View Full Version : best sleeping position


allisone417
11-28-05, 02:50 PM
What opinions have you on the best position for sleep?

cause i just cant find one.

c20H25N3o
11-28-05, 03:01 PM
<iframe height=270 width=385 src=http://www.srht.nhs.uk/sah/AboutSAH/complications_files/image002.jpg></iframe>

I reckon that's gotta be a good bet i.e. the recovery position. Best to have about 2 feet of empty bed either side of you too ;)

peace

c20

allisone417
11-28-05, 04:08 PM
ooh!

Avatar
11-28-05, 04:10 PM
Don't know, I sleep on a hard surface straight on my back, maybe with crossed hands on my chest.
is it the best - I don't know - but I know it's good for the spine, although the reason why I sleep so is that I feel comfortable to meditate in such a position while falling asleep.

Laika
11-28-05, 05:10 PM
I like to start off curled up foetus-like, then maybe stretch out as the night progresses. If I'm feeling particularly wild I'll lie on my front for a bit. For me there are no holes barred. But I'm just crazy like that.

Qorl
11-28-05, 05:10 PM
It really doesn't matter as long you don't think how you're going to fall a sleep.

allisone417
11-28-05, 07:22 PM
its not that try and think, its that my back hurts. i have severe scoliosis and i cant stay in one position for long because my back starts aching. I found one position, straight without a pillow and my legs highly elevated on a bunch of pillows, hands over chest. I can meditate like this, but i cant sleep for long, because my legs start to get numb and feel twitchy. any position where my back is bent feels good, only on my right side, and then my neck and knees start to get stiff and wont let me fall asleep.

cato
11-28-05, 07:43 PM
I took a health class that took on this issue. it is beat to sleep on your back. next best, if I remember correctly, is to sleep on your side. however, if you sleep on your side, you should have a pillow or something between your legs to your back from being twisted. the worst is to sleep on your stomach, as your body (with your head on a pillow) makes an arch in the wrong direction.

valich
12-05-05, 10:40 PM
its not that try and think, its that my back hurts. i have severe scoliosis and i cant stay in one position for long because my back starts aching. I found one position, straight without a pillow and my legs highly elevated on a bunch of pillows, hands over chest. I can meditate like this, but i cant sleep for long, because my legs start to get numb and feel twitchy. any position where my back is bent feels good, only on my right side, and then my neck and knees start to get stiff and wont let me fall asleep.We have to talk. I have a very serious scoliosis problem too, and its getting worse. It's now at 25 degrees, progressing over 1 degree per year. If I can't counteract it, when it gets to 40 degrees, I have to half a foot-and-a-half rod put in.

The best sleeping position is on your back. That's a fact. They say, don't have your head elevated very much, but if anything, elevate your legs to increase the circulation.

Ifu
12-05-05, 11:49 PM
I took a health class that took on this issue. it is beat to sleep on your back. next best, if I remember correctly, is to sleep on your side. however, if you sleep on your side, you should have a pillow or something between your legs to your back from being twisted. the worst is to sleep on your stomach, as your body (with your head on a pillow) makes an arch in the wrong direction.
I find it least comfortable to sleep on my back, and for the most part I sleep entirely on my stomach with my arms crossed and supporting my head. My body does indeed make a dramatic arch [in the wrong direction], but it just seems to feel very good, and I never imagined it would be detrimental to my health.

Why exactly is it best to sleep on your back? I'm sure if you learned it in a health class then there is some sort of physical reason that you should sleep on your back and not your front. Could you explain why?

CANGAS
12-06-05, 01:11 AM
Horizontal.

valich
12-06-05, 02:07 AM
Horizontal is on your back.

Facial
12-06-05, 02:46 AM
Most of the time, on my side, usually tilted towards my stomack.

valich
12-06-05, 02:56 AM
Medically speaking: health wise. They say that it is best to sleep horizonataly on your back with your head not very elevated. Increasing the height of your legs improves blood circulation.

Not that I always sleep this way - although I should. As far as comfort goes, I turn and twist in different positions all night to stay comfortable: contrary what doctors tell me to do.

allisone417
12-06-05, 05:41 PM
We have to talk. I have a very serious scoliosis problem too, and its getting worse. It's now at 25 degrees, progressing over 1 degree per year. If I can't counteract it, when it gets to 40 degrees, I have to half a foot-and-a-half rod put in.

How old are you? If you're close to the age at which you'll stop growing, you dont have to worry as much about it progressing anymore. I discovered it at 15, and now at 18 I'm pretty much done with growth. I hope. They said some bone on my pelvic plate is closed up, or is about to.

