On your side, or on your back?

[Suby]

I was wondering what most people sleep on? their side vs on their back. I always lie to the side. The reason I ask is I am wondering if this has any connection between lucid dreaming. I assume that once you are asleep its all the same thing but for me, I can't fall asleep while I lie on my back yet it is easier to focus while laying down flat like that... I sometimes wish I could sleep on my back!

[Infraredkelp]

I sleep like this: btw, your sleeping position has nothing to do with lucidness.

[Suby]

I know sleeping has nothing to do with lucidness, but I was thinking it might help you to focus when falling asleep if you were to WILD for example. It's like how for meditation, they always suggest a certain sitting posture... It helps you breathe better etc and it might be easier to focus in that position... But thanks for the sarcastic reply! (not.)

[Mes Tarrant]

For me I can definitely focus MUCH better for things like WILD on my back rather than on my side. That's unfortunate because I looove curling up into a ball on my side. I think for me it does affect the ability to LD.. but I suppose only if I'm trying to use a technique. I've never even attempted to MILD or WILD on my side.

[Oneironaut Zero]

btw, your sleeping position has nothing to do with lucidness. I disagree. Maybe it's placebo but, for years, I would use sleeping on my back as a way to induce lucidity. To this day, any time I willfully try to LD, I sleep on my back. Even when not trying, I have more LDs on my back, than on my stomach. On my side seems (and, again, maybe it's just an illusory, psychological thing I've developed, I dunno) to go either way. I usually find myself more alert, when lying on my back. I can get farther into sleep paralysis, consciously, on my back - though I've never WILDed - but usually just pass out, when on my stomach.

[Caradon]

This is a good question. I have a hard time falling asleep on my back as well. But this actualy helps with my Lucidity. If I can keep my mind from wandering, and just stay focused while on my back, I can do some short wilds. And then my mind will be more alert when I fall into a deeper sleep. This helps with recall, and becoming Lucid. Sometimes I will sleep in my Lazy boy recliner, I have had a few Lucid dreams that way. I end up having a lot of Lucid dreams while camping. I figured out that the conection, was the less comfortable sleeping conditions.

[Rainman]

I agree with Oneironaught. I think it does matter. I usually fall asleep straight way if I'm on my side, because it's how I normally sleep. When I'm on my back, I'm not as comfortable, but I can focus better. I still ahven't done a WILD period though so I don't really know. My guess though is that i'd do it on my back, or sitting in a lazy boy chair.

[Mes Tarrant]

Has anyone actually tried to WILD on their side?

[Infraredkelp]

I disagree. Maybe it's placebo but, for years, I would use sleeping on my back as a way to induce lucidity. To this day, any time I willfully try to LD, I sleep on my back. Even when not trying, I have more LDs on my back, than on my stomach. On my side seems (and, again, maybe it's just an illusory, psychological thing I've developed, I dunno) to go either way. I usually find myself more alert, when lying on my back. I can get farther into sleep paralysis, consciously, on my back - though I've never WILDed - but usually just pass out, when on my stomach. I guess it's really a personal thing. If it's not as comfortable on you side than it is on your back, then you would probably become lucid on your back more often.

[Adam]

For me I find sleeping on my back has better results too

[Suby]

Thanks for the replies, what most of you said seems to agree with my own feelings about my sleep positions. I guess most people tend to sleep on their side curled up as it is a more natural position (the position of being in your mother's womb (or a test-tube lol) ) and sleeping on the back provides a little uncomfort to help keep your mind on what you are doing... Thanks!

[Adam]

What I tend to do is sleep on my side, curled up or what ever is comfy at the time, then mid sleep if I awake slightly I will roll onto my back still half asleep as then its easier to slip right back into a dream and hey presto

[BohmaN]

Something in between on my side and on my back. It's a very strange position, but very comfortable

[Patrick]

I try to sleep on my back for lucid attempts, since its easier to stay still, but I normally sleep on my side. I'm absolutely certain that I read an article once that said sleeping on your back means it's more likely you will have nightmares, and it gave an explanation with regards to brain chemistry. I've scoured the net for this article but I still haven't found it...

[SEBSTER]

Well ya know i always like to sleep face down, i dont know why...its a little weird i know but the pressure on my chest kinda relaxes me...yeah im a strange guy

[Clairity]

Has anyone actually tried to WILD on their side? I have WILDed both on my side and on my back. .

[Vall3y]

random note about sleeping position: sleeping on the chest\belly\stomach is bad for your neck and spine!

[Mes Tarrant]

I'd say that depends on your mattress/pillow though.

[DrTechnical]

In the book on Tibetan Sleep yoga by Rinponche (sp?) he suggests different postures at different times of the night. He makes one point I tend to agree with ... lying on your back facilitates a lighter sleep. Light sleep would seem to imply a state not as far removed from consiousness. An ability to wake up out of a dream is important for dream recall - though I have heard otheres dispute that claim. So that's another possible plus to sleeping on your back. I've noticed that sleeping with my head toward the north might be making a difference. That's sounds really dumb at first, sure. But with a magnetic field running along the earth and the relationship where a magnetic field tends to induce an electirc current, it should be clear that the induced electric flow within the brain is surely depending on position of the body relative to north.

[Adrenaline Junkie]

I sleep on my back, apparantly if you sleep leaning to the right you may experience discomfort due to your stomachs acid leaking out, i always remember this now and its true, i feel a bit sick when slept on the right, so i just lay on my back

[Adam]

I sleep in almost the recovery position lol

[Lord Toaster]

I go to sleep on my side normally, but when I'm trying to relax or listen to meditation music I lie on my back

[Torcher]

lying on my back pretty much consistently gives me sleep paralysis, but not always LDs.