Could Lucidity Be Connected With Sleep Position?

I read somewhere that sleep paralysis is much more common among back sleepers. Many lucid dream techniques seem to be purposed for doing on your back, or at least that's what it seems like. Being a side sleeper, I find that when I am on my side my thoughts drift much more easily. I usually do WILD and other such things on my back because it seems correct, but still doesn't work. Am I doing this wrong, or is there some connection between back sleeping and lucid dreaming? Any regular lucid dreamers out there who never sleep on their back?

If sleeping on your back is more uncomfortable, it will help you fall asleep more slowly and lightly. This will help you be more aware until the transition from waking to dreaming for WILDs and more aware during the dream itself for DILDs.

But in order to become lucid during a dream, you also have to remember what you're aware of is a dream. Sleeping on your back won't help you do this.

I for one regularly lucid dream without sleeping on my back.

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Originally Posted by dolphin

If sleeping on your back is more uncomfortable, it will help you fall asleep more slowly and lightly. This will help you be more aware until the transition from waking to dreaming for WILDs and more aware during the dream itself for DILDs.

But in order to become lucid during a dream, you also have to remember what you're aware of is a dream. Sleeping on your back won't help you do this.

I for one regularly lucid dream without sleeping on my back.

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AGREED! Don't forget to work on your breathing too. For me, though, I sleep in any position that I can find comfortable to me. Except for my stomach. When I do, I would have trouble with Sleep Paralysis, or a nightmare or two. Remember, though, what works for us, may not always work for you. You need to find a happy medium.

I usually find that sleeping on my back with a extra pillow works well, the slight incline does seem to improve awareness. But i think as long as you are steady and comfortable things should be fine.

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Originally Posted by Valis1

I usually find that sleeping on my back with a extra pillow works well, the slight incline does seem to improve awareness.

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That's interesting. A similar approach is used by Tibetan Buddhist Monks, and they use the slighlty reclined posture for their 4th cycle of the night (final 2 hrs). They say the same: it's great for increased awareness during this phase.
During the other phases they actually sleep on their right side though as they say it helps with 'energy channels'. Taoist dream masters do the same.

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Originally Posted by Avian

I read somewhere that sleep paralysis is much more common among back sleepers. Many lucid dream techniques seem to be purposed for doing on your back, or at least that's what it seems like. Being a side sleeper, I find that when I am on my side my thoughts drift much more easily. I usually do WILD and other such things on my back because it seems correct, but still doesn't work. Am I doing this wrong, or is there some connection between back sleeping and lucid dreaming? Any regular lucid dreamers out there who never sleep on their back?

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I never slept on my back until I started to WILD. I WILD on my back with my sofa in reclining position plus 2-3 pillows. So I am about half sitting, half laying down.

Reasons:

1. Sleeping in different position and in different place than you normally do tells your mind that you not just going to sleep normally

2. It does keep you aware a bit longer so you don't fall asleep too soon

3. Sleeping reclined is conductive to WILDs/OBEs from what I have read

4. It seems to work for me, haha

I used to stay on my back, reclined and I had great success. Only recently I started to turn to my left side when I got close to falling asleep and to my surprise I still get WILDs like that. Surprise, because I used to do that but without much success. Ofc, there are so many more variables in play during a WILD that one can never be sure why success/failure.

On my last attempt I turned to my right side while still staying reclined and I got a WILD again.

I recall reading that man should sleep on their right side while woman on their left. Not sure how much this matters, so you may wanna experiment with it.

This said, people do get lucid and WILDs in all kinds of positions, including position in which they sleep normally. So it can be very personal and one can experiment to find what works best for us.

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Originally Posted by Valis1

I usually find that sleeping on my back with a extra pillow works well, the slight incline does seem to improve awareness. But i think as long as you are steady and comfortable things should be fine.

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Hmmm...this bears investigating (for all the reasons stated) and is easy enough to test. I like it!

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Originally Posted by Avian

I read somewhere that sleep paralysis is much more common among back sleepers. Many lucid dream techniques seem to be purposed for doing on your back, or at least that's what it seems like. Being a side sleeper, I find that when I am on my side my thoughts drift much more easily. I usually do WILD and other such things on my back because it seems correct, but still doesn't work. Am I doing this wrong, or is there some connection between back sleeping and lucid dreaming? Any regular lucid dreamers out there who never sleep on their back?

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When you feel that you are as relaxed as you can be, turn to your most comfortable position. This is what worked for me at least.

I'm not sure,I tend to sleep on my stomach when I sleep,and lucid,which most people say leads to sexual dreams,or atleast I've heard before.(for guys I'm assuming) but I've never had the problem,I sleep on my stomach because I find it comfortable and because it adjusts my breathing to sleep easier(pressure on chest and stomach),most other positions I have to be extremely tired,and on my back it might never happen. Usually mostly associate sleeping on my back with sleep paralysis,not that it bothers me anymore,but haven't gotten it in any other position where I was aware of it. Oddly enough though,didn't realize til I was reading the posts here,Whenever I have false awakenings,I'm usually on my back. I'll probaly try my back to see if it increases my progression any.