There Is A Gym Class Called "Nap-Ercise," You Guys

Are you tired of elaborate fitness classes? Workouts where a jacked up instructor shouts at you while you do your best not to vomit and/or break the expensive equipment? Classes that demand, among other things, you be awake? Finally, are you tired of sleeping for free? In that case, we have just the class for you. A U.K. gym has introduced “Nap-ercise,” a class where participants pay to take a nap.

The hour-long class was created by David Lloyd Clubs, and consists of 15 minutes of light stretching followed by a 45-minute nap. The gym provides beds, blankets, eye masks, and a group of strangers to ensure the ultimate snoozing experience. According to the promo video — which features a number of extremely fit people in workout gear climbing into fluffy twin beds, and not, as I nap, still wearing shoes and drooling into the couch cushion — the class is “designed to reinvigorate the mind, improve moods, and even burn the odd calorie.” Nap-ercise is being specifically targeted at parents who are often short on rest.

“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 company’s website says. “So we’ve created a new group class -- group napping classes for exhausted mums and dads to help boost their mental and physical wellbeing.”

Although paying to take a nap certainly teeters on the edge of absurdity, studies suggest there are a number of benefits to taking a midday nap. A study from Pennsylvania’s Allegheny College found that participants who took a 45-minute nap in the middle of the day handled stress better than those who didn’t. Another study from UC Berkeley found that midday naps boosted people’s learning capacity. And getting enough rest is more than just a personal problem. The Centers for Disease Control has called insufficient sleep a public health problem that has been linked to motor vehicle crashes, medical and occupational errors, and chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and depression.

Right now, David Lloyd clubs have only introduced the Nap-ercise class at one location, but if it’s successful, it will expand to locations across the United Kingdom. Until then, enjoy your free sleep when and where you can get it. And if you really want to up your relaxation game, check out some of these delightful self-care products.