Gymnation is introducing NapTime, a new class designed to help people sleep.

Sleep deprivation is a growing concern, with research showing that around one in five adults in the UAE sleep five hours or less a night, reflecting the impact of fast-paced lifestyles and stress. 

NapTime begins with gentle yoga stretching to release physical tension, followed by guided breathwork and meditation to calm the mind and lower stress levels. 

This is followed by NapTime itself – a carefully curated sleep environment complete with beds, duvets, pillows and eye masks designed to help participants drift off. Handpan sound healing uses resonant, metallic and harmonic tones to promote deep relaxation, reduce stress and facilitate meditation to help participants transition naturally into restorative rest. 

It’s a phone-free experience, with members required to place their phones in a secure box before the class begins. By encouraging members to disconnect for 45 minutes, Gymnation hopes to help reset overstimulated nervous systems and reinforce healthier sleep habits beyond the studio.

Dr Gurveen Ranger, consultant clinical psychologist at Sage Clinics, helped to design the class. “Sleep isn’t just rest, it’s one of the most important foundations of health and fitness,” she says. “Whether your goal is to build strength, improve endurance, manage weight, or protect your long-term physical and mental health, quality sleep is the ‘secret training session’.”

Rory McEntee, chief marketing officer at Gymnation says: “Recovery is the new cardio. Globally, there is growing focus on sleep optimisation, breathwork and nervous system regulation, and we wanted to bring that conversation into the gym in a meaningful way. NapTime shows that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for your fitness is absolutely nothing.” 

Lookout for the feature on elite recovery in the upcoming HCM. Experts agree that sleep is the best form of recovery. Sign up for a digital subscription here.