Remember that Siesta contest posted some days back? Well apparently a winner was declared and he hails from Ecuador. A 62 year old unemployed security worker named Pedro Soria Lopez took the title and went home $1,400 richer after showing off a 17 minute snooze highlighted by decibel snores.

There were over 360 contestants organized into groups of five and were given 20 minutes to lie down on couches and sleep for as long as they can. Each contestant was timed by a doctor with a pulse-measuring device to determine how long they spent snoozing. Meanwhile, a judge awarded points for snoring, odd sleeping positions and striking pajamas.

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In what has to be an odd competition of sorts, Spain is holding its first national siesta championships in Madrid to determine who is the best napper there is to date. Napping is of course associated on how people (probably workers) who can easily take a snooze when break time comes.

Participants are monitored as they lie on bright blue sofas in the middle of a shopping mall for a 20-minute nap. Pulse monitors are attached to their bodies where a maximum of 20,000 points will be awarded to the one who manages to sleep a full 20 minutes.

The event was organized by the National Association of Friends of the Siesta. It began on October 14 and will wrap up on Saturday with the winner awarded a prize of 1,000 euros ($1,400).

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Sleep specialists get a bit of new help as Philips announces its newest sleep analysis tool with the acquisition of the Somnolyzer 24×7 automated scoring solutions business from the Siesta Group. The Siesta Group is a Viennese research and clinical software company specialising in polysomnography-scoring (PSG) solutions for sleep centers.

This should be big help not only to sleep diagnostic centers but also for the people looking to remedy their sleep issues. This is a diagnostic aid for sleep and respiratory disorders which should help physicians and medical centers serve sleep troubled people, something that seems scarce these days.

(Source) The Engineer

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Call it respite, rest or sleep, the ultimate point of it all is regeneration of senses and strength for the human body. Ever since we were in grade school, these were explained to us and surely by this time, we all know that sacrificing sleep means a lot of sacrifices as far as health and mode of thinking is concerned.

It is a given that bodies need to rest to gain strength in strenuous exercises. Athletes follow a specific mode of rest periods. For the professionals, you would see how they have to discipline themselves to perform better and take the grueling demands of the game they are in.

As far as the mind is concerned, we all need to give them a break at times. Just observe the times when you try to push yourself to the limit. It comes to a point were good ideas suddenly become ineffective. Solutions are important and to get to the best one possible, you need a worry free and relaxed mind.

Sleep is essential for productivity. We may not see it but we can compare it to the times when we have abused the proper sleep periods. Try to follow a sane sleep pattern and from there, you will notice how sleep boosts physical and mental performance.

Good sleep has been a casualty of modern lifestyles. It’s little wonder that more and more people are suffering from sleep disorders and the poor health associated with it. We Arabs, just like Spaniards and Italians and other Mediterranean countries, used to make the siesta a sacred part of our day. What a shame the habit is being weeded out of our culture.

(Source) Khaleej Times

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For people who find themselves on the go at times, it would be best to consider a siesta or a short nap before proceeding with your daily chores. Many would not have this privilege especially if they are in an office. However they can try to steal a couple of winks when they are on lunch break. Remember that breaks are given normally up to an hour and for people taking meals, sometimes you can finish eating way beyond the final seconds of your break time.

People need to recharge midway at times. Short as it may you may be surprised at the difference that short stolen naps can provide especially in terms of productivity.

The siesta has been around for thousands of years and was even regarded as a necessity, rather than a luxury. It is still widely practiced in Spain today, though they also use it to get out of the sun during the hottest part of the day and can therefore take as long as two hours to rest.

(Source) MSN Life and Style

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