Ask Deb: How Do Beds Influence Our Bodies?
March 7, 2018

I’m in college pursuing a dance degree and sleep on a futon in order to save money. Even after a good eight hours of sleep each night, I still wake up feeling fatigued in the morning. I’m curious: How much does the bed we sleep on affect our dancing bodies?


Good question! The bed you sleep on can strongly impact your ability to rest comfortably. It’s possible that the futon you’re sleeping on is too hard (especially the older ones where the batting has compressed over time). You might try putting a foam pad over the top of the futon as an inexpensive way to alter the softness of the bed.

Beyond the quality of the bed you sleep on, it’s important you go to bed at a reasonable hour. I know many college students who have a tendency to go to bed around midnight or later and sleep to 8 or 9 am. Though they are getting their eight hours of sleep in, it’s not at an optimal time for their bodies to fully rejuvenate. Ben Franklin said, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” I can’t attest to the wealthy part, but I generally feel it’s a good rule to follow. I recommend shifting your schedule so that you do homework first thing in the morning instead of late at night. I’ve had students do this, and they reported much more efficient and productive study results.

To your success,

Deborah Vogel

Director, The Body Series

Got a question for Deb? E-mail [email protected], and she may answer it in an upcoming web exclusive.

To work with Deb Vogel in person, check out her summer workshop, A Dance Teacher’s Retreat to Tuscany!

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