What is Napercise?

The latest wellness class on the block promotes nothing but sleeping – but what is Napercise?

Back in April, David Lloyd Clubs rolled out a new health and fitness class that consisted of nothing but climbing into bed and having a sleep. It may sound too good to be true, but the newly coined Napercise has been designed to reinvigorate the mind, improve mood and even burn the odd calorie.

What is it?

Primarily targeted at exhausted parents, the pioneering new session comprises 45 minutes of sleep. Upon arrival at the studio, guests are met with single beds and atmospheric sounds to inspire optimum levels of sleep, while a cooler studio temperature promotes maximum calorie burn while sleeping. All you have to do is get into bed and close your eyes for some restorative mid-afternoon shut-eye. Napercise is currently only being trialled at select venues, but if demand grows, expanding is certainly an option. ‘Filling an exercise studio with beds might look unusual, but if it proves to be a success, we’re definitely excited at the possibility of rolling out the programme to more of our clubs down the line,’ said a spokesperson for David Lloyd Clubs.

What are the benefits?

While the class may sound comical, it’s actually rooted in new research that reveals the UK is experiencing a ‘tiredness epidemic’. According to a study conducted by OnePoll on behalf of David Lloyd Clubs in April 2017, 86 per cent of parents admitted to suffering from fatigue, with 26 per cent regularly getting less than five hours sleep a night – with more alarming statistics revealing 11 per cent of us have drifted off while driving and five per cent have forgotten to pick up their child from school due to tiredness. Clearly, then, a lack of sleep goes a lot further than the odd yawn.

Developed alongside Dreams Sleep Expert Kathryn Pinkham, Napercise actually promotes a wealth of health benefits. ‘Sleep is a lot more important than people realise,’ explains Kathryn. ‘We tend to focus on the short-term effects such as being tired or lacking concentration, but it is also essential for our long-term physical and mental wellbeing, too. In addition to a lack of sleep bringing with it a higher risk of developing anxiety or depression, when we are sleep deprived we lack the energy to exercise regularly, and also the mental clarity to make good decisions about the food we eat, which could negatively impact our physical health in the long run.’ Indeed, further research from the OnePoll study found that a whopping 70 per cent of people confessed that a lack of sleep makes even everyday tasks difficult to complete effectively.

Give it a go

The next napping session will be taking place in Bromsgrove on June 8 and Worcester on June 9. Those wishing to take part should head to davidlloyd.co.uk/napercise to sign up.