Usually hammocks are thought of as an excellent way to relax on the beach, nestled between two palm trees. However, many homes in South and Central America have been using hammocks to get a good night’s sleep for centuries.
If you have never chosen to sleep in a hammock over a bed, you are probably pretty doubtful that a hammock can offer better sleep quality than a Tempur-Pedic mattress. Along with relief from physical pain, hammocks are excellent for those with insomnia, stress and anxiety.
Fall asleep faster: Basinets, baby swings, and the lullaby “rock-a-bye baby” are all displays of the influence a gentle sway back and forth has on putting newborns to sleep. Therefore, if we have trouble sleeping like a baby, a return to these well-known methods may help us achieve satisfying sleep. Hammocks provide light rocking that stimulates our bodies and minds to relax and rest. Research is currently exploring the hammocks’ ability to treat sleep disorders including insomnia.
Improves concentration: Hammocks stimulate deeper sleep, therefore the body and the brain get a better chance to recharge and heal. This deeper sleep allows us to feel more refreshed when we wake up and improves concentration and cognition.
Relieves pressure points: Pressure points may cause tossing and turning all night. Sore hips and shoulders accompanied by neck and back pain is often what many wake up to. Hammocks conform to the shape of our body, providing a zero-pressure point sleep. This helps stimulate circulation and good blood flow, which is beneficial for our physical and mental health.
Reduces Stress: There is a reason hammocks are a staple of backyard relaxation and beachfront serenity. Lying in a hammock reduces stress, depression and anxiety by promoting relaxation and contentment in the body and mind.
My own experience with hammock sleeping came while staying with a Brazilian family for a month. Every room had at least 2 sets of hammock hooks; this was where I slept every night. Their style hammocks conformed to your body, and it was much like sleeping in a cocoon. I was skeptical at first, but I woke up still intact, without the neck pain I was used to and feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
If you want to keep your mattress, and not hang hooks in your wall, a freestanding hammock is an excellent way to relax, read a book and ease stress after a long day.
