Spain’s Nap Bar Takes Siesta To A New Level

In Spain, a nap bar called Siesta & Go is taking napping to the next level. Established in the financial center of Madrid, the nap bar believes that a siesta is not only one of life’s pleasures. It also believes that it brings health benefits such as improving alertness and promoting relaxation.

According to an Inquirer report, the nap bar is the first of its kind in the country. It offers customers a place to lie down and rest, as well as lounge chairs for reading and quiet work spaces.

Siesta & Go, Spain’s First Nap Bar

In the countries in the Mediterranean, like Spain, people traditionally take afternoon naps or what they called siestas. These were usually taken after the midday meal. In Spain, this also meant that the work day would last until 8 p.m. to make way for the 2 to 3-hour midday break.

According to Siesta & Go’s Facebook page, costumers can take a 30-minute or 1-hour nap, for 3 Euros and 6 Euros respectively. Longer hours are also allowed, with corresponding rates of course. The nap bar has a total of 19 beds available, quiet work spaces and well-lighted lounge chairs.

Among the associated benefits of taking a nap include giving one’s mind and body some rest in order to rejuvenate itself, increasing mental alertness and therefore productivity, and relieving tension and stress overall. Spain is not the only country to catch on however. Similar nap bars have been set up in the United States and Europe, even in the Philippines.

How To Take A Power Nap

Sleep research have shown that taking 10 to 20 minute naps usually “restore wakefulness and promote performance and learning.” These are called power naps and according to the Huffington Post, these are not just limited to CEOs and people on the go.

Leading sleep researcher Sara Mednick says that power naps bring about better “heart functioning, hormonal maintenance, and cell repair.” When one sleeps for less than 30 minutes, the body only goes through the first two stages of sleep, which is enough for the brain and body to rest. Beyond that, one enters into deeper sleep which may be more difficult to get out of.

Mednick and other experts recommend a 20 minute nap in order to get the full restorative benefits. Her research also shows that those who take power naps have high brain activity throughout the day, unlike those do not take a nap.