In January 2010, Janet Kinosian wrote an interesting article for the Huffington Post titled “What Your Sleep Position Says About You”. Much of the article focused on exactly that, examining the link between personality traits and various sleep positions. For example, workaholic businessmen and entrepreneurs are apparently more likely to sleep on their backs (which, you’ll also learn, is called the royal position). Sleep on your stomach? You, along with the author and Madonna, are likely very persistent and goal-oriented with some strong compulsive tendencies. As with any study that attempts to tell you things about your personality, you’re either going to find the results spot-on or completely disagree. But what really caught my eye was this:
So what is considered the all-around healthiest sleep position?
Many doctors say it's lying on one's back, with the head slightly elevated, about 10 - 30 percent. This is postulated to give the brain optimal blood circulation rather than congestion and also allows for more un-obstructed breathing, says Dr. Steven Park, a head and neck surgeon and member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. You see many native cultures sleeping this way, via hammock and other devices, rather than on flat surfaces as in the West.
Sleeping in a hammock rocks (pun not intended but I’m keeping it nonetheless). It’s peaceful, relaxing and it feels great both when you fall asleep and when you wake up. Keep in mind though that not every hammock is going to be comfortable to spend the night in, so if you’re going to try it for the first time make sure you have a hammock that is designed with a full night’s sleep in mind. You shouldn’t have to worry about falling out of it in the middle of the night (Trek Light Hammocks have a No-Flip™ design) and you don’t want to wake up with a permanent rope tattoo from sleeping on knots or string (silky smooth fabric is where it’s at!).
{ If you’ve never tried sleeping in a hammock before or if you’ve had a bad experience in the past, check out our blog series Sleeping In A Hammock: Your Complete Guide To Healthy Hammock Sleep. Learn how to properly sleep in a hammock and how to avoid bad hammock experiences! }
The benefits of hammock sleep are still being studied and we’re really just scratching the surface. From the rocking-and-sleep studies linked below to the gentle swaying motion that's long been used to soothe babies, it’s exciting to see science catching up with what native cultures (and hammock lovers across the world) have known for centuries. The way a good hammock cradles your body without pressure points, plus the ability to slightly elevate your upper body, is a big part of why so many hammock sleepers tell us they never want to go back to a flat mattress.
It doesn’t mean you need to replace your bed with a hammock (although many of our customers have actually done just that). But, if you’ve got a place at home to hang a hammock, I challenge you to think of it as more than just a place to spend a few minutes when you need to relax. Forget about those bad experiences you had falling asleep in rope hammocks and waking up with a waffle pattern on your face or a pain in your back. Get a quality hammock, learn how to sleep in it properly and take your next nap in it, or try spending a full night in it if you never have before. The health benefits of hammocks are a topic we’ll continue to explore in detail on the Trek Life blog and I hope you find it as fascinating as we do.
If you’ve already spent a full night in a Trek Light Hammock, or any hammock, we’d love to hear how it went. And if you haven’t, I encourage you to give it a try.
UPDATES: Since we first published this post there have been a lot more stories on hammock health in the news. It's extremely encouraging that the more hammocks get put under the microscope, so to speak, the more we keep learning about the hammock experience. Here are some links to more great articles and hammock sleep studies:
NPR: Why Hammocks Make Sleep Easier, Deeper
WebMD: Gentle Rocking Helps You Fall Asleep Faster, Get Deeper Sleep
Current Biology: Rocking Synchronizes Brain Waves During A Short Nap
CNN: Hammocks Make For Deeper Sleep
Lifehacker: Want Better Naps? Sleep In A Hammock
Health.com: Study: Hammocks Make For Deeper Sleep
HealthGuidance.org: Improve Your Health With Hammocks
Check out our Hammock Health page for lots more on the health benefits of hammocks, and of course don't forget to read our Sleeping In A Hammock Guide for the information you need to know to sleep in a hammock comfortably, whether for a short nap or as a full-time bed.
