Ajit Karn
Which Direction Should we Sleep? There is an art to designing the best bedroom environment for sleep. You can dim the lights, repaint your walls a calming hue, and splurge on comfortable bedding.
Eastern medicine and spiritual practices suggest there may be even more you can do — all the way down to adjusting the direction you sleep in. Lets Learn more about Which Direction Should we Sleep?
Which Direction Should we Sleep?
According to ancient traditions like vastu shastra, the best direction to sleep in is toward the south. This theory is also supported by some recent research. This means that when you lie in bed, your head is pointed south, and your feet are pointed north.
Why Is South the Best Sleeping Direction?
Animals, such as cattle and deer, instinctively align their bodies in a north-south direction when feeding or resting, according to some research. In addition, preliminary research indicates that when individuals sleep facing south, their blood pressure decreases and the quality of their sleep improves.
According to some research and vastu shastra, this may be explained by the Earth’s electromagnetic field.
The Indian architectural legacy of Vastu shastra is an ancient one. Practitioners view structures as living organisms that can be designed in harmony with the cosmic energy. The concept is based on Hindu mythology and beliefs, such as the notion that the human body has its own north and south poles, like the Earth.
Although there are no studies linking migraines to sleep direction, there is some evidence that sleeping towards the south may reduce the risk of elevated blood pressure. One study compared individuals who slept east to west to those who slept north to south. Three months later, those who slept in a north-south orientation had lower blood pressure, superior sleep quality, and overall extended sleep. The researchers concluded that dozing in alignment with the Earth’s electromagnetic field could enhance the quality of sleep.
In a recent study, participants’ brain patterns changed when they were exposed to manipulated electromagnetic fields, indicating that humans may be sensitive to the magnetic energy of the Earth. However, older studies that exposed individuals to magnetic fields during sleep found that it had no effect on the quality of their sleep, so more research is required in this area.
Is It Bad to Sleep in Other Directions?
According to vastu shastra, sleeping with your body facing north is the worst-case scenario because your cranium functions as the north pole. It causes tension, which may result in migraines and other health issues. To attain equilibrium, you should sleep with your head pointing south, in accordance with the Earth’s electromagnetic pull. Idealistically, your entire chamber should face south.
Some research indicates that those who sleep north-south take longer to enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, an essential stage of sleep for cognitive function, emotional health, and overall health. Those who slept east-west in this study entered REM sleep earlier. However, other studies have shown that sleeping east-west results in less sleep overall. Until more research is conducted, the advantages and disadvantages of napping east-west may cancel each other out.
Also read: What is the best direction to sleep
