When we’re pretzeling ourselves into poses at the yoga studio or lifting weights at the gym, we pay close attention to our form to avoid injury and gain the most benefit from the exercise.
The same should go for our slumber.
Our sleep position matters to our health. It affects everything from the brain to the gut. We know that not getting enough sleep can make us feel about as energetic as a sloth. But if you’re logging the recommended seven to eight hours for your adulting needs and still waking up feeling lackluster, you might need to reassess what exactly you’re doing to your body after lights out.
Left-side sleeping has the most expert- and science-backed health benefits. Although our bodies appear largely symmetrical, our organ placement makes us asymmetrical internally. How we rest influences the way our systems direct and process waste — which should be part of our overall health aspirations.
You might track working out, eating a healthy breakfast, or starting the day with a fresh perspective.
- Find a pillow that fits your collarbone structure.
- Place a firm pillow between your knees to stack your hips and support your lower back.
- Make sure the pillow is firm enough to avoid collapse.
- Hug a pillow as well so that you have a comfortable place to rest your top arm.
- Keep your arms parallel to each other and at or below your face.
