What drives your passion for helping others take back their health?
First my mom fell ill and passed, then my father. It just became very clear to me that health and happiness are linked together and I had a way and information to share to help people live happier, healthier lives. This is way more fulfilling than anything I’ve ever done. And I love it!
What I spend so much of my time doing is educating people about healthy sleep and what I call the “hardware” of sleep – your bed!
We spend 1/3 of our life in bed and yet people spend much more time, money and effort selecting a dining chair or sofa. It makes me crazy! A bed is much more than a piece of furniture; I believe it can be considered a healthcare device. After all, where do chronically ill people spend much of their time? In bed, of course!
Your bed should be a place of restoration, regeneration and it is only when you sleep that you heal, grow muscle, renew your immune system and so much more.
Why are the popular springform mattresses a problem?
This is a great question! Metal spring mattresses are a huge problem for many sleepers and they don’t even realize it. Here’s a simple list and I’ll be happy to elaborate should anyone want additional information.
1. Metal spring mattresses were created over 150 years ago before we had electricity running through our walls and ceilings, before we had Wifi and radio frequencies literally surrounding us.
Metal behaves like little antennae attracting these waves and since you are already a conductive body, you attract a lot of milli-voltage to your body. Although this happens while we are awake, as well, it is all the more important while we sleep because electromagnetic radiation (EMR) disrupts our natural Circadian rhythms.
2. Most beds are made 100% from petrochemicals, polyesters, formaldehydes, VOC’s. What’s more, these materials don’t breathe. They trap heat and moisture making ideal growth environments for dust mites, bacteria, mold, and mildew.
3. Memory foam in my opinion is even more dangerous. I can’t count the number of people who have complained about the off-gassing of this foam. What’s more, I can’t find out with certainty what is even in this foam. Manufacturers create proprietary names and then hide behind “trade secrets” to fully disclose what materials are used. Sounds fishy to me.
What can someone can do to slowly improve their bed and sleeping environment, if they are on a budget?
1. First and foremost, people need to clean up their bedrooms. When consulting with clients I find that their so-called bedroom is also a social room, an office, a multi-media center, a storage room, even an extension of their kids’ playrooms and their pet’s hangout. Sleep should be sacred and your bedroom should be a sleep sanctuary. Also, just psychologically waking up to a big mess is not a peaceful way to start the day, is it?
2. The next thing I insist my client’s do is rid their bedrooms of any and all electronic devices. We were recently in San Francisco for a client and I measured the EMF’s and RF’s in his bedroom. As I guessed, it was his office desk full of electronics that were the culprit of his concerns. A router does not belong in the bedroom and it certainly doesn’t need to be on at night while you sleep. The cordless phone is so often right on the night stand near someone’s head and this device sends out invisible, silent pulses all night long.
A cell phone is 3G or 4G Hz and that “G” stands for BILLION so that is 3 or 4 billion Hz while your heart beats on a simple 6.7 Hz. Logically, you just have to ask yourself it this makes any sense? Same with charging electronic devices. Charge them anywhere except your bedroom and turn them all off at night. I know some people have jobs requiring them to be on call and you know what I tell them– get a land line!
3. What’s more, our Circadian rhythm is triggered by light. Your kidneys don’t know what time it is so the way they know to go into nighttime mode is triggered by light. The sun goes down and light diminishes. Darkness stimulates production of melatonin, your sleep hormone. Modern lifestyles have created artificial daylight. We have a friend whose kid has ADD. Late after dinner with them one night, every light in the house was on and their kid was extremely hyper. No wonder! Lights should be dimmed. Candles and lamps with dimmers are what we use and even night lights or dim light in bathroom.
What is special about SAMINA beds?
Everything. SAMINA is not just a bed – it is a sleep system. SAMINA is a complete sleep solution providing your body with great back support while promoting circulation and made from natural materials to help people breathe better especially allergy sufferers.
SAMINA is made from all breathable materials and has a unique open air design. This is one of the reasons our bed has so much attention and support from the medical community.
It began for us with Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt who has worldwide fame for developing protocols for treatment of Lyme disease. He treats most chronically ill patients and found that some were suffering from mold toxicity and the source of that mold was their bed! When you think about it, it makes sense. A dark, warm, damp place containing hydration and nutrition (dead skin cells) is a great petri dish for microorganisms to grow. SAMINA is designed as a “self-cleaning” bed.
What health lifestyle habits have made the biggest improvement in your health?
Fortunately, I have an active, full life with fulfilling work and the love of my family. We take care to stop and smell the roses along the way and enjoy the richness of many cultures including their foods. What I can tell you is how many people we’ve seen living with health challenges who seem to overlook simple things that can be so meaningful.
One is just having a clean household. When the animals of the household take over, it’s not only disgusting but hair everywhere and dander contribute to problems with the humans (allergies, breathing, skin rashes, etc.) Cleanliness is a high value in German culture and one I see many Americans could improve. You wouldn’t believe how some people live.
I actually walk my talk. Sleep is a priority in my life. My wife, Denise, whom I married in 2013 will tell you that this has had an impact on her life as well. How do you feel when you don’t sleep well for one night? A week? A month? Lack of sleep has been recognized as a public health crisis by the Centers for Disease Control. It takes its toll on you over time and even after one night. Productivity, creativity, safety all suffer when people don’t sleep well.
In addition to sleep, we try to eat well and only whole foods. You won’t find any processed pre-packaged meals in our refrigerator and lots of frozen fruits and veggies in our freezer. We love our Vitamix and miss it when we travel. Morning smoothies packed with protein, fiber and whole food nutrients are a habit.
We also have the good fortune of participating in many conferences and trade shows, like your upcoming Take Back Your Health Conference. Although the purpose is business, the benefits to us are so much more – we meet health professionals, we listen to lectures and we try their products. Recently, we met Dr. Josh Axe and he now sleeps in SAMINA. His bone broth protein powder is revolutionary and we love it!
How do you relax after a stressful day?
This is a great question and another thing I coach clients to do – develop a ritual. Being a hands-on business owner and dealing with so many clients referred to me by doctors or other SAMINA sleepers takes a lot of energy – body, mind and soul. It’s critical I replenish on every level. Our travel schedule is erratic and interrupts my ritual but when we are home it is quite simple.
The end of the work day is often 7pm or 8 pm. Once home, I shower then enjoy my infrared sauna for at least 20 minutes before showering again. The process is relaxing and rejuvenating. The quiet time is meditative and then I am starving.
Fortunately, my wife enjoys cooking and we have a nice meal at home. Of course, I am German so that Weiss bier is something I regularly enjoy with dinner, although living in California has helped me enjoy a glass of wine with my wife, too. Nothing wrong with a glass or two a couple of hours before bed.
Sleep professionals all agree that bedtime rituals are extremely beneficial. While we establish them for our children especially when they are young, we often neglect them as adults.
One thing that shocks me is how many people don’t bathe before going to bed. We not only have a shoes-off household to limit dirt and bacteria from the outside world, we also rinse off the funk of the day psychologically and physically to help keep our bed and bedding clean and fresh and we do love our bed!
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We’re glad to host Claus and SAMINA Just Healthy Sleep as a Take Back Your Health Sponsor! Come meet Claus Pummer and ask more questions about how to get better sleep at Take Back Your Health LA!
Buy your tickets here: www.TakeBackYourHealthConference.com