My curvature is 50 and 55 degrees, in a backwards s shape. this shape balences out so i only have a few degrees of tilt to my left. I was scheduled to have surgery a year ago, but my dad pulled me out at the last second (im really glad he did) and bought me a yoga/pilates book. I havent really used it, but i've been excersizing and my back doesnt hurt as much as it used to.

<b>DO NOT</b> get surgery. refuse it, if you have to. you'll never again be able to bend the part of the spine they fuse. And it will probably ruin your life. your back is a frenzy of muscles. If you strenghten them, they'll straighten your back out for you. Or so my dad's theory goes.

Figure out your weak side, and start to strenghten it with aerobics, gymnasics, etc...And get out a sheet of paper and write something. see which way you lean. If its with your curve, try and change the way you sit, write, or even your hand dominance. I leaned like a backwards C and I've become ambidextrous with all the things I've done with my left side.

valich
12-06-05, 11:33 PM
How old are you? If you're close to the age at which you'll stop growing, you dont have to worry as much about it progressing anymore. I discovered it at 15, and now at 18 I'm pretty much done with growth. I hope. They said some bone on my pelvic plate is closed up, or is about to.

My curvature is 50 and 55 degrees, in a backwards s shape. this shape balences out so i only have a few degrees of tilt to my left. I was scheduled to have surgery a year ago, but my dad pulled me out at the last second (im really glad he did) and bought me a yoga/pilates book. I havent really used it, but i've been excersizing and my back doesnt hurt as much as it used to.

<b>DO NOT</b> get surgery. refuse it, if you have to. you'll never again be able to bend the part of the spine they fuse. And it will probably ruin your life. your back is a frenzy of muscles. If you strenghten them, they'll straighten your back out for you. Or so my dad's theory goes.

Figure out your weak side, and start to strenghten it with aerobics, gymnasics, etc...And get out a sheet of paper and write something. see which way you lean. If its with your curve, try and change the way you sit, write, or even your hand dominance. I leaned like a backwards C and I've become ambidextrous with all the things I've done with my left side.I'm 48, but don't let that influence our conversation in any way. I have a rare condition - root avulsion - that occurred 14 years again as a result of a motorcycle accident. It's just like Christopher Reeves', but his involved a lower cervical spine root avulsion. Mine is T1-C5. One more lower and I'd have been in the same condition as he.

I know exactly what is going on, have done extensive research on it, and have consulted numerous orthopedic surgeons. Surgery would definitely be a last resort: an the exteme last resort. That is, if I became totally disabled due to the increasing pain. As it is, I'm on codeine (Vicodone or Hydrocode) 3X/day and have a limited endurance of upward-standing mobile activity: walking around and such. I only have a 2-3 hour limit before the scoliosis starts to bend my back so much that it becomes too painful. I have a 15 degree lateral curvature to right, then a compensatory 25 degree curvature to the left. We're first trying to determine the rate of progression and go from there. I would not consider surgery unless the pain became too intense to bear and I became almost totally immobile.

You say that you have a 50-55 degree backward S-shape. Then you have kyphosis, not scoliosis, right? I have a 25 degree sideways S-shape. Ten years ago it was only 15 degrees, so I'm assuming the rate of progression is 1 degree per year. But this is not definitive because the degrees were measured by different radiologists. It'll take another year for the same radioligist to examine it again to determine the rate of progression because he has no idea how the previous radioligist determined it.

My condition is complicated due to partial paralysis in my upper right torso. I no longer have rhomboid muscles on the rightside of my back to balance the leftside pull. Because of my age, I am no longer developing, so the are no braces that could help. I figure the best thing I can do is to avoid most upright mobile activity, so I compensate this by exercising intensively two hours a day to strengthen my back muscles. I do 1500 sit ups and almost and hour of laying-down leg spins every day. This is equivalent to running or jogging and boy do I ever miss doing that! I used to run 5-10 miles every morning: felt so great! I wish I could do that again.

Yeah, I agree: "do not get surgery." But it all depends on what my condition is ten years from now. Maybe then I'll have no other choice. No one knows.

