Making a difference

Both Shang and Aluna came to sleep management through their respective practices.

With more than two decades of experience as a yoga instructor, Aluna began exploring sleep issues more deeply in 2013, when she noticed a recurring pattern among clients with cancer or depression: many struggled with both loss of appetite and insomnia.

"Recognizing the potential of yoga practices like Yoga Nidra — a form of guided meditation that induces deep relaxation and helps improve sleep — I decided to use my expertise as a tool for healing and overall well-being," she said.

Beyond one-on-one consultations, Aluna also organized outreach programs, inviting volunteers to provide free medical services in rural areas.

Her efforts later supported Shang's work, including fundraising through the sale of her personal belongings.

By the time Shang earned her PhD, she had visited more than 30 villages. In 2019, the two established a welfare organization together, offering services such as sleep assessment and consultation.

Their collaboration has since evolved into a more structured approach. They launched a sleep management lab brand with locations in Shanxi and Hainan, and this year organized a free clinic in Taiyuan for World Sleep Day, offering sleep assessments and traditional Chinese medicine evaluations.

The participants' response highlighted a persistent gap.

"The most common feedback was the lack of access to professional sleep knowledge," Shang said. "It shows how much public education is needed."