Are you guys ready to go hiking?

Yes I am so excited!

Me too!!!

same...

Suzanne was getting ready to go hiking with her best pals, Joey, Julie, and Mr. DJ Monks.

The four campers were preparing to hike a mysterious mountain with five peaks called Sleep Mountain.

Sleep Mountain's peaks are said to show each of the 5 stages of the sleep cycle.

*yawns*

Okay guys! We're almost to the first peak!

I feel floaty!

The first hill was easy, and as they went up the sun dimmed and everything quieted down.

Julie yawned and Joey giggled and said that he felt like he was getting tired.

Suzanne smiled and explained that they were going through stage one of the sleep cycle, when your body starts to relax and you drift between awake and asleep.

This must be the second stage!

Yes, it is!

Next they came across a soft, moss-covered path and walked along it as the stars above them shone brightly.

Joey exclaimed that this is stage 2 of the sleep cycle. Suzanne agreed and added that this is when our heartbeats slow down, our body temperature drops, and our brains make special waves called 'sleep spindles' that help us rest peacefully. 

This phase can be characterized as light sleep!

This must be deep sleep...

You wake up after this feeling refreshed!

Now the trail grew steeper and darker. The group found themselves surrounded by giant trees.

As their steps slowed, everything began to feel heavier.

Julie whispered that this stage must be the third one: deep sleep.

Suzanne replied back that this is when our brains go super calm, and our bodies can heal themselves and we can grow stronger.

Wow!

The hikers then entered a glowing cave filled with countless stars.

They all stared in awe at the beauty of the cave as Suzanne told them that they had finally entered stage four of the sleep cycle.

She explained that this is an even deeper sleep where our brains make slow waves, and its really hard to wake someone from this stage. She finally added that this is when our body does its best fixing, like repairing muscles and keeping our immune system strong.

We finally made it guys!

At last, the group reached the highest peak. The sky glimmered with colors that danced around them.

Suzanne exclaimed that this is REM sleep, also known as Rapid Eye Movement. This is when our eyes move fast under our eyelids, and our dreams come alive! 

Julie added that this when our brains act awake, but our bodies stay still so we don't act out our dreams.