Thread: Exercise decreasing REM sleep?

Hm, I've heard, from different sources, that physical activity is good for dreaming.

Do you still remember vivid dreams on a nightly basis? Maybe not nightly, but occasionally?

Fuck what a book said, if your still dreaming then dream on.

My recall is terrible, not consistent at all, and ive been trying for 2 years almost

In EWLD, Laberge mentions that the increase in Delta waves, or slow wave sleep (SWS), is likely due to increased heat--a byproduct of exercise.

I found a study that talks about exactly what you need to know: Sleep Recovery from Physical Exercise: A New Understanding of Brain Responses to Stress.

Here's are main points to take away from it:

Originally Posted by Alain Buguet

The increase in slow-wave sleep during the hot season occurred at the expense of stage 2. This was well demonstrated in the European expatriates who were also studied during the transitory March period (Fig. 4).

[...]

REM sleep was not influenced by exercise nor by the season.

[...]

In the hot season, there was an overall increase in slow-wave sleep, due primarily to an increase in stage 4. Conversely, stage 2 decreased.

[...]

In man, it is a state of poor thermal regulation, with an inhibition of sweating in the heat (18) and shivering in the cold (6), leading to increases in skin and core temperatures (18). Therefore, body core cooling during slow-wave sleep may be essential in permitting REM sleep to occur after external or internal heat load.

Okay, so it seems as though the heat-stress caused by exercise does increase SWS, but only at the expense of Stage 2 sleep, and not REM.

I hope this puts your mind at ease, so go out there and exercise to your heart's content.

Originally Posted by insideout

Hm, I've heard, from different sources, that physical activity is good for dreaming.

i completely agree with this. having had my bike out of action, ive not had as much exercise lately and my lucidity is down as a result. although excessive exercose may have the opposite effect. especially for wilds it is very helpful to have a tired body and a sharp mind.

a healthy body will help with a healthy mind so it has to be beneficial long term. its the same with a healthy diet, if your body is busy digesting loads of crap, then it may manifest as a busy, sidetracked mindstate in dreams

Originally Posted by whiterain

a healthy body will help with a healthy mind so it has to be beneficial long term. its the same with a healthy diet, if your body is busy digesting loads of crap, then it may manifest as a busy, sidetracked mindstate in dreams

Exactly what I thought.
Basically, what's good for you body, is good for you mind, is good for dreaming.

Just a personal experience to add to discussion, I do dancing 3-4 evenings a week(not social stuff, professionally, 2-3 hours of very intense activity) and I noticed I don't recall any dreams those nights(according to Zeo on those nights I get much less REM sleep). So I think light exercise can be beneficial for LD but demanding workouts probably require more deep sleep to compensate.
Anybody had a similar experience?

Originally Posted by rynkrt3

if your still dreaming then dream on.

That sounds inspirational.
OT: I exercise pretty much everyday and I have pretty good recall. You just have to show your mind how important dreams are to you.