Thursday 2 October 2014

Sleeping





Here’s an odd thing. When I take the sleeping mat away and sleep on plain floor – I mean, I have my quilt wrapped round me, but it doesn’t make any significant padding – my body feels less comfortable, but more at peace. Not my mind, not a notion – my actual body. Now, what’s with that?

11 comments:

Katrina Green said...

Yes, I think I've found the same. I've eventually adapted to sleeping without a mattress now. I sleep on two big blankets each folded in half plus a thick sheet. I dream more because I'm constantly adjusting my position. I find the contact my bones have with a resistant surface comforting in some way and I feel more in touch with different parts of my (physical) self.
The problem I find, where I live is that of vibrations coming through the floor from various appliances in all four sections of the terrace. I suffer from tinitis at times and it gets very loud. It does mean that I get up earlier, though, which can't be a bad thing.

Pen Wilcock said...

Yes - all of that - the dreaming, the adjusting position, the sound carrying through the floorboards - I hear things I never normally hear. Sleeping in Komorebi, I hear the sounds travelling through the ground - the traffic etc - much more than just sitting there.
And, the floor sleeping is spectacularly good for lymphatic drainage. xx

Pen Wilcock said...

Judy, thank you for the comment you sent me. I was hoping for some feedback/advice. I felt the same, but was unsure if I was over-reacting. Advice taken.

LANA said...

How I wish I were not dependent on my soft memory-foam mattress. However, I suffer from sciatica and left hip pain and it would be impossible to sleep on a firm surface. I do envy folks that can. It makes one so much more adaptable.

Pen Wilcock said...

Ah yes - I can't speak about your particular condition, but just to say that for some people, though it may be uncomfortable and even painful at first, sleeping on the floor (as opposed to on a firm mattress) allows the body to re-organise and re-align, and sorts out joint and back problems. Perhaps read around to see if that could possibly apply to you? xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Penelope,
This reminds me of the benefits of savasana, and other restorative posture in yoga. A state of relaxation more restful than actual sleep can be achieved!
DMW

Pen Wilcock said...

Interesting! I must look that up. xx

Jenna said...

Pen, I would have to agree with your thought to the commenter with sciatica. Her bed might be the source of it. I was a massage therapist in one career iteration, and the sciatic nerve is a large one that has to thread through an amazingly small space in the pelvis to get down to the leg. Any misalignment is crucial--as are tense muscles which further decrease the amount of space available. Yes, it's painful; I would inflict lots of "good" pain when treating. But beds are great for those with great muscle tone, not so much for everybody else. And great point about lymphatic drainage!

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Jenna - thank you very much - so helpful to have that information! xx

LANA said...

Thank you Pen and Jenna for the info

Pen Wilcock said...

Let us know how you get on, Lana x