EmptyForceOfChi
12-06-05, 11:59 PM
ok i have some advice, and some info that is just interesting and isnt for everybody, but regardless has amazing effects,


it all depends on what your trying to achieve with the sleeping position,

some Qi gong sleeping positions increase flexibility, strength, reduce back pain,

but most people just want a nice nights sleep,

sleeping on your back with your arms stretched out over time will set your shoulders back and b better for your spine and upper back area,

sleeping bent backwards like a bow, will give you good strength and flexibility, but will ache and take alot of getting used to, its hard to do it properly,

sleeping on your side is generally a bad idea, if you already have perfect posture, and know some yoga you could manage to sleep half on your side and keep all muscles and inner self alligned, but its best not to sleep on either of your shoulders or arms, its bad for your posture and will cause pains,

posture training is very important, its always a good idea to strengther your back muscles, and all of your muscles really, stance holding is what i use for this, you should always walk sit and lay down with correct posture, and ofcourse workout with correct posture,

sleeping on a bed of nails is very effectie, also helps with your internal energies, sleeping with healing crystals and magnets are good for you, and will give posative effects, but you have to sleep with correct posture even if you use those kind of things,


and sleeping well can be effected alot by your surroundings, its best to have good energies flowing in your room, have fresh air in there, fire, water feature, wood, metal (evenly balenced amount) have some plants and flowers, maybe some fish, or other life form, dont have clutter, have relaxing colours in the room, nothing to clashy, and very important last but not least, sleep with no electrical appliances turned on in your bedroom. its best actually not to have any electric devices atall in your sleeping domain,


i would sum it down to your bedroom, your posture, and your stress levels, also your diet can effect sleep, just keep it well balenced, and make sure you always have a nice healthy breakfast. i know its a saying used alot and hasnt much meaning to many people nowdays, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and not eating a good breakfast an effect your sleep later that night.

peace.

valich
12-07-05, 01:44 AM
Thanks for summing it up: exact truth.

But what is "sleeping with healing crystals and magnets are good for you"? I'm afraid I've never heard of this one. Try to be more exact. Maybe references?

EmptyForceOfChi
12-07-05, 02:00 AM
Thanks for summing it up: exact truth.

But what is "sleeping with healing crystals and magnets are good for you"? I'm afraid I've never heard of this one. Try to be more exact. Maybe references?


there is probably tons of info about this on google, magnets are even sold now in beds, pillows, duvets, mattress, you can get wrist bands hats, all types of things, im not to sure on the science behind the magnets, but i know how the crystals work, you can goodle that aswell, on healing and sleeping crystals probably, but the magnets have been tested and do give good results for multiple things, including some minor desiese, aches pains, and general feeling of well bieng,


peace.

allisone417
12-07-05, 01:07 PM
scoliosis. This is what mine looks like:
here (http://www.scoi.com/images/scoi-scoliosis-main.jpg)

Satyr
12-07-05, 09:19 PM
I find that the sleeping position in which I feel the most comfortable is with my thumb in my mouth and my ass in the air, while the Carpenters are rockin’ a tune on my 8-track.

valich
12-08-05, 11:18 PM
I just can't see how crystals (What kind of crystals?) and magnets could have any affect? Our body produces little or none magnetic field? Sounds like a bunch of folk-lore hype?

allisone417: I'm fraid that I cannot view your posting. I have a very slow internet connection because I live out in the country. But I do see that it says "scoliosis-main-jpg" so I'm assuming that my suggesting that it was kyphosis was wrong (because you said "backward"), you just meant "backward curvature" as in scoliosis. I'll try to look it up on our school's internet connection.

But what puzzles me is that you state yours is 50-55 degrees? How so? Is this including both the left and right curvature combined? This is important to me because if you have a 55 degree curvature, don't you also have physical pain and need meds??? Are your doctor(s) advizing a rod? What you have to say is very helpful knowledge. Thanks!

allisone417
12-09-05, 01:15 PM
since it is a backwards S, there are two main curves, the i believe the thoratic and the lumbar, but im not sure...either way, theres the top curve and the bottom curve. the top one is 55, the bottom one is 50. Dont check me on this, i might have flipped them. But since they are both around the same degree of curvature, i'm not too visibly crooked, but my lungs, hips, and shoulders dont line up, and looking at my stomach, my left side protrudes slightly and my right curves in. I'm short, and I taped a piece of string along my spine, cut it, then untaped and held it up, and found i'd be 2-3 inches taller if it were straight.
my doctors advised a spinal fusion for a few inches of both curve. i didnt get it. since i'm not really growing anymore, i dont worry about it too much. my father does, however. being a college student, i have more to worry about now...in fact, i have a dreaded calculus final in 12 minutes, so i must go...

valich
12-09-05, 02:55 PM
Wow, that's a lot. My orthopedic surgeon, whom I consider to be an extremely knowledgeable professional told me they usually consider surgery when it reaches 40. Although I'm not glad that you have this condition: I am glad to hear from someone that you can go to 55 without a rod.

