Stomach sleeping is really a challenge because it requires changing your unconscious habit, yet this is a change that will benefit you in more ways than you can imagine. As your holding your head to one side or the other, your cervical vertebrae will be impinging the nerves. So you could be having sinus problems, headaches, abdominal problems, sciatica, anything at all because all of your nerves to your entire body pass through your neck and depending on which nerves are being impinged, that’s where you’re going to have a problem.
It’s going to take you a little time, but to change an unconscious habit, you need to make it difficult for your body to automatically slide into the position you’re trying to change. In this case, you’ll need a firm long-length pillow, two pillows are even better.
Make a decision of whether you would like to start to sleep on your side or on your back. If you can, it’s better on your back, but definitely acceptable to sleep on your side.
To sleep on your side, put a pillow in front of you and put your arm around it – a loving partner also works great and put the other pillow behind you (this is the extra pillow, not as important as the one that is in front of you). Have the pillows close enough to your body so you’ll wake yourself up if you roll onto it. It will take a while, but you’ll eventually start to find that you’re not waking up so often. Remember to put the right side pillow under your head (see the previous posting for more details).
If you decide to sleep on your back, put the pillows on either side of you, and put a regular pillow under your knees and just a small rolled up washcloth or dish towel under your neck.
I’m going to be writing a more complete detailed explanation in my eNewsletter. If you have any questions, let me know.
Wishing you well,
Julie