Sleep positions
Apparently, yet another way to judge the strength of your relationship is in the way you and your significant other sleep! Read below:
____________________________________________________________
"What Your Sleep Styles Say About You! by Lissa Coffey"
The Spoon
"Spooning" or sleeping facing the same directions with full body contact: This is a nurturing position with the outside "spooner" giving comfort to the inside "spoon." This also shows mutuality, equality, both people are facing in the same direction, as if to say: "We see the same things."
Shingles (man face up, woman face up with head on shoulder)
Man on his back, woman curled up at his side: This position he is saying: "I am vulnerable to you" much like in the animal kingdom when an animal reveals his bare belly. He is giving her his trust. And she is saying: "My attention is on you, I am comfortable with you." This position leads to more sexual intimacy, it says: I am open to be touched He is giving her his shoulder. She is giving him her touch. He gets her hands all over him. She gets his openness, and sees him in a way no one else does. This makes both of them feel special.
Sweetheart's Cradle (man face up, woman face down on his chest)
He is saying: "I am here to protect you." She is saying: "I need your warmth and comfort. Let me be a blanket of love for you." In this position, the man's hands are free to stroke the woman's back and hair. He is doing the touching and she is responding to it by melting into him.
Leg Hug (legs intertwined)
This is a way for both to say: "Our lives are intertwined. We are in this together. I go where you go." This is a way you can meld two different individual sleep styles and still feel close. If one person is huddled under the covers and the other is throwing off the sheets, you can still manage to touch feet in the middle somewhere! The old "foot feel" works wonders after a fight. Sometimes there are no more words, and you don't want to go to bed angry. When the bare foot meets the leg it's a signal that says: "We're all right. Let's make up." And then when the foot feel is returned it's a signal that you can move closer, things are okay.
Butt Hug (back to back with butts touching)
Both on sides, lying back to back: This position creates a little personal space. When touching it says "I'm here for you." This is a mutual way of saying: "I love you even when I'm sleeping." After all, you don't touch butts with just *anyone*! This is a way of being intimate and still getting your rest. The symmetry says "we're in sync! We're on the same page - get some rest and let's cuddle in the morning!"
This article may be forwarded or re-printed as long as all of the following information is included in the text: by Lisa Marie Coffey ©2003 For media requests, information or to sign up for FREE Weekday Wisdom, visit: coffeytalk.com
_____________________________________________________________
Another good article that takes a look at sleep positions is here.
Personally, I am a big fan of the spoon position with the leg hug mixed in — and I think the definition of the those two fit my relationship for the most part. I'm not one to sleep facing my BF — a little too much contact — but I definitely like contact when I go to sleep. I know more than a few people, however, who stay on opposites sides of the bed. I have read that this means a distance is in the relationship, but I think some people just prefer not to be smothered while sleeping (although maybe that's a whole other issue).
What is your preferred sleep pattern? And do you agree with the definition given?
posted by Anonymous at 11:10 AM
7 Comments:
So what does me sleeping in the bed and him on the couch mean. And no we are not fighting. Well really it just has to do with work. I work early in the morning, so he stays up late watching TV and falls asleep on the couch everynight. When I get up he moves into the bedroom until he has to get up for work later in the afternoon. We have been doing this for so long, I have trouble sleeping with him in the bed now....We do however try to sleep together on the weekends. We start off in a spoon, but I quickly get too hot and end up moving over. I would love to see what that lady would say about our relationship.
Ha!
I start off cuddling and then make my way to my side of the bed. I can't stand being crowded when I sleep - it gets too hot! Good thing he feels the same way!
Anon #1 — I don't know what the lady would say, but it doesn't sound like all that healthy of a set-up to me. If it works for you, then great! But intimacy is an important part of a relationship.
My BF has to get up at 5 a.m. every morning for work. While I am not there on a daily basis, I have been there on weekdays when he does this. It has never once crossed my mind not to sleep in the bed with him, even though it may mean I will be awake a little earlier than I want — plus, I always go back to sleep when he leaves at 6:15 a.m.
I would suggest giving sleeping in the same bed on a regular basis a chance...otherwise, you may lose a little closeness with such separate schedules.
Anonyous #1 again, We have tried to sleep together at the start. But he will stay up until 2-3 am watching TV and I have to get up at 7am. Sorry but I can not live on 4 hours of sleep (note I cannot sleep with any light or noise in the room). Because he does not work until 1 pm he thinks 11 pm is to early to go to bed. So that's why we do it that way. I don't think there will be much of a change until he can go to a 'normal' work week. I guess what has bothered me the most is on the weekend when we do get the chance to share the bed, I almost get annoyed because I'm use to spreading out. And end up tossing and turning the whole night. I'm not really sure what to do...
Hmmm, Anon #1. I wish I could tell you what works for me, because I have my bed to myself during the week, and then share with my BF on the weekends, and find the adjustment quite easy!
Maybe he can come to bed when he is done watching TV instead of staying on the couch....it may wake you up for a minute, but wouldn't it be worth having him in the bed with you?
Or, if that idea doesn't appeal to you, maybe you can try to keep a body pillow in the bed with you, so you are used to something beside you.
At some point or another, I think I've slept in all of those positions (except with my face in his chest ... how would I breathe?). I'm not sure if it really says anything at all about a relationship. I think that's just the way I feel comfortable!
To anon #1: All I have to say is practice makes perfect. The more you sleep next to eachother, the more you'll get used to it. It's sorta like a train in the middle of the night. When you first hear it, it wakes you up every night, but then after awhile, you get used to it being there, and it doesn't stir your sleep at all.
Thanks ladies, you're right. I really do need to start making more of an effert to try to sleep in the same bed as my honey...I'll start this weekend!
Post a Comment
<< Home