Don't you also have pain??? I have a lot of pain due to the scoliosis, fractured lumbar spine L2, and multiple compressed and degenerative discs, caused by the scoliosis. I'm not visibly crooked either, except when I walk for an hour or more. Then it pulls my neck over. I can look in the mirror and it gets really out of whack. That's when the pain is the worst.

I go to a university too and I think that helps a lot: they call it "distraction therapy." I'm too busy with school work and studies to think about it.

But you must have much more pain then me, no? Or maybe it's just because of my degenerative discs.

This whole thing started as a result of a 100 mph motorcycle accident. I avoided a car but hit a concrete highway divider. It sent me head over heels. Luckily I was wearing a helmet. The helmet had an 8 inch crack in it. Without a helmet, that would've been an 8 inch crack in my skull and I would've died instantly. As it was, I had a concussion for a week, broke four ribs, my clavicle, radius bone, and wrist, and now have two metal plates screwed into my right arm: drives the airport security guards nuts everytime I pass through a detector.

Kyle Nathan Shostak
12-13-05, 11:44 PM
`..

valich
12-17-05, 06:29 PM
I have to sleep in any position that feels comfortable. But orthopedists say the best position is on your back with a very small pillow under your neck for comfort and support, and, to possibly elevate your legs somewhat for increased circulation to your heart.

tablariddim
12-17-05, 06:33 PM
on my side, arms crossed in front of my chest, because of the wife. without the wife it's on my side arms criss cro9ssed in front of my chest.... work that one out. ok, i guess it's due to training

Happeh
12-18-05, 06:56 AM
We have to talk. I have a very serious scoliosis problem too, and its getting worse. It's now at 25 degrees, progressing over 1 degree per year. If I can't counteract it, when it gets to 40 degrees, I have to half a foot-and-a-half rod put in.

The best sleeping position is on your back. That's a fact. They say, don't have your head elevated very much, but if anything, elevate your legs to increase the circulation.

Are you strongly sexually active? Do you masturbate frequently?

Have you ever tried something like Tai Chi to counteract the scoliosis?

Happeh
12-18-05, 06:59 AM
<b>DO NOT</b> get surgery. refuse it, if you have to. you'll never again be able to bend the part of the spine they fuse. And it will probably ruin your life. your back is a frenzy of muscles. If you strenghten them, they'll straighten your back out for you. Or so my dad's theory goes.

Figure out your weak side, and start to strenghten it with aerobics, gymnasics, etc...And get out a sheet of paper and write something. see which way you lean. If its with your curve, try and change the way you sit, write, or even your hand dominance. I leaned like a backwards C and I've become ambidextrous with all the things I've done with my left side.

Your father is a smart man. Medical people these days are about money, not health. How much you think that back surgery makes for the hospital?

How much does the hospital make if you go in for physical therapy on a regular basis? They don't. They end up spending money on you.

Western medicine is a money making enterprise. Economics says getting rid of people fastest makes the most money. If you have scoliosis, the fastests way to get rid of you is an operation. Otherwise they spend money on weekly therapy for years on you.

That is not what the insurance racket is based on. The insurance racket is based on forcing healthy people to pay for a service they do not need. Forcing safe drivers to buy something they do not need.

Happeh
12-18-05, 07:05 AM
On your stomach with a pillow under your feet. You should look like a U shape. Your belly or pubic bone should feel like it is pressing into the ground.

Old wise man way of sleeping.

What many of you might want to think about is what you sleep on. Do you sleep on a soft bed? They don't support you or your back. You sink into them. If the bed is uneven, then your body unevenly sinks into the bed.

Try sleeping on the ground. I have a futon that lays directly on the ground. Nice flat hard surface. No sinking. It has the added benefit of making you strong. Beds are built so that you swivel and put your feet on the floor to stand up. When you sleep on the ground, you have to get all the way up from the ground every time. It is exercise you do every day.

You would be amazed at how bad chairs and beds are for you. Asian people traditionally sit and sleep directly on the ground. Did that for centuries. Still do it today. For the reason listed above. Getting out of a chair is nothing. Getting up from the ground 20 times a day to change the TV channel is exercise.

valich
12-19-05, 03:39 AM
Are you strongly sexually active? Do you masturbate frequently?

Have you ever tried something like Tai Chi to counteract the scoliosis?The martial arts form I practice is an obscure style called Ish Shan Ru. I used to run 5-10 miles everyday but can no longer do so because it increases my scoliosis. Instead, I exercise 2 hours everyday, not including sexual activity. I kill fagots. Any other questions?

