website states that the nap pods were developed with years of research on the effects of music on the human body in mind. After relaxing in the pod for 10 minutes, the website explains that the sensations communicate with an individual's nervous system, releasing tension from stress in the body. Currently, the company has sold nap pods to more than 1000 enterprises, hotels and spas since 2008.

Morganna Sampson, president of the FSU, explained the nap pods can be beneficial to a student's mental health. The nap pods are placed at the end of a quiet hallway on the second floor of the Student Centre, which provides student with the opportunity to have a quick 20 to 30 minute massage or nap away from busy hallways in the College. This can be particularly useful to relax before an exam or recuperate from the stresses that pertain to the recent College faculty strike.

“Trying to sleep in a chair in a hallway with busy students around you is not comfortable or ideal. Being able to grab a 20-minute nap somewhere nice a quiet and away from the hustle and bustle can be very beneficial to students,” Balzer said.

In addition, the Student Wellness Centre also has two quiet rooms available for students who are in need of a quick snooze. Students can sign-up for 45-minute time blocks throughout the Student Wellness Centre's hours of operation.