Dave Cross
With 20 years experience working in the fitness industry, Dave Cross has built a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience as a Coach and Personal Trainer. Dave now leads Group ...
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Who are you?
Hi, I'm Dave Cross. I'm a master trainer at Pure Gym, and in this conversation, feel free to ask me any questions you have on how exercise can affect sleep.
What type of workout promotes the deepest sleep?
For this, I would say a moderate level of cardio and aerobic training would be great. You can train around the vigorous style. This really does depend on what time of day and what your lifestyle suits as to when you can exercise. But it's really ideal to keep the moderate to intense exercise and the vigorous exercise a little earlier in the day if you can, so that you're saving the less intense exercise closer to bedtime, as that can really help you prepare for sleep and just bring your mind and your body at ease, especially closer within maybe the one to two hours of you choosing to go to bed.
Should I do a workout just before going to bed?
Personally, I wouldn't only because it sort of doesn't help me prepare to get ready to go to sleep. It's something that I think would hinder your method and your ability to actually really come to a rest if you really have to. Then, of course, but if you can save some of your training, especially more of the high intensity training earlier on in the day, absolutely do that. But again, if you have to, and if your lifestyle only suits a workout just before bed, I'd personally recommend something around the lines of a yoga or a good stretch or something that really isn't involve too much dynamics. Maybe a light resistance or a body weight workout, but nothing that's going to really elevate your heart rate too much is that can massively hinder your ability to get to sleep.