Research says adequate sleep plays an important part in athletic performance; a good quality and right amount of shuteye is often key to winning, says the National Sleep Foundation.
When an athlete, or even any person in general, doesn’t get enough sleep, their stress hormone increases, while glycogen and carbohydrates—vital for energy use—decrease. Less sleep increases the possibility of fatigue, low energy, and poor focus during practice or the actual game, and may also affect post-game recovery.
The country’s national rugby players, the Philippine Volcanoes and Lady Volcanoes have learned the importance of sleep in training and recovery.
“Sleep is essential to keep us focused when preparing for a game, and helps a lot for our recovery,” says Jaime Chuidian.
Ysabel De Fierro seconds, saying sleep keeps her focused during the game.
Rugby is an intense and, at times, brutal contact sport. Evan Spargo shares, “Our training is very hard because ours is such a fast sport. It has such high intensity with a lot of running, speed work, tackling, pressure work, and contact. So we have to train like we play.”
Hence, Spargo, who strives to get seven to nine hours of shuteye, says he values the importance of quality sleep in performing well.
“It’s the time when your body recovers and energy system is replenished. It’s very important before and after training so we can continuously improve and play according to the standard we want to.”
However, Philippine Volcanoes general manager Jake Letts reveals that while the team is aware of the connection of quality sleep to better performance, their conditions before did not allow them to get that vital factor.
Before, Letts relates, the team was only provided with only the basics at the training camp or even when they traveled to compete. “Each member of the team received a regular mattress and a pillow, and I know that these were not the most comfortable things to have especially after training two to four hours daily.”
When they partnered with Tempur in 2017, Letts noticed better performance of the team.
“We were up and down [the rankings] in 2013-2016. But come 2017, we’ve been moving up in the rankings,” says Letts.
The Philippine Volcanoes recently reached a new all-time high position in the World Rugby rankings at 42nd, moving 11 spots from its previous position. The Lady Volcanoes, on the other hand, recently won the gold in the 2019 Asia Rugby Women’s Sevens Trophy in Indonesia.
De Fierro notes how Tempur products have helped her a lot in getting a good quality rest. “It’s critical because at training camp and during travel, ours is not the most ideal environment. During travel, it’s also important to support the neck the way Tempur does.”
Meanwhile, Nick Jones has also noticed that he wakes up without stiff neck and shoulders from trainings since using Tempur.
Chuidian, who grew up with parents who used Tempur adjustable beds, mattresses, and pillows at home, know fully well the benefits of the brand’s products.
“In all its technical aspects, it is beneficial to athletes like us who train so hard and compete harder. It adjusts to the shape of our bodies so we get rested more.”
Tempur is a unique, temperature-sensitive material that conforms to the shape of the body. The brand says it reduces discomfort caused by pressure points by redistributing pressure.
Spargo, who has been bringing his Tempur travel kit wherever he goes shares how much he loves the product. “The travel mattress is so soft and it relaxes my body. I lie on it and I just get into a relaxation mode.”
In fact, even Stephen Sy, president of Focus Global Inc., the official distributor of Tempur mattresses and pillows in the Philippines, shares when he started sleeping using Tempur products, he’s had a hard time adjusting whenever he stays in hotels.
“My first night, I’ll have difficulty trying to get some sleep,” shares Sy. “The hotels have nice beds, but nothing feels like a Tempur.”
Go to ph.tempur.com to know more.