How Should We Sleep?: Our Tradition And Modern Science

In today’s fast-moving world, health and wellness have become a major focus. And where traditional wisdom often provides valuable insights, modern science eventually confirms these insights. Do you know the best answer of “How should we sleep?” Or “how should we sleep in which direction?” One such age-old practice and best way of sleep is sleeping on your left side after eating. It is recommended especially for the first half hour. This simple habit, rooted in ancient scriptures, is said to have significant health benefits, particularly for digestion. According to these texts, lying on the left side activates the Pingala Nadi (also called the Surya Nadi). And this position stimulates the digestive fire, or Jatharagni. It aids in the smooth digestion of food. Failure to adopt this practice may lead to indigestion, constipation, or other gastrointestinal issues.

Here in this blog post, I am covering this because the way of how we sleep plays a great role in our performance and success by making us productive, motivated and fresh everyday. So, let’s explore the science, spiritual wisdom, and the benefits of this practice.

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The Science Behind Left-Side Sleeping

From a physiological standpoint, sleeping on your left side has been shown to positively affect digestion. This is due to the anatomy of the stomach and intestines. The stomach is located on the left side of the body. When you sleep on your left, gravity helps to move the food through the digestive system. Here’s why:

• Better Digestion: When you lie on your left side, gravity helps food move from the stomach to the intestines more efficiently. This is due to the natural curve of the intestines. The stomach’s placement on the left side of the body also plays a role.

• Increased Absorption of Nutrients: By facilitating the downward movement of food through the digestive tract, lying on the left side helps improve the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. This means that your body gets more nourishment from the food you eat.

• Preventing Acid Reflux: Lying on your right side after eating can exacerbate acid reflux and heartburn. This is due to the stomach’s contents that are more likely to spill into the Oesophagus when you lie on the right. Sleeping on the left side helps keep stomach acid where it belongs. It remains in the stomach. This position thus reduces the risk of acid reflux.

• Supporting Lymphatic Drainage: The body’s lymphatic system is left-side dominant. So, It plays a crucial role in detoxifying and removing waste. Sleeping on your left helps this system drain lymph fluid more efficiently and supports overall detoxification.

• 5mproved Heart Function: By sleeping on your left side, you relieve pressure off the vena cava. The vena cava is the largest vein that carries deoxygenated blood to the heart. This helps in reducing strain on your heart, particularly after meals, when blood flow is redirected towards digestion.

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The Role of Pingala Nadi in Digestion

In Yogic philosophy, the human body is said to have 72,000 nadis, or energy channels. Among these, the Ida Nadi, Pingala Nadi, and Sushumna Nadi are the three main channels. These channels play a significant role in regulating the functions of the body. According to ancient scriptures, when we lie on the left side, the Pingala Nadi becomes active within five minutes.

The Pingala Nadi, also known as the Surya Nadi or the “Sun Channel,” is associated with solar energy—energy that is dynamic, heating, and stimulating. Activating this nadi increases the body’s internal fire, or Agni. This increase helps in breaking down food. It facilitates faster digestion and prevents toxin buildup in the body. This aligns with the Ayurvedic concept of Jatharagni, the gastric fire, which is considered essential for proper digestion. When Pingala Nadi is stimulated, the function of this digestive fire is enhanced. This leads to more efficient breakdown and assimilation of food. On the contrary, sleeping on the right side after eating slows down digestion. It prevents the stimulation of Pingala Nadi. This often leads to indigestion or even long-term digestive disorders like constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

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Consequences of Ignoring This Practice

As you got the answer of “how should we sleep?”. But not following this scientifically proven ancient wisdom can lead to several health problems:

• Indigestion: When food isn’t digested properly, it can result in bloating, gas, and discomfort. Lying on your right side after eating slows the digestive process. It makes it harder for the stomach to break down the food.

• Constipation: Poor digestion is generally caused by wrong sleeping postures after eating and can also slow-down bowel movements. Over time, this leads to constipation, which can cause other complications like hemorrhoids and colon issues.

• Acid Reflux: As I mentioned earlier, lying on the right side increases the likelihood of acid reflux, where stomach acids flow back into the Oesophagus. Over time, chronic acid reflux can cause damage to the Oesophagus lining.
• Weight Gain: Slower digestion can lead to poor nutrient absorption, causing the body to crave more food for energy. This, in results, can lead to overeating and weight gain

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Scriptural Backing: Wisdom Beyond Science

In Indian scriptures like the Ayurveda and Yoga Sutras, health is considered a balance of physical, mental, and spiritual elements. Sleeping on the left side after eating is not just a physical action. It is also seen as a means of balancing the body’s energy. It ensures harmony within.

The Pingala Nadi symbolizes active or masculine energy (solar energy). The Ida Nadi is linked to cooling, calmness, and feminine energy (lunar energy). By activating the Pingala Nadi after eating, we initiate an environment within the body. This environment supports active digestion. It also aids in energy utilization. According to yogic tradition, lying on the left side helps to balance the functions of the body. This practice aligns with natural rhythms and leads to a more holistic