For some, group exercise classes are a way to beat fatigue and pump up your energy levels, and for others, you wish you could still be in bed sleeping instead of waking up at the crack of dawn to sweat. Now, there's a fitness class that both groups of people can support. "Napercise" is a 45-minute group fitness class that comprises, well, napping.
David Lloyd Clubs [1], a UK exercise studio, is testing out the napping class concept "designed to help busy people combat fatigue and tiredness." If you're questioning why you would voluntarily spend money to have a slumber party with a group of strangers when you could just take a nap at home, it's the vibe of the studio that makes all the difference.
The room is set to "an ideal temperature for slumber" and is equipped with single beds, blankets, and eye masks. According to the studio's website [2], the afternoon sleep session "is designed to reinvigorate the mind, the body, and even burn the odd calorie."
"The frantic nature of modern life means that few of us seem to get enough sleep, and if you're a parent, a good night's rest becomes even more of a luxury," the website reads. "So [we've] created a new group class — group napping classes for exhausted mums and dads to help boost their mental and physical well-being."
We're full supporters of napping, and it's not only because we're tired humans — naps are good for you [4]! A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that naps improve your alertness [5] and mental capacity, and we all know how hard it is to get a full eight hours with our busy schedules.
While unfortunately Napercise is only available in the UK, we have a feeling the trend is going to make its way to the United States soon.