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It’s time for bed. Many of us are so exhausted from a long day that we
collapse in bed, grabbing our pillow and quickly curling into our favorite position
automatically. Although there are some people who toss, turn, and shift from
one position to another throughout the night, most people have a preferred sleep
position. Recent studies show that two-thirds of people enjoy side
sleep.
Although side sleep is the most common of the positions, it has many variations.
People tend to gravitate toward positions that are most comfortable for them,
and these positions become fairly habitual. The director of the Sleep Assessment
and Advisory Service, Chris Idzikowski writes extensively on the subject. In
his studies, he identifies different sleeping types. There are actually three
types of side sleep.
The first type of side sleep has been labeled as the “foetus”.
This name is probably derived from the term “fetal position”. These
types of people enjoy side sleep while curled comfortably in a semi-ball. This
is the most common of all the sleeping positions.
The second type of side sleep is called “log” position. Different
from the “foetus” position, the log sleepers do not curl into a
ball. In fact, they lay on their sides, but their legs are more or less straight
and their arms are down at their sides.
The last type of side sleep has been called the “yearner”. Different
from both the “foetus” and the “log” position, the “log”
position is a form of side sleep, but in this position, the sleeper lays on
the side with both arms in front.
One important thing to remember if your preferred method of sleeping is side
sleep is that you need to select the proper type of pillow. While stomach sleepers
need only to select a soft, fluffy pillow and back sleepers need a firmer pillow,
side sleep is a bit different.
Side sleepers often report that they find themselves uncomfortable. They might
twist and reshape their pillows in an effort to find the best position, finding
that their shoulders seem to perpetually be in the way. For this reasons, special
pillows can be purchased for the sole purpose of comfortable side sleep.
Many people overlook the fact that a pillow isn’t just for cosmetic appeal
or for comfort. A pillow is important for proper support and alignment of the
back and spine. If you enjoy side sleep, you may sometimes wake up with a sore
ear or generally achy body. This can mean that your body wasn’t properly
aligned when you were slumbering.
If you visit a local store or shop online, most manufacturers offer side
sleep pillows. Specially designed for your sleep style, these side sleep
pillows are catered to fit your body. They cradle your head and neck for proper
spine alignment. If you’re like most people, you cherish the value of
a great night’s sleep. Purchasing a pillow best suited to fit your body
and your sleep style can truly make a difference in the way you sleep.
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