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Our Natural Sleep Cycle
Ed Labossiere
In health education I was taught that eight hours of solid sleep was ideal for health and wellness. Recently I came across some research about sleep that astounded me. The natural sleep cycle of human beings is different from what I had learned.
I have been concerned about sleep for quite some time because it was rare for me to have a full night of uninterrupted sleep. What was wrong with me? In talking to people about sleeping patterns, I found that many shared the same concerns.
This is what I recently found out. Sleep researchers have gone through literature of times past and conducted experiments with ordinary people. They discovered what is called the natural sleep cycle. Our body clocks work on the day/night cycle and in the evening when we go to sleep it is completely natural to sleep quite solidly for about four hours, then have a period of wakefulness
and meditation. Some people find that they feel like getting up and working on things. This may last for an hour or two and it is followed by the “second sleep” or “morning sleep.” It is completely normal to have a nap or siesta in the middle of the day, usually after lunch. The eight hour sleep may just be a model for the industrial age, but it does not conform to nature. Following the natural pattern or flow enables a person to sleep better and to be more fully alert during the day.
So it turns out that my wake/sleep pattern is quite normal. It has put me at ease and I think that everyone should be aware of this information. If you sleep for eight hours or so without waking that is fine too. Of course, each one of us has hopefully developed a lifestyle which best suits him or her. By paying more attention to our own body clocks, comfort levels and psychology, we can enjoy better health and a fuller life.
References: Internet: TED.com Jessa Gamble - “Our Natural Sleep Cycle” Wikipedia - “Segmented Sleep”
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