How Sleeping In A Hammock Can Give You A Better, Deeper Sleep
It has been found that regularly lacking sleep can seriously affect physical and mental health:leading to memory loss, accelerated human aging, and even psychological problems such as depression.
But did you know, there have been studies done that suggest sleeping in a hammock improves sleep and helps you sleep deeper and longer.
To learn more about just how powerful sleeping in a hammock can be, especially for promoting deeper sleep, read on.
How Hammocks Can Promote Better Sleep
It's no surprise that the gentle rocking of a hammock helps people fall asleep faster. But the rocking motion also contributes to having a deeper and longer sleep.
The position of the body in a hammock also promotes a better quality of sleep than the many unhealthy sleep positions we find ourselves in on flat mattresses.
When you sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated - as you would in a hammock - your breathing will be unobstructed, and your brain will have optimal blood circulation instead of congestion.
Hammocks also provide zero-pressure-point ergonomics, so there is no pressure placed on your body as you sleep, which is something even the most comfortable mattresses can't provide.
So, when you use a hammock as a bed, you're more likely to benefit from a relaxing, comfortable, and healthy sleep.
The Science Behind Rocking Motion and Aiding Sleep
According to a study published in Current Biology, sleeping in a rocking motion makes it easier to fall asleep and also improves the quality of sleep by causing stronger brain waves.
While studying the brain waves of participants in a rocking bed vs a stationary bed, researchers found that rocking decreased the transition time for falling asleep and increased the length of N2 sleep - a type of non - REM sleep that makes up half of a good night's sleep.
Rocking also increased the amount of slow oscillation, or slow-wave activity - an indicator of deep sleep - and sleep spindle brain waves. Sleep spindles are correlated with tranquil sleep in noisy environments. So the spindles could be a sign that the brain calms sleepers stuck in noisy environments, along with other sensory stimulation, such as sleeping in a rocking motion.
The swinging motion synchronizes brain action and supports endogenous (self-sustained) sleep rhythms-e.g. like other constant sleeping conditions, such as complete darkness.
Spindles are also associated with the ability to remember new information, along with the brain's ability to rewire itself-which is referred to as brain plasticity.
What Happens When You Sleep Deeper
While all stages of a sleep cycle are beneficial to your mental and physical health, the deeper sleep stage and REM sleep stage are especially important.
During deeper sleep stages, your body repairs itself. Energy is restored, the immune system is strengthened, and tissues and muscles are repaired. Your brain is also restoring itself, so a deeper sleep improves brain plasticity and the ability to remember new information.
Getting enough quality sleep improves your overall mental, cognitive, and physical health and function, including hormone regulation. So, as a result of getting a deeper sleep every night, you can benefit from:
1. Elevated Mood
Feeling well-rested when you wake up - especially if you're not a morning person - can help you wake up on the right side of the bed - or hammock - as they say.
Having a quality sleep with a healthy amount of deep sleep will prime your mind for the day. Your hormones will be better balanced, and your mood won't be as cranky as it would be if you slept too little.
2. Improved Performance
The brain activity of a deep sleep improves concentration, which is important for performing well in your day-to-day life, including at work or school. The increased ability to form new memories makes for successful learning, studying, and performing. And this can also affect your ability to perform in your personal life as well, such as being more attentive and proactive in your home life.
3. Better Memory
Being forgetful can be a nuisance at the best of times and downright frustrating when it affects your quality of life. We can be forgetful at times, especially when we’re distracted or stressed out. But our ability to make new memories is so important for our life experiences and ability to function well at work, school, home, and in life in general.
4. More Physically Active
When you are well-rested, your energy is restored, and your muscles are repaired, so it's easier to stay motivated to exercise daily. You likely won't want to hit up the gym or go for a jog if you're feeling sluggish after a poor night's sleep. But if you had a deeper sleep, you'll likely have more pep in your step and feel empowered to push your body.
Since the gentle rocking of a hammock can help people fall asleep faster and have a longer, deeper sleep, swapping your regular bed for a hammock might be the cure for your insomnia.
We often take for granted the importance of getting a good night's sleep. But getting enough quality sleep every night is the difference between barely functioning and performing successfully in all aspects of your life.
So if you have trouble sleeping, try swapping your bed for a hammock so you can rock into a relaxing, deep sleep that can help improve your quality of life.
47 comments
Their online store sells these hammocks separately, without the stand.
Is it possible to order just the hammock itself, and not the stand?
I’m a bigger guy, 6’3" 260lbs, and have GERD and some back issues, so this was sort of my “last shot” at finding a comfortable way to sleep every night. I sleep parallel to the frame and have a pillow under my legs and a neck pillow, and I sleep pretty dang well. It’s the only thing so far that makes me wake up without back pain or more acid issues.
Buying this marvelous hammock was one of the best ideas I’ve had in a while. Every time I get in it I’m surprised again at how comfortable it is. Every position is comfortable: legs folded, legs straight, one leg out to a strategically placed lawn chair with which I gently rock it.
I am unsure how I have ever lived without a hammock before. We love this one. I was never a fan of the other types people have, that are flat but this is different and it is comfortable!! Best thing I bought in years. So easy to assemble my 6 year old did it with very little help from me, it took 10 minutes max.
I had a few nights sleep in a row on my bed that was just terrible, then I camped for a few days in a hammock and found out that i sleep great in one. At first i thought maybe it was just the fresh air and camping but nope, i really do sleep better now in a hammock.
replaced my bed with this hammock and never turned back.
I bought this so I would have a little hammock vacation during this social distancing stay home time we are all dealing with. I lay in my hammock read a book have a drink and just relax, worth every cent…❤️
I am not a small lady. I’m 5’6, 200lbs. I fit in it good and have no fear of it not holding me. My 80lb daughter gets in it with me and it holds both of us. I have recommended it to several friends that have back pain and I would recommend it to y’all as well.
I’ve never gotten better sleep than the close to 3 years I’ve owned this. I’ve taken it apart and back together at least a dozen times (having your bed that travels with you is amazing). It’s substantially longer than a queen, so I’ve taken to setting it up along the headboard wall, which is fine because then you can use it to rock. It’s just as comfortable sleeping on your side as on your back, though stomach sleepers will find this solution quite uncomfortable (or maybe I just need to do some yoga?).
I’ve had this stand and hammock for one full year now using it as a full tie bed and I still appreciate it. Assembly is easy, it is portable, light weight stainless steel metal with a zinc oxide coating. And the cotton hammock itself is very easy to dust off. I am sensitize to dust so it is nice to have a bed that I can simply lay on the floor and vacuum the dust out of.
This hammocks is an absolute godsend. I laid in this thing once and every tense muscle in my body relaxed and it felt like I was on vacation somewhere extremely sunny. Beautiful and relaxing.
AMAZING for your back
I’m a side-sleeper so I was a little worried it would be uncomfortable on my side. Not at all!
This is hands down the best purchase I have made in YEARS. I use this hammock as my bed replacement and I have never looked back. As a matter of fact, I still snuggle in every night and have myself a little contented sigh of GRATITUDE because I KNOW I will sleep well. I don’t mean sleep like a baby (right!) I mean sleep like a teenager at noon. Mouth open, drooling and totally OUT.
I received this as a housewarming gift from my best friend and let me tell you… it’s a life changer.