EmptyforceofChi has a good idea about resting on a bed of nails, though I doubt you'd understand that. Also, using crystals is something to look into.

Anything else helpful that you'd like to contribute to our intellectual community forum?

Happeh
12-19-05, 07:31 AM
The martial arts form I practice is an obscure style called Ish Shan Ru. I used to run 5-10 miles everyday but can no longer do so because it increases my scoliosis. Instead, I exercise 2 hours everyday, not including sexual activity. I kill fagots. Any other questions?

EmptyforceofChi has a good idea about resting on a bed of nails, though I doubt you'd understand that. Also, using crystals is something to look into.

Anything else helpful that you'd like to contribute to our intellectual community forum?

I guess I do not understand you. Why would I not understand Chi's recommendation about a bed of nails?

U do martial arts? Is it strenuous? You say you used to run 5 to 10 miles a day. Did you also train your martial art simultaneosly? How many hours a day? How many days per week?

Why do you kill faggots? Isn't that against the law?

What I think is related to your problem is excess exertion. Sex is physical exertion. Masturbation is physical exertion. Martial arts are physical exertion. There is no way to guess at a cause for the scoliosis without you describing your particular situation.

I could be totally wrong. That is why I am asking.

valich
12-19-05, 10:05 PM
On your stomach with a pillow under your feet. You should look like a U shape. Your belly or pubic bone should feel like it is pressing into the ground.

Old wise man way of sleeping.

What many of you might want to think about is what you sleep on. Do you sleep on a soft bed? They don't support you or your back. You sink into them. If the bed is uneven, then your body unevenly sinks into the bed.

Try sleeping on the ground. I have a futon that lays directly on the ground. Nice flat hard surface. No sinking. It has the added benefit of making you strong. Beds are built so that you swivel and put your feet on the floor to stand up. When you sleep on the ground, you have to get all the way up from the ground every time. It is exercise you do every day.

You would be amazed at how bad chairs and beds are for you. Asian people traditionally sit and sleep directly on the ground. Did that for centuries. Still do it today. For the reason listed above. Getting out of a chair is nothing. Getting up from the ground 20 times a day to change the TV channel is exercise.Okay, I took the remark "Old wise man way of sleeping" as being sarcasm, and responded in kind. Also you said "on your stomach with a pillow under your feet." Who said that?

And then: "Are you strongly sexually active? Do you masturbate frequently?"
I'm not racially prejudice, but I am prejudice against homosexuals and I took that as implying that I was a homo (any responce to this statement should go on a seperate thread, to which I will reply, but not on this one. Thanks).

I am not "the old wise man of sleeping." I am relaying what I've read and been told by orthopedic doctors over the years. I've read a lot and done a lot of research about my scoliosis condition, and have been told ny many about the best way to sleep.

Again, for the third time, "the best position to sleep is on your back with a small pillow under your neck to adjust for curvature for comfort, and you might want to raise your legs up slightly to increase the circulation to your heart. In the extreme, if conditions warrant it, they say to sleep on your back with your knees bent and elevated. This is not implying anything that would "look like a U shape"!

However, your point about "you might want to think about what you sleep on" is definitely a very good one. Personally, because of my scoliosis, I cannot sleep on a normal mattress, and certainly not anything that I would "sink into." At first I used a "firm" mattress, nut now sleep on a solid wooden floor with a three inch layer of foam padding underneath. I find this to be the most comfortable and the most orthopedic to use for my condition. If I sleep directly on the wooden floor, then I am apt to develop red sore spots in certain areas that would be extremely hard to heal.

My scoliolis is a result of right upper torso paralysis due to a motorcycle accident that caused rightside root avulsion T1-C5. There is no cure, so don't even attempt to try to understand how complicated it is. One more nerve root avulsion down and I'd be Christopher Reeves.

I practice killing drills (spinning wheel kicks and high and low blocks) and left arm punches and forms, but cannot complete sequences in steps necessary to advance in belt rank or do any sparring. If I break my arm, it would take eternity to heal. Anyway, since my form is very esoteric, no one around here practices it, so I only do these to supplement my exercise regime. The main thing is not to exert myself in such a way that would increase the scoliosis. My exercises are totally oriented to what I can do to relieve severe back pain (fractured L2 and multiple compressed and degenerative discs).

