A ??? regarding recovery and sleep (cycle)

[WideloaD]

Hypothtically, suppose I need 8 hrs of sleep a day to fully recover. If I can't get all of that sleep at night (8 am classes tend to mess with my sleep schedule), is it beneficial then, to take a nap sometime in the afternoon after class. What if I don't feel tired, but just want to do it for recovery reasons? Any input?

I don't know how the sleep cycle fits into all of the recovery process, but I would guess that it's better to get it all at once. Does anybody maybe have a link to a study about this?

 

[Natural_Teen]

IMHO a nap is benefitial, even if only for 45 minutes. Recovery takes place in stage 4 sleep which is reached after 35-40 minutes of sleep. Not to mention stage 2 sleep is where the pituitary gland releases gh (amount depends on age), which always aids in recovery.

 

[epimetheus]

I only get 6-7 hours of sleep on the weekdays, 8 tops on the weekends and I have not had any problems with recovery or getting gains. I think it depends on genetics, some people seem to get by fine on less sleep, some need 10 hours to function normally.

 

[Thaibox]

A consistent sleep schedule is just as important as length of sleep. So, if you're getting shorted at night a little, as long as the hours are on a relatively set schedule, you're good to go.

And yes, naps are always good. Especially if you aren't getting 8+ a night.