Whether you’re dealing with pain a stressful day or just want to relax your body and mind lying on the floor is an essential practice. It’s the ultimate practice for a healthy spine. It also helps us feel grounded says certified yoga instructor and fitness entrepreneur Meghan Pickrell.
Relaxation
Try the basic practice of floor lying if you’re seeking for a quick and easy way to relax. Its an excellent stress reliever for a multitude of reasons including lowering back discomfort and facilitating healthy sleep.
You might also experiment with a more advanced technique such as progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). To stimulate the vagus nerve alternate tension and relaxation in all of your major muscles.
Find a comfortable area on the floor such as a mat on a carpet or rug or a thicker pilates mat to begin. Put a tiny folded hand towel under your chin for support.
The most crucial component of this exercise is that you are doing it which reduces anxiety and improves focus. The best part is that its a lot simpler than you might imagine. It may be difficult to begin so start with a few minutes and gradually work up to a full session.
Pain Relief
A soft mattress does not provide adequate support for your body and might cause back pain when you lie down on a firm surface such as the floor your spine maintains its natural position and you have significantly less pain.
It also assists your body in regaining its normal posture and relieving stress on muscles that are prone to stiffness. If you’re frequently slumped over a computer screen. lying down on the floor can help realign your shoulders and thoracic spine.
Sleeping on the floor according to some is especially useful for sciatic nerve pain. While its unclear how this could assist its a good idea to avoid lying on your stomach which can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and create pain.
Strengthening
The simple act of lying on the floor can provide numerous benefits. It can help you become more aware of your body position allowing you to recognize where your muscles are tense and where they are not.
It can also aid in the strengthening of your core, legs and shoulders. Try a series of fish poses, beginning with lying on your back with your legs straight out in front of you.
Lying on the floor also improves blood flow and drainage in your legs reducing weariness and edema. This is particularly beneficial for patients with varicose veins because it allows gravity to work against the collapsed veins in their legs.
It may take some time for your body to adjust if you are new to sleeping on the floor. Begin with laying on the floor for little amounts of time such as a nap or a portion of your night and gradually increase the length of time you sleep on the floor as your body adjusts.
Flexibility
Your muscles relax and extend to their optimal length when you lie down on a hard surface. This is a much more effective stretch than lying on a soft mattress.
Try a few minutes of floor lying each day if you want to increase your flexibility it might be a terrific way to incorporate more stretching and foam rolling into your daily routine.
You can also sleep on the floor to alleviate back pain and enhance your posture. You could wish to start with a brief nap and gradually increase the amount of time you spend on the floor before bed.
Floor laying is a simple technique that may improve your mind and body in ways you never imagined. It also doesn’t require much time or effort!