Tips on Sleeping Postures

The following article was published in THE TIMES OF INDIA, Hyderabad edition on 28 Feb 2010 Sun

Are you a sleeping beauty?

Do stars use two pillows or three, cuddle their partner or sleep back-to-back? Nona Walia finds out what's behind celebs' bedroom secrets

DO you pose when you sleep? There are very few celebrities who can be sleeping beauties in the bedroom too. Recently, Abhishek Bachchan in an interview raved about how Aishwarya sleeps like a beauty queen! That made us curious. Is there a particular way one should sleep? Interestingly, the way we sleep reveals a lot about our personality and relationships! People evolve individual sleeping patterns over time. Says actor Katrina Kaif, “I sleep on my sides. I don’t like patterns on my bedsheets. I prefer light shades. I don’t like to use anything extra except a pillow beneath my head.”

There’s no single pose that people love. Actor Riteish Deshmukh loves to sleep on his stomach. He says, “I sleep well on white sheets and need an extra pillow to hold.” As for actor Sanjay Suri, he loves to sleep “on my stomach using one pillow”.
E ve r wondered if wellh e e l e d celebrities are messy sleepers or do it like movie stars? Actor Eesha Koppikar sleeps straight on her back. “For me, the foetal or baby pose is ideal. I like baby blue and pink bedsheets and use a thin pillow.” Then there’s actor
Harman Baweja, who is also a baby pose person. “I have my favourite pillow that I carry even when I go abroad.”
Yet, more women love to create the soft ambience that puts them to sleep. Says actor Mahie Gill, “I usually like light coloured or white bedsheets. It makes me calm and I fall asleep instantly. I sleep on my side. I don’t like anything around me.” There are others who don’t like a crowded bed. Says actor
M i n i s s h a Lamba, “I hate stuff around on my bed. But m y f avo u r i t e s l e e p i n g
position is on my s t o m a c h . ”N e h a Dhupia, who loves sleeping on her sides needs “about 3-4 pillows around me”. Actor Payal Rohatgi reveals, “I sleep on my stomach. I can’t sleep on my back. Since childhood, I have used four pillows.”
However, couples confess how some of them like to sleep noseto-nose, while others sleep backto-back! While others sleep in a
foetal position, all curled-up because they want to feel loved. In a recent survey, UK-based relationship expert Corinne Sweet discovered, “Couples who sleep back-to-back aren’t always in a cold relationship, and may be close. A sleeping position is a significant indicator about a person’s state of mind.”
Sleeping styles reveal unusual individuality traits. Actor Shenaz Treasurywala, who sleeps with three pillows, says, “I hug one, put the second under my head and the third between my knees. I toss and turn a lot during the night and when I wake up, I’m often on my back. I need soft pillows. I am a light sleeper and need all the lights off.”
In his book, The Secret Language of Sleep, author Evany Thomas writes that there are 39 sleeping positions, which can be used to interpret the individual’s relationships and personality habits. Interestingly, more men sleep straight on their backs, reflecting confidence. Says artist Ayaan Ali Khan, “I sleep straight on my back. But I make sure the pillow is below my shoulders for my neck to get support.” There are funny bedroom tales too. Cuddling pillows, or your dog! Says actorc u m - m o d e l M r i n a l i n i Sharma, “I land up sharing my bed with my dog! We land up fighting over the blanket!” Cohabit at i o n leads to newer sleeping styles that couples evolve over a period of time. Says writer Raksha Bharadia, “I normally sleep with a slim pillow tucked underneath, halfcurled towards the left mostly. Usually, my back faces my husband except for the days he has earned brownie points.” Model Lisa Haydon says, “I sleep on my side, but need a lot of space as I can get claustrophobic.” It can be tricky for couples to avoid the politics of sharing a bed. Says Archana Puran Singh: “There was a time when I slept with four pillows. Pa r m e e t
sleeps straight on his back with his hands folded on his chest.”
Danseuse Geeta Chandran says, “I sleep with one pillow under my neck and another beneath my legs. Sometimes, I face my husband while sleeping.”
But often the bedroom becomes the war-zone too, if you’re not in your own comfortable sleeping position. Says Dr Avdesh Sharma, psychiatrist, “Everyone has their personal favourite sleeping positions and habits. But these habits reflect our basic instinct to feel protected. Those who sleep on their stomach may want to shut off the world. Most men sleep straight on their back, which is difficult, but it means they feel like a king!”
THE WAY YOU SLEEP!
THE FOETUS l You sleep curled-up, which means you may seem tough on the outside but have a sensitive heart. More women sleep this way than men. STOMACH SLEEPERS l Flat on your stomach, with arms at the head or ears, indicates a brash exterior and someone who may inwardly be sensitive. LOG POSITION l When you lie straight, it means you are easygoing and trusting. THE SPOONING l This position involves partners cuddling and shows fondness. THE YEARNERS l People who sleep on the sides with both arms in front have an open nature but can be suspicious.
BEST WAY TO SLEEP
Sleeping on the back is a preferred position, as it puts the least stress on your spine. But if you place a pillow under your knees, this takes stress off your lower back. If you’re a side sleeper, use a cervical pillow. This is because you want to keep your neck in a neutral position. Place a pillow between your knees. This is comfortable, if you have pain in your hips. Try not to sleep on your side with your arm up over your head, as this causes stress on the nerves. Stomach sleepers cause the most stress to their neck. You should place a pillow under your stomach. Make sure there’s no television or harsh sounds in your bedroom. The lighting, too, should be soft. For luck, your head should point north.