I'm happy attending course lectures and seminars at school, experimenting and learning in our lab, researching and reading at home, and taking my dog for a walk everyday. That's exercise enough for me. Any more than that and my scoliosis increases and causes more pain. No way around that.

|2eptile
06-16-06, 02:25 PM
Ok, I was searching google for the best posture to sleep in regarding physical growth. I am 17 years old and only 5'4. I haven't grown this year so I think I am done growing. I recently started using a form of acupuncture to stimulate my pituitary gland to start producing growth hormones again, but along with this it is important for me to do specific stretches and to sleep with the correct posture. I'm not sure which would be the best posture to sleep in, but I'm guessing the position valich described would work best for my goal as well. Anyways I came by this forum on my search and it seems like the people posting know what they are talking about. So if anyone knows which way is the best to sleep in order to grow taller, I would appreciate the help. Thanks.

draqon
06-16-06, 02:34 PM
best sleeping position is on top. on top of a woman

leopold99
06-16-06, 04:43 PM
i fall asleep on my back with my hands folded across my chest.
i wake up in every position imaginable.

|2eptile
06-16-06, 06:09 PM
still waiting for a serious answer :P

Absane
06-16-06, 06:55 PM
<iframe height=270 width=385 src=http://www.srht.nhs.uk/sah/AboutSAH/complications_files/image002.jpg></iframe>

I reckon that's gotta be a good bet i.e. the recovery position. Best to have about 2 feet of empty bed either side of you too ;)

peace

c20

I actually sleep like that many nights... I almost always must be on my side, but I find that makes my back hurt sometimes.

draqon
06-16-06, 08:17 PM
well ultimately, best sleeping position is inside a coffin...everlasting peace. Yes this is serious answer.

|2eptile
06-17-06, 12:11 AM
I actually sleep like that many nights... I almost always must be on my side, but I find that makes my back hurt sometimes.

Yeah, that position is probably a good bet too, I think basically anything is better than sleeping on my stomach like I have been for the past 17 years or so.

Absane
06-17-06, 01:12 AM
Yeah, that position is probably a good bet too, I think basically anything is better than sleeping on my stomach like I have been for the past 17 years or so.

OUCH! I bet that is hard on your neck and possibly your back.

water
06-17-06, 01:23 AM
I sleep best on my back, flat and straight, no cushions or pillows, arms on my stomach, on a hard bed.
Like in a coffin.

thedevilsreject
06-17-06, 03:26 AM
i sleep on my right side

draqon
06-17-06, 03:30 AM
Another awsome way to sleep without awakening is to lay down on many very sharp knifes...that should bring everlasting peace. Make sure the knifes are sharp enough to slice throught the whole body.

|2eptile
06-17-06, 03:42 AM
I think that the whole sleeping on my back thing is going to take some getting used to... considering its 4:00 AM and I haven't been able to fall asleep in that position because its just not anywhere near comfortable, any suggestions would be appreciated (other than sleeping in a different position ;)) Although I already noticed my posture improved just from laying there for the past 2 hours so I guess some good came out of it.

draqon
06-17-06, 03:49 AM
I think that the whole sleeping on my back thing is going to take some getting used to... considering its 4:00 AM and I haven't been able to fall asleep in that position because its just not anywhere near comfortable, any suggestions would be appreciated (other than sleeping in a different position ;)) Although I already noticed my posture improved just from laying there for the past 2 hours so I guess some good came out of it.

Yes suggestions...scroll up for my suggestions.

Avatar
06-17-06, 03:55 AM
I always have slept on my back. It's the healthiest position for the body, btw.

p.s. don't mind dragon, he's just a little kid

Athelwulf
06-17-06, 03:57 AM
I am often in this position:

<iframe height=135 width=192 src=http://www.srht.nhs.uk/sah/AboutSAH/complications_files/image002.jpg></iframe>
I will also sometimes fall asleep either on my back or my stomach. More often I only fall asleep on my stomach if I'm taking a nap.

draqon
06-17-06, 04:13 AM
I always have slept on my back. It's the healthiest position for the body, btw.

p.s. don't mind dragon, he's just a little kid

ok. I know a great way to go asleep. Get a long pillow and put into between the legs along the legs...then curl up a bit and lay on the side while having the head on a pillow. The hands should be either under the pillow and the other just on the couch/bed as most comfy or if you are on a couch then put the hands in the slits of the couch pillows (if its made of pillows). And that is the best way I sleep.

so Avvy stop attacking the lil dragon, he is going to curl up in a fuzzball and sleep now.

Or ya can look how russian small kiddos sleep in the army:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIRpA0vvXok&search=russian%20rap

water
06-17-06, 09:44 AM
I think that the whole sleeping on my back thing is going to take some getting used to... considering its 4:00 AM and I haven't been able to fall asleep in that position because its just not anywhere near comfortable, any suggestions would be appreciated (other than sleeping in a different position ;)) Although I already noticed my posture improved just from laying there for the past 2 hours so I guess some good came out of it.

