Sleep Cycles -An overview of the body and mind that leads us to dreaming…

There are 5 stages in the Sleep Cycle that we all experience, keeping in mind that the Cycle of Sleeping is variable and influenced by each individual differently. For example things to consider: sleep disorders, change in schedule, stress, medication and the like can cause a change in your sleep cycle.

Stage 1 is when we are drowsy. Our eyes are closed and our muscle activity begins to slow down. If you were to be woken up during this stage of sleep you may feel as though you have not slept at all. This stage usually last between 2 and 10 minutes.

In Stage 2 we are in light sleep, the heart rate slows and our body temperature decreases. During this stage of sleep is preparation of the body to delve into a deeper sleep.

Stages 3 and 4 are often grouped together as they are similar in that our bodies enter into a deep sleep state and unlike stage 1, it is more difficult to wake someone up during these stages of sleep.

Sleep stages 1 through 4 are considered Non REM sleep. It may take as little as one hour for the body to work through the first 4 stages of sleep. Many studies agree that after the body works through the first 4 stages of sleep, it then goes back through stages 2 and 3 just before entering stage 5.

Stage 5 is called REM sleep. In this stage breathing becomes more rapid, irregular and shallow. The eyes jerk rapidly in various directions (hence the name REM - Rapid Eye Movement) and limb muscles become temporarily paralyzed (one theory is that the body does this so that you are not acting out your dreams physically, makes sense). The heart rate increases and blood pressure rises. This is the stage where we dream. REM sleep generally begins about 90 minutes into the cycle of sleep and the first cycle of REM sleep can last about 8-10 minutes and each time you enter the REM stage the amount of time experiencing REM sleep tends to lengthen with the final cycle lasting up to an hour. When people are awakened during REM sleep, they often can describe details of their dreams.