Sign Us Up: There’s Now a ‘Napercise’ Gym Class
Updated: May 07, 2021
Consider this your excuse to skip your workout for a snooze.
Most of the time, crawling into PJs sounds way more appealing than jumping into gym clothes for a sweat session. One gym is giving the people what they want: a nap class.
No tricking you into a major workout here—the Napercise class is just what it sounds like. An hour-long session from UK-based David Lloyds Clubs promises to give you a solid 45 minutes of restorative sleep.
The gym doesn’t just roll out cots and expect you to conk right out in a room full of strangers. Not only does each participant get a bed and sleep mask, but 15 minutes of the class are devoted to tension-releasing stretching. Plus, atmospheric sounds create a relaxing environment to help you drift off (find more songs proven to help you fall asleep), and the room is at the ideal temperature for calorie-burning sleep, according to its website. Sounds way more relaxing than a bedroom with screaming kids in the next room.
No, you won’t burn major calories like at your usual fitness class, but the benefits of napping are nothing to scoff at. Napercise is aimed at sleep-deprived parents, but the physical and mental perks could help just about anyone. Studies show naps can improve your memory, boost your mood, and sharpen your thinking, according to a review in the Journal of Sleep Research. Another French study found that a half-hour nap could ease stress and boost immune systems of sleep-deprived people.
Unfortunately for Americans, Napercise is a trial in just one of the fitness center’s London locations for now. Until more gyms pick up on the trend, we’ll be sneaking in our own midday naps. And no, we will not feel one bit lazy.
