Strengh Sensei Video Library
The Power of Sleep Webinar
Insights into how to get more of the quality shut-eye you need
A poor night’s sleep will adversely affect anything you plan to do during the day. At work or school, you won’t be as mentally sharp or productive. In the gym or on the athletic field, your performance will suffer. Add to that a laundry list of what a lack of quality sleep will do to your health, and you
have an issue that deserves your attention.
There is no question that you need a good night’s sleep, but few know the answers on how to get it. You’ll find those answers in the Strength Sensei
Power of Sleep Webinar.
The hour-long, interruption-free webinar is presented by Team Strength Sensei instructor Adrienne Smith. A former national bikini and figure competitor, Smith was a student of Strength Coach Charles Poliquin. Coach Poliquin stressed to Smith the importance of quality sleep and lots of it! The Power of Sleep webinar presents these ideas in a practical, “How To” format, along with the research to back it up.
Team Strength Sensei Instructor Adrienne Smith introduces The Power of Sleep webinar program.
Smith begins the webinar by discussing why sleep is important and how it can affect brain health and body functions. Consider these risk factors of sleep deprivation from the National Sleep Foundation: Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cognitive issues, and obesity — yes, poor sleep habits can make you fat! It can also increase your risk of getting into a car crash, according to the National Traffic Safety Administration. But how much sleep is optimal?
Consider that according to the National Sleep Foundation, a newborn may need as much as 17 hours a day of sleep, whereas a senior adult may only need 7 hours. Athletes, in contrast, may benefit from extended sleep.
Superstar athletes, including Usain Bolt and Maria Sharapova, reportedly sleep 10 hours a night. In contrast, LeBron James and Roger Federer
claimed they needed 12 hours to train hard and compete at the highest levels. Perhaps a bit extreme, but they may be on to something.
In a study published in 2009, Stanford researchers recruited college-age male and female swimmers to participate in a 7-week study requiring them to extend their sleep to 10 hours per day. The researchers reported faster reaction times in leaping off the blocks, more kick strokes, and faster 15-meter sprint and turn times. Two years later, Stanford researchers performed a similar study on male collegiate basketball players. They found the extra Z’s significantly improved their shooting, especially from 3-point range.
Coach Smith explains how the brain is the only organ that is never meant to age.
Smith emphasizes throughout the webinar that how much sleep is needed and what type of sleep schedule is optimal for an individual — in other words, the rest is up to you! To guide you, Smith spends a considerable amount of time in the Power of Sleep Webinar discussing “circadian
rhythms.” These are our sleep cycles that respond to our environment, especially light.
Understanding circadian rhythms is one topic that Coach Poliquin said that trainers needed to address with their clients, such as advising them to make their bedroom “a Batcave” with minimal light. He also believed that even if you get to bed late, it’s best to wake up at the same time each day. For Poliquin, his day would start at 4:00 am, so he could get right to work in the morning uninterrupted with his studies and other tasks.
According to Smith, good sleep is not just a number. She says the deepest type of sleep is called Rapid Eye Movement sleep, or REM. Because REM
sleep is where the most restorative effects occur, Smith designed her program to prolong the amount of time spent in it. Her “To-Do List” of
quality sleep habits include what to eat before you sleep and when you should eat it. She also discusses how to deal with the stress hormone.
Although Smith presents references to a considerable amount of sleep research for those who want to further explore the science of sleep, The
Power of Sleep webinar was designed for a general audience. Coach Smith’s #1 goal was to provide practical recommendations to ensure you get not just enough sleep, but the quality sleep you deserve!
[Adrienne Smith’s The Power of Sleep webinar is available in formats to use on your smartphone or desktop computer. Click this link to get started: https://strengthsenseiinc.com/product/sleep-webinar/]
Stay tuned for an all new Dojo of Strength launching February 2021, which will include an all NEW High Performance Package featuring exclusive content from Charles Poliquin, a Dojo of Strength for Women featuring all things women’s health related by Coach Adrienne, and a Dojo for Combat Sports featuring training and nutrition protocols to keep you at the top of your game by Coach Eric Falstrault.
