The Power of Sleep
Sleep is the time for your body to recover, grow, and rejuvenate. It is critical to athletic performance. In fact, studies have shown that sleep and exercise are important physiological variables that are mutually interdependent. They are also influenced by the body clock that drives the sleep-wake cycle. Exercise has been shown to have an impact on subsequent sleep; it is for this reason that athletes are long sleepers. They tend to fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. Sleep is essential for the body's growth and repair needs. Insufficient rest will only serve to sabotage all your efforts spending countless hours training hard. During the training periods, it is vital to respect the greater amount of sleep required. The body requires more rest as more demands are placed on it. It is best to sleep in an optimal environment that is quiet, dark, and comfortable. This maximizes your chances of getting a good quality of sleep that the body needs.
So how much sleep do you need? Studies show that 7-8 hours of sleep is necessary for optimal performance for the average person. Additionally, professional athletes (who train 4-6 hours a day) often need 1-2 hour naps in between their training sessions to recover. It is important to keep a regular sleep schedule too; in particular, try to get up at the same time every day. This has to do with the body's natural physiological rhythm, also known as the circadian rhythm of our body. The circadian rhythm is responsible for changes in the levels of hormones to enable deep and restful sleep as well as a natural awakening. Thus, keeping a regular schedule of getting up enables your body to maximize it's potential performance.
So sleep well, train hard, and live healthy!
Evolve Mixed Martial Arts® is Asia's premier brand of MMA academies. Evolve MMA ranks among the best academies in the world for Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts.
