SLEEPING POSITIONS

Importance of the Sleeping Position

Sound sleep is necessary for our physical and mental well-being. Our body revitalize itself during the time we are sleeping. It is recommended for people to sleep with their heads to the south. Our ancients advised that the body enjoys perfect health and longer life by sleeping with head towards the south. Sages like Markandeya and Garga have said that one should lie with his head towards the south for strengthening health and duration. 

Our forefather were past masters in various known and unknown sciences and understood that the sleeping direction is directly correlated with the sciences of magnetism and thermal electricity. When the eastern part of the earth is heated by the sun, its western part remains cold. So, thermal electricity generated by the sun travels over the surface of the earth from east to west. The earth, thereby, becomes magnetised and its geographical North pole, which is to the right-hand side of the current, becomes the magnetic North pole and its geographical South pole, being on the left-hand side of the same current, becomes the magnetic South pole. It is also known that the earth is a huge magnet with its poles having attractive repulsive powers. It is evident by placing a compass needle which always points to the north.

It has also been proved that the human body contains a large percentage of iron in the blood which circulates all through the body. This makes the human body a magnetic object. Our feet are in contact with this huge magnet, the earth, for the most part of the day. This move South polarity in our feet and North polarity in our head. As we know that opposite poles of a magnet attract and same poles repel, keeping the head (North pole of our body) towards the north (North pole of earth) causes repulsion, leading to disturbance in blood circulation and body becoming endangered to diseases. While lying with the head (North pole of body) towards the south (South pole of earth) the opposite magnetic poles attract each other, thereby preserving the polarity of the body. The blood circulation is normal and health remains good. 

It is thus clear that the ideal direction for placing the head while sleeping is south, north is totally prohibited. Sleeping with head towards east is allowed for children and students.

According to Sage Markandeya, a man becomes learned by lying down with his head placed eastward and is troubled with distressing thoughts by lying down with his head placed westward. One can sleep with the head towards the east for an increase in mental peace, good thoughts and spirituality.

Pregnant women are especially advised not to sleep with their head towards the north, west or east. They must place their head towards the south direction. In fact, some modern scholars. Vaastu advise against a north or north-east room for pregnant women, as it is said that when a couple sleeps in a northern or north-east bedroom, their family does not grow. 

As mentioned earlier, a young couple desirous of progeny can use the north-west bedroom. It is recommended that after conception the couple should move to a southern bedroom. 

Certain tridosha disturbances can also be brought back to normalcy by sleeping either on your left side or your right side. Ayurveda texts speak of lunar and solar energies. Sleeping on your left is suggested for vata and kapha constitutions and is beneficial in chronic constipation, back pain, paralysis, arthritis, obesity, bronchitis, sinusitis and cold-related ailments.

Sleeping on your right is suggested for pitta constitutions and is beneficial for a person prone to rashes, itches and liver disorders.