Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Connection between Exercise and Sleep

Do you often use the excuse that you are too tired to exercise? If so, chances are you need to improve your sleeping habits. Most of us already know exercise can improve our cardiovascular health, strengthen our bones and muscles, and relive muscle tension. However, the time of day we choose to exercise and the activity, can also have a major effect on the amount of Z's you catch per night.

Exercising Before Bed – Is the worst time you could perform your workout routine. It is actually a common misunderstanding that working out 2-3 hours before you hit the sack will make you sleepy. The truth is when you put in a vigorous workout you get your heart pumping that will cause your body temperature to rise and make it more difficult for you to fall asleep at night.

Exercising in the Morning –Working out in the early morning will help start your body for the day and reinforce your sleep/wake cycle. Exercising and staying fit are known to improve our mood, and so is natural light. Getting outside during your morning routine when the air is crisp and the sun is new, will boost those mood lifting benefits!

Exercising in the late afternoon/early evening – This is the time of day when we have the opportunity to maximize our sleep the most by performing our exercise routine. Late afternoon/early evening is the ideal time to exercise, because it is raises your body temperature for a few hours pre-bedtime, so that when you are ready to fall asleep your body temperature should start to drop, which will allow you to ease into a deep sleep.

Consult your personal trainer at our exclusive fitness gym for more tips and information on how getting the proper amount of sleep every night can affect your workout routine and results!

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