Developing a new way of sleeping can be tedious, yes.

On a general note, what can help are some other factors that contribute to good sleeping:
-- being comfortably tired and sleepy at the time of going to bed (make sure there is enough physical activity in your day, so that in the evening you are tired enough),
-- having last eaten several hours before going to bed (so that your stomach isn't working hard as you are trying to fall asleep),
-- having a calm and relaxed mind,
-- having taken a shower,
-- fresh air in the room where you are sleeping,
-- comfortable PJ and linen,
-- not doing anything straining 30 minutes before going to bed (like exercising, studying, or sitting in front of a computer).

water
06-17-06, 09:57 AM
A few stretching exercises you can do before sleeping:

Lie on the ground, on your back. Arms flat next to the the body. Fold your legs, so that knees are up and feet on the ground. (You should be able to slip your hand under your back, there where your waist is.) The exercise is to use your abdominal muscles to push your body down, so that your back is flat touching the ground. Breathe in, push down, keep it down, holding the breath, count to ten, release. Take a few breaths, and do it again. Do this a few times, as you feel comfortable.

This one you can do in bed, if your bed has a bed post at your head. Lie in bed, on your back, and move down to the middle of the bed, so that with your arms you barely reach the bed post. Then with your arms (you should have them palms down), pull yourself up toward the bedpost, so you can feel how your back stretches nicely. Repeat a few times.

|2eptile
06-17-06, 11:44 AM
Thanks water, I'll try that tonight

|2eptile
06-17-06, 01:27 PM
lol I love how I stole this thread from the scoliosis dudes

water
06-17-06, 04:45 PM
And wish yourself a good night.
:)

water
06-18-06, 03:39 PM
Thanks water, I'll try that tonight

So. How did it go? How did you sleep?

draqon
06-18-06, 07:58 PM
So. How did it go? How did you sleep?

I wouldnt know...I was asleep. I slept with closed eyes and didnt feel my body, so how would I have known how I have slept?

|2eptile
06-18-06, 08:15 PM
So. How did it go? How did you sleep?
didn't go too well haha, I was at like the very edge of falling asleep twice i felt my breathing slow down and my body go numb and I also felt a twitching in my head (idk if thats natural hahaha) so I ended up flippin back to my stomach and then fell asleep within probly 5-10 minutes. I don't know what it is about sleeping on my back, it was more comfrotable than the first time I tried but it just doesn't feel right. I'm gonna keep trying though, I figure I'll give it about a week or so and see if I can fall asleep that way atleast once.

|2eptile
06-18-06, 08:16 PM
Oh and I was on my back for a good 2 hours :/

invert_nexus
06-18-06, 08:30 PM
I used to sleep on my stomach a lot. I don't much anymore... Don't know why I stopped. I sleep on my side now, mostly.

Anyway. A funny thing I noticed when I slept on my stomach, I was only comfortable with my head turned to the right. I couldn't sleep on my stomach with my head turned to the left.
Weird. Like my neck is more flexible to the right or something...
Hmm.
Something like handedness, maybe?

Oh. And as to it stunting your growth. I'm six feet tall. So, I don't think so.
Face it, bud. You're just a short guy. Nothing you can do is going to change that short of leg lengthening surgery. Or mabye some type of steroid/hormone therapy.

Just do us all a favor and please try to abstain from short man syndrome.

cato
06-18-06, 09:05 PM
I am 6'10" (208cm), and I have slept on my stomach all my life. well, sometimes on my side, but my arms usually fall asleep on my side.

water
06-19-06, 01:07 AM
didn't go too well haha, I was at like the very edge of falling asleep twice i felt my breathing slow down and my body go numb and I also felt a twitching in my head (idk if thats natural hahaha) so I ended up flippin back to my stomach and then fell asleep within probly 5-10 minutes. I don't know what it is about sleeping on my back, it was more comfrotable than the first time I tried but it just doesn't feel right. I'm gonna keep trying though, I figure I'll give it about a week or so and see if I can fall asleep that way atleast once.


Things take time. :)

Also, men are reported to go into growth again, around their 19-20's.
So you might still grow.


