Exercise and sleep are believed to be perfect partners. A restful night’s sleep will boost your workout, decrease the chance of injury, and help ensure that muscles and the body are in good shape. Sleep deprivation, however, may weaken one’s immune system.
Raj Sipani, a 35-year-old businessman and fitness enthusiast from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, recalls the benefits of a good sleeping pattern after he began exercising frequently.
“I have been working out for more than ten years now, and what began as a hobby has now become my passion,” Sipani declares. “I workout each day, mostly in the evenings, after work. It’s not solely for fitness, but because] it helps reduce daily pressure and anxiety. I generally sleep well and deep sleep after a workout because my body is energized and fresh. In addition, the endorphins are a factor in my positive feeling the following day.”
How do sleep and exercise connection functions
Exercise is a chemical reaction that generates more adenosine within the brain. Adenosine can cause us to feel tired. Recent research has revealed that intense training significantly increases the sleep-inducing chemical known as adenosine.
It is generally accepted that physical exercise can lead to the body becoming exhausted and, as a result, improves sleep. The other thing to consider is that it can significantly enhance the body’s overall well-being. “This is because physical activity is known to improve the quality and duration of sleep,” claims Dr. Sudheer Kumar Tyagi, a neurosurgeon from Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. “It is actually a kind of a treatment for people who suffer from insomnia and helps in stopping the usage of sleeping pills, which may be detrimental in the long run.”
The June 20, 2021, study on the effect of exercise on the quality of sleep and insomnia in adults revealed that regular physical activities for the mind and body primarily enhanced the subjective quality of sleep instead of the physiological quality for adults.
Jesmin Singh, 29, a copywriter from Delhi, has included dance, yoga, and Pilates in her exercise regimen following her doctor’s advice. “I have a desk job, so I was not very active physically and was having difficulty falling asleep at nights,” she says. “Now, I sleep better as I get exhausted post work and my physical activities.” _
Do not exercise too often or close to bedtime.
However, intense workouts that are done close to nighttime can affect the sleep pattern of most people, except athletes whose bodies are accustomed to a different type of exercise.
According to a study, exercising before bedtime can affect sleep quality and duration. Therefore, exercising for an hour before going to bed is a no-no.
Good health and sleep
“When we need to check whether we are healthy or not, we need to see whether we can fall asleep naturally and wake up naturally,” says Dr. Pallavi Aga, a nutritionist and lifestyle management consultant at Mind, Body and Wellness Clinic, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. “That really is the hallmark of good health.”
The doctor says exercise boosts wellbeing and makes your body stronger and healthier. However, doing excessive exercise near bedtime isn’t beneficial. “I always say work out in the morning so that one can get the benefit of happy hormones the whole day long,” adds Dr. Aga.