Weekly Wellbeing: The Best And Worst Sleep Positions For Your Body (PICTURES) | HuffPost Life

Weekly Wellbeing: The Best And Worst Sleep Positions For Your Body

The Huffington Post UK

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Before turning out the lights and snuggling up to your partner (or pillow) you may want to think about your sleeping position of choice.

According to Dr. Michael J. Breus, some sleeping positions may be better for your body than others.

Appearing on US health show 'The Doctors', he revealed that getting forty winks in the wrong position could cause unnecessary strain across the back and neck.

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Ten Sleep Tips For 2013

Bedtime routine(01 of10)

Build time into your day for a bedtime routine-we are more like dimmer switches than ‘on-off switches’ so we need time to unwind. This may include a warm bath, a hot milky drink/chamomile tea and listening to some relaxing music or an audio book. (credit:Alamy)

Pull your socks up(02 of10)

Wear socks to bed. Cold feet = a poor night's sleep. Due to the fact that they have the poorest circulation, the feet often feel cold before the rest of the body and studies have shown that wearing socks reduces night awakenings. (credit:Alamy)

Use sunlight to set your body clock(03 of10)

As soon as you get up in the morning, go outside and get some fresh air for 10 minutes. The bright sunlight (or any bright light) tells your body’s natural biological clock that it’s time to wake up and that same clock will then be set to tell your body it’s time to go to sleep about 14-16 hours later. (credit:Alamy)

Keep regular(04 of10)

Don't change your bedtime. You should go to bed and wake up at about the same time each day, even on the weekends! This will help your body to get into a sleep rhythm and make it easier to fall asleep and get up in the morning. (credit:Alamy)

Bed linen(05 of10)

Change your bedding once a week and dust regularly. Fresh crisp sheets will help you get a better night’s sleep and clearing excess dust can help minimise any irritation in the airways, which could disrupt sleep. Review your bed linen for a better night’s sleep and choose sheets that feel comfortable against your skin. Research carried out by Lenor has shown that 74% of people surveyed slept drastically better on freshly washed bed sheets. (credit:Alamy)

Stay cool(06 of10)

If you're too warm it can lead to a fitful night's sleep. Your body works hard to regulate your temperature while you're asleep, so help it along with cool, breathable cottons and keep the room cool at 16-18 degrees centigrade. If you share your bed and like different temperatures consider buying two separate duvets. (credit:Alamy)

Exercise to sleep(07 of10)

Regular exercisers have better quality sleep. Aerobic exercise in particular has a significant impact on sleep particularly when it’s done in daylight so try to integrate exercise into your life by moving throughout the day eg getting off the bus one stop early, taking a walk in your lunch break etc. (credit:Alamy)

Set yourself a technology cut off time(08 of10)

Computers, mobiles, smart phones and TVs all over stimulate our minds and ruin sleep, so try to turn them off at around 9pm. Where possible keep them out of the bedroom. (credit:Alamy)

Room and bed sheet fragrance(09 of10)

Fragrances can set the tone of the room and generate a calming effect which will induce better quality deep sleep leaving you more rested, energetic and alert the next morning. Filling the bedroom with lavender or chamomile scents around an hour before bedtime will create the proper atmosphere for relaxation, sleep or romance. Try washing your sheets in fragrant Lenor fabric softener or alternatively place a few drops of relaxing aromatherapy oils on your pillow. (credit:Alamy)

Lights out(10 of10)

Sleep in complete darkness or as close to that as you can. There also should be as little light in the bathroom as possible if you get up in the middle of the night. As soon as you turn on the light, your body will immediately cease all production of the important sleep aid melatonin which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. (credit:Alamy)

"Sleeping on your back is usually the best sleep position," Dr Breus explains in the clip above. "It disperses your weight over your entire frame."

Even weight distribution can ease muscular pain and reduce strain, he adds.

Sleeping on your back is best for your body

Sleeping on your stomach is the worst position for your body, Dr Breus reveals.

"The biggest problem is that you have to turn your entire head almost 90 degrees and that causes tremendous strain across your neck," he says.

An older mattress that sags or an over-stuffed pillow can cause even further problems.

The best sleeping posiition can vary from person to person, and he recommends individual consultations to see what is best.

Last year, HuffPost UK Lifestyle spoke to relationship psychologist Corrine Sweet to find out what your sleeping position reveals about your relationship. Do any of the results surprise you?

Meaning Of Sleeping Positions

Cherish - back to back but touching (18%)(01 of09)

This couple are comfortable, intimate and relaxed with each other. A popular position in a new relationship. (credit:Travelodge)

Liberty - back to back but not touching (28%)(02 of09)

This couple feel connected whilst independent enough to sleep separately. They are used to each other and accept each other’s sleeping habits. (credit:Travelodge)

Pillow talk - Face to face (7%) (03 of09)

This position represents an intimate need for one-to-one contact and conversation in bed. (credit:Travelodge)

The Lovers - face to face with legs intertwined all night (4%)(04 of09)

This is love’s young dream position where you cannot bear to be separated as each moment together counts. A position for the born romantics. (credit:Travelodge)

Spoons – male spoons with the female on the inside (13%)(05 of09)

This is a traditional position, in which the male takes the lead and protects his lover. Couples sleep side-by-side each curled up with each other in the foetal position. Traditional spooning is the most common position adopted by couples during the first few years of their relationship or marriage. It shows both a strong sexuality and feeling of security in the relationship. (credit:Travelodge)

Spoons – spoons with the female on the outside (5%)(06 of09)

Spoons – FemaleSpoons with the female on the outside (5%)In this position the female takes the lead and protects her man while he is sleeping. (credit:Travelodge)

The Romantic - woman lying with head and arm on man’s chest (1%)(07 of09)

This is the popular Hollywood movie bed scene position. An intimate pose much favoured in a new relationship or after love making. It represents new / rekindled love. (credit:Travelodge)

Superman - man lying in star fish position with woman hanging off the bed (1%)(08 of09)

In this position the male is king of the bed, he likes to have his way and the female is happy to oblige. (credit:Travelodge)

Superwoman - Woman lying in star fish position with man hanging off the bed (1%)(09 of09)

The woman rules the bed in this position, she likes her space and the man takes a secondary role and lets her take it. (credit:Travelodge)

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