A new poll provides evidence that exercise at any time of day is good for sleep, which makes 24 hour gyms sound better than ever. The 2013 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) poll may make you want to reconsider any curfew you set on working out.
Researchers found that exercise at any time of day improved sleep quality for most people compared to getting no exercise at all. The overall results about the connection between exercise and sleep quality were dramatic with 67 percent of exercisers reporting good quality sleep compared to 39 percent of non-exercisers. While conventional wisdom used to warn people that exercising too late at night might keep them up, the NSF has now changed its position to encourage exercise at any hour. The one exception is for people who already suffer from insomnia, who are advised to stick with their doctor’s treatment plan.
This is all good news if you enjoy normal sleep. The new recommendations provide you with more options for when to schedule your workouts. If you travel frequently or work rotating hours and evening shifts, the overnight hours may be the only time you can visit a fitness center. Even if you follow a typical work week, there may be times when a 24 hour gym is convenient like when your schedule is thrown off by holidays or house guests. Of course, you may just be a night owl and like the perks of less traffic and shorter lines for the abdominal machine.
No matter what time of day you work out, you’ll find the doors open at one of our 24 hour gyms. Merritt Athletic Clubs is the largest fitness center operation in the Baltimore area. Contact us to learn more about our 24 hour facilities including 24 HR Downtown Athletic Club, 24 HR Buckingham, 24 HR Canton, and 24 HR Cranbrook.
