Sleep Tight

by Jeff Wooten

Sleep is important to all humans. There have been extensive studies which show that, on average, people need at least eight hours per night, and even as much as nine or more. Obviously, we can function on less than eight hours, but not very well for very long. Eventually, you begin to exhibit signals that tell you it is time to catch up on your sleep.

Most folks that think that they only need five or six hours of sleep per day are fooling themselves. They may do this for a while, but eventually they must stop and get real sleep. If not, they likely are not functioning very well.

So, why is sleep important? The reason is there are some important bodily functions happening at night. First of all, nighttime is when your body does the majority of its repair work. If you exercise regularly, you need growth hormones to do their job at night. If you cheat yourself on sleep, you will continue to go downhill.

Speaking of people who exercise regularly, I know you might fall into this category. So, this message is for you: Most people that exercise vigorously on a regular basis sleep soundly. Also, one of the first noticeable reactions reported by people that are just beginning a good exercise regimen is sound sleep. When you begin to live the fitness lifestyle (including vigorous exercise), eight hours of sleep becomes a requirement – not something you merely strive for!

Another thing to consider is our body’s natural need to take a midday nap. Contrary to popular belief, that need to sleep in the afternoon is not caused by poor eating habits or a large lunch, although these things can contribute to fatigue. Taking a brief power nap during the day has been shown to be beneficial, as it will make you sharper for the remainder of the day. These power naps should be 20-30 minutes in length. You should avoid going into deep sleeps during the day, because this is counter-productive, and can actually leave you more listless.

Of course, the midday cat naps are frowned upon in America (unless you are lucky enough to work for a company with a sofa in the break room). Too bad!

Jeff Wooten, president of The Body Mechanic™, is a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMBT #4626), Certified Fitness Trainer and Certified Specialist in Martial Arts Conditioning. Wooten has extensive martial arts, power yoga and Brazilian jujitsu training and is certified by The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). He incorporates the healing effects of massage into his classes, teaching group fitness, martial arts, health and fitness, and meeting with clients in their homes for personal training sessions.

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