But that doesn't actually matter. As long as you're healthy and have a good heart, it's alright.

|2eptile
06-19-06, 01:17 AM
thanks for the tip, hope I go into growth again then haha, im gonna try and keep up the sleeping on my back thing and see how it works out... might have to try every other night or something so I don't lose too much sleep haha

Genji
06-28-06, 08:26 AM
Interesting. I always start out on my back but end up on my left side with an inexplicable death grip on a pillow. :rolleyes:

nubianconcubine
07-17-06, 09:57 PM
ever see a cat sleep?
on the side. arms outstretched loosely. legs, loose at the knee and slightly curved up. like it was meant to be half-fetal but fell asleep before getting there.
now that's comfortable.
...doesn't work well with bedmates, though.

Absane
07-17-06, 10:05 PM
Yea... I have my own bed. I think it's what you call "queen size." I am all over that bitch when I sleep. However when I have to share sleeping space, I get quite uncomfortable.

nubianconcubine
07-17-06, 10:27 PM
Yea... I have my own bed. I think it's what you call "queen size." I am all over that bitch when I sleep. However when I have to share sleeping space, I get quite uncomfortable.

i'm like that. there's only ever been one person i could share a bed with and that's my husband. now i can't sleep well without the extra warmth. :D
since you have a big bed (the only bed to have) why don't you try the position. the key is you have to relax into it. and cradle your head on something besides your shoulder or you'll get stiff. feather pillows are hard but they mold and cradly like nothing else. ;)

one_raven
07-17-06, 10:44 PM
When I sleep on my back I almost always have a fitful sleep.
I have many vivid (often lucid) dreams.
I wake up often.
And I have a hell of a time falling asleep (it could take 2 - 3 hours or even more).

If I sleep on my stomach, I sleep like a rock, I almost never dream (or at least don't remember), I fall alseep in usually less than 30 minutes and I feel more rested in the morning.
Though, since I started using a Nicotine patch, I have been having more vivid and detailed dreams, but still waking up well rested.

I know that sleeping on your back is supposed to be better for you, so for years I tried and the results never changed.
So I bought a nice, firm Tempurpedic matterss, and sleep comfortably on my stomach, and have no back-aches in the morning.
I save lying on my back for meditation and when I am TRYING to have lucid dreams.

I do, however, usually lie on my back for about 20 minutes or so to stretch and relax my back before flipping over on my stomach to go to sleep.

one_raven
07-19-06, 06:24 AM
I'm curious.
I was talking to a psychiatrist a while back, lamenting over my nearly non-existent dream life, when he said that I should be thankful of not remembering my dreams.
He said that not recalling my dreams is a sign of a sound sleep, and those who do have an active and vivid dream life that they can recall in detail in the morning are not sleeping as well...

I have the most trouble sleeping when my mind is active, and my mind seems most active when I am on my back.
Like I said, when I sleep on my back I have a fitful sleep, do not rest well and recall all my dreams.

I wonder if there is a correlation with others.
Maybe it is some physical thing about spinal alignment and blood flow to the brain or some such thing that makes my mind more active when I am on my back.

Those of you who sleep on their backs...
Do you sleep well?
Do you wake rested?
Do you fall alseep quickly?
Do you have an active and vidid dream world that you have no trouble recalling the next day?

How about those that sleep on their stomachs?

water
07-19-06, 08:48 AM
Those of you who sleep on their backs...
Do you sleep well?
Do you wake rested?
Do you fall alseep quickly?

That depends mostly on what and how late I have eaten. If I have last eaten, and eaten something light, at least 3 hours before going to bed, then I'll likely sleep well.
Also, if I have exercised that day. If I haven't, chances are sleep won't come easy.
And also depending on my state of mind -- if I am worried, I won't sleep well. I have found that concentration meditation before bedtime is bad for me; it wakes my mind up, makes it alert -- and then sleep won't come easily. Metta meditation before bedtime is good. If I am too pissed off, or too distracted to meditate, I read Moby Dick in bed, and that usually settles me enough to fall asleep.


Do you have an active and vidid dream world that you have no trouble recalling the next day?

Mostly, yes. I also rarely sleep through the night, and wake up at least once. Either to feed or otherwise tend to the cat, or because I have to go pee. I then remember several dream sessions per night, not only the last one before waking. And I then also usually wake up all broken and tired.

Considering all this, I get one or two good nights of sleep per week, if all else goes well. Which isn't much, but I have actually gotten used to it over the years.

But I am currently working on reorganizing my falling asleep and waking, to develop a kind of a ritual before I go to bed and for when I first wake.
When I still prayed, that worked, it gave my sleeping and waking a frame, and I could often go to sleep and wake up more easily. So now I'm trying to figure out something new.

nubianconcubine
07-19-06, 10:29 AM
no joke. for those of you with partners, try sex before bed. it puts me right to sleep. and i don't dream as much, no matter the position. ;)