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sleep like a champion
WHY SLEEP IS THE BEST EXERCISE TO GET FIT
Most of us have heard that doing sports can help to improve our sleep quality, but did you know that sleep also helps you to get fit? Getting more and better quality sleep really can help you improve your athletic performance, regardless of your level and preferred sport.
Research shows that sleeping better can help you improve your speed, accuracy and reaction time when doing sports. So how is sleep actually helping us to get fit?
When we go into the first stage of deep sleep a growth hormone is released which helps the body to regenerate and repair. The hormone stimulates protein synthesis, promotes cell division and helps to break down fat which provides energy for tissue repair.
The more we exercise the more we need to sleep. If you start training for a marathon or increase your exercise frequency the increased intensity can weaken your immune system and put you at a greater risk of falling ill. Studies have shown that athletes who on average sleep less than 8 hours a night are almost twice as likely to get a sports injury as those who sleep more than 8 hours.
Just as you need more calories when you do more sports you also need more sleep to fully recover. If you are training intensively you should sleep up to an hour extra per night. Athletes at the top of their game sleep even more.
From the professional athlete
sleep to perform
Ronnie Schildknecht, Swiss Triathlete
11x IRONMAN champion, ITA DUATHLON Long Distance European Champion, 6x DUATHLON Swiss Champion, multiple 70.3 winner. Swiss record holder on the IRONMAN distance.
"For me sleep or sleep hygiene is an important part of my training. When I train hard, I have to recover as quickly and as well as possible. On the one hand I try to sleep a minimum of 7-8 hours. But what is important is the quality of the hours. On the one hand I keep the room dark and at the right room temperature and with Dagsmejan I use sleepwear that help my body to recover optimally.
To choose a specific, technical clothing for sleep that helps the body to maintain an optimal sleeping climate is of utmost importance to me. I was already enthusiastic about the distinct sleep feeling after the first night and can recommend Dagsmejan to everyone, whether professional athlete or office employee."
Sleep to win
Sleep tips from professional athletes
For professional sportsmen and women sleep is vital. That is why Serena Williams and Roger Federer sleep up to 12 hours a night, in particular during competition season. Patrick Küng, former downhill ski world champion, talks about the challenge travelling for competitions as well: “Travelling a lot for competitions I realize that hotel rooms can be a killer for my sleep, either too warm or too cold. With Dagsmejan I don’t have to worry about that anymore, these pyjamas makes my body feeling instantly at home.”
PATRICK KÜNG
—Former downhill ski world champion
1. Getting enough sleep: “It might sound simple enough but I find that one of the most important factors is to really prioritize my sleep and to ensure that I get enough sleep every night.”
2. Winding down: “During ski racing your body is pumped with adrenaline as you are focused on getting down that slope as fast and safe as possible. To get a good night’s sleep I find that I really need to start winding down well before going to bed to go from action to relaxation.”
3. Sleep routine: “Travelling during the competition season to different countries and time zones it can be difficult to fall asleep and to sleep through. I focus on sticking to my sleep routine, going to bed and waking up at the same time, during and after the season. This helps my body’s internal clock to be in sync.”
BRUNO HASULYO
—SUP world champion
1. Adjusting my sleep to my need: “On average I sleep 9 hours a night plus a 45 min recovery nap during the day. Before big events, where I’m racing for over 2 hours and burning almost 2000 calories, I like to sleep more, around 10 hours. I know that after such a long sleep my body has enough energy to perform at the maximum.”
2. The sleep routine: “It’s important to actually sleep and not just roll around the bed, and that’s why I suggest to create a pre-sleep routine to really sleep smart. As we are all different and we are living in different rhythms all our routines will be different, but I would suggest to try to sleep in similar times every day. It will help your body fall asleep easier.”
3. Avoid first night syndrome—a bad night’s sleep in a new environment: “During my competition season, between all the racing and travelling, finding a good comfortable sleep is not always easy. Different beds, different sheets, different bed positions, so a lot of variables. Ever since I started sleeping in Dagsmejan this is not an issue anymore, as wherever I sleep the first contact with my skin is the unbelievably smooth fabric of Dagsmejan and it makes me feel that I’m sleeping in my own bed in my own home.”
FROM THE EXPERT
sleep like a champion
What can we learn from the professional athletes that are on top of their game? One important lesson is that sleep has been a vital component of their success. Dr. med Lutz Grauman, Phd & specialist in sports medicine, nutrition and chirotherapy and member of the Dagsmejan medical advisory board, talks about why sleep is so important in the world of professional sports and what we all can learn from that.
SLEEP BETTER WITH DAGSMEJAN
experience it yourself
Combining the finest natural fibres with the latest sleep technology Dagsmejan sleepwear is scientifically proven to help you sleep longer and deeper. By staying longer in the ideal climatic zone we can ensure that we can enjoy truly restorative sleep to wake up with focus, energy and clarity to take on whatever the day may offer.
"You look for performance fabrics in your sportswear, so why shouldn’t you in your PJs? Swiss Company Dagsmejan’s range of natural-fibre sleepwear boasts the performance values of synthetics. Moisture-wicking, antibacterial, temperature-regulating and four times more breathable than cotton."
"Super-soft, comfy and stylish the breathable fabric of this sleepwear helps with temperature control."
"Best for recovery: Dagsmejan temperature-controlled sleepwear. Let’s not forget about the best apparel for resting in after your workout, too. These pyjamas are scientifically made to help you sleep better thanks to the high tech fabric that is used."
"Sleep well tonight. The new Balance 2.0 from luxury sleepwear brand Dagsmejan is made from natural fabric derived from beech wood, said to be 6 times as breathable as cotton and twice as soft."
"The cozy fabric made of beech wood fibre guarantees an optimal body temperature all night long. Sweating and freezing are a thing of the past, so we sleep deeper and longer."
DAGSMEJAN IN THE SPORTS MEDICAL MAGAZINE
"DAGSMEJAN SLEEPWEAR IS CLEARLY SUPERIOR TO CONVENTIONAL PYJAMAS"
New development in sleepwear is helping the nightly rejuvenation after training. By keeping the best temperature for sleep we have a larger percentage in the vital deep sleep phases which supports an optimal recovery after sports. Functional sleepwear and the evolution of smart pyjamas by Dagsmejan is scientifically proven to boost your sleep.
