GymNation is launching the Middle East’s first gym class that helps you fall asleep.

Launched to coincide with World Sleep Day, the NapTime class has been created in response to the fact that only one in five adults in the UAE reports getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night. While one in five adults in the region sleeps five or less hours per night. A statistic which reflects the impact of fast-paced lifestyles and stress.

Global data also places the UAE among the highest late night sleeper populations worldwide, with many residents going to bed after midnight and averaging just 6.85 hours of sleep, below the recommended seven to nine hours.

Sleep matters

Yet while we continue to glorify ‘always on’ lifestyles, the simple truth is not that rest is a radical act, but crucial to recovery, which in turn powers physical performance, mental clarity and long-term health. 

A fact which underlines why recovery has become one of the fastest-growing trends in global fitness.

Capitalising on this trend, the NapTime class is all about rest, relaxation and performance-enhancing recovery because as GymNation puts it, ‘recovery is the new cardio.’

Unlike traditional workouts, NapTime is structured in four calming stages. The class begins with gentle yoga stretching to release physical tension, followed by guided breathwork and meditation to calm the mind and lower stress levels. 

Next is NapTime itself, which is a carefully curated sleep environment complete with beds, duvets, pillows and even eye masks designed to help participants drift off. All of this takes place to the soothing sounds of a live handpan. 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. 

The experience will be entirely phone-free, reflecting a broader shift in experiences to prioritise in-person presence above creating a digital footprint. Members will be required to place their phones into a secure box before the class begins. 

Research shows that up to 90% of people use their phones in the hour before bed, and exposure to blue light from screens can suppress melatonin production and delay sleep onset. By encouraging members to disconnect for 45 minutes, GymNation hopes to help reset overstimulated nervous systems and reinforce healthier sleep habits beyond the studio.

Desmond Wong, Coach at GymNation, explains: “Sleep is one of the most powerful recovery tools we have, yet it’s the one most people neglect. When you combine light movement, breathwork and meditation, you help the nervous system shift into a calmer state which lowers stress hormones and prepares the body for deep rest. NapTime is designed to help people truly unwind, reset mentally, and give their body the recovery it needs to perform at its best.”

GymNation says the class is designed to complement, not replace, traditional training. It can be incorporated into a wider fitness regime to enhance muscle repair, improve focus and boost overall performance with a focus on recovery.

Supporting the concept is Dr Gurveen Ranger, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Sage Clinics, who worked alongside GymNation on the initiative. Ranger explained: “Sleep isn’t just rest, it’s one of the most important foundations of health and fitness. Studies show that extending sleep can improve physical performance by around 9%, while consistently losing sleep can reduce performance by a similar amount. Think of sleep as your body’s free recovery tool because that’s where the real progress happens.” 

He continued: “Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a biological necessity that interacts with every major system in your body. 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 added: “We are used to telling people to push harder, lift heavier and train longer. The science is clear: without recovery, progress stalls. 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.”

He continued: “NapTime shows that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for your fitness is absolutely nothing. That’s also why NapTime is completely phone-free. We live in a constant state of stimulation; notifications, scrolling, late-night emails, and it’s impacting how well we switch off. By asking members to put their phones away before class, we’re creating a rare environment where you can properly disconnect, calm your nervous system and be present.”

The classes launch in the midst of World Sleep Day on the 13th March and will run weekly from the 14th March. 

To find out more about the experience, click here.