Advertorial from Focus Magazine:
Sleep on this if you value health, pleasure and the environment
Once I started reading up on conventional mattresses and all the microbes, insects, fungi and toxic chemicals they harbour, the more urgently I wanted to lay down on something else. During a recent visit to Studio 201 Furniture on Oak Bay Avenue, I explored Victoria’s only gallery of healthy, Canadian-designed-and-made Natura mattresses. I stretched out on one called the “Cloud,” and oh, the pleasure! Once I’d had the sensation of floating on such a dreamy, sumptuous mattress comprised of natural talalay latex, wool, bamboo and soy-based foam, I told Sue, co-owner of Studio 201, that it had to come home with me.
Arlette Parneta can’t help but rave about her Natura mattress too, and the whole experience of buying from Archie and Sue at Studio 201. “I told them that because of this mattress, I’ve turned into a really nice person!” An avid golfer, she found that she woke up with some kind of stiff pain in her body each morning. “With the old mattress, I wasn’t sure what the problem was. Had I overextended myself the day before? But it was an every day event. My arms sometimes were aching, my back, my shoulders. It was one of those bowling-ball mattresses, an expensive one.”
“I kept complaining that I couldn’t stand my bed. I went browsing after coffee with a friend at Studio 201 and saw they had mattresses, so I tried one. It just felt right from the first moment, but how can you tell for sure? The way Sue and Archie were describing all the product features really helped. I came back and tried it again and said, ‘That’s the mattress.’ I really trusted what Sue and Archie were telling me; I know when someone is trying to sell me something and when someone is educating me. There’s a difference.”
From start to finish, Arlette was impressed with the store, the service, and the thoughtful selection of inventory at Studio 201. “They delivered the mattress with great care, and quickly assembled everything. The morning after that first night was as good as the promise. That’s why I’m so high on this bed. I’ve told my sons, when they get their next bed, get a Natura! It really has made a difference. I told my doctor to recommend this to anyone who was having pain like I was. Last night I came home on a late ferry. I was so tired. I thought, ‘My bed will make me feel better,’ and it did. It just sort of takes away the aches.”
Ralph Rossdeutscher, the self-described “Head Honcho” of Natura, says his family’s decision to found the Ontario-based company in 1994 came from a desire to solve the mystery behind having a healthier, more abundant lifestyle. “Healthy sleep is vital to a healthy life, and we believe using natural materials is the best solution for ourselves and our planet. By using sustainable, earth-friendly manufacturing practices and materials, Natura is truly where nature meets nurture. It’s not a trend—it’s a way of life.”
Those plush and luxurious mass-marketed mattresses often feel comfortable when tested in the store, but fail to address the more serious long-term issues such as recurring pain, restless sleep, and zombie-like mornings. Researching both body mechanics and typical movement during sleep, Natura has created a selection of beds, pillows, and bedding that is designed to work with the body, not against it. Their mattresses are endorsed and recommended by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association.
“It’s surprising to me that something so utilitarian can be this pleasurable,” Arlette adds. “It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it, but once you find these Natura mattresses, you know that if you don’t buy one, you’re going to deprive yourself of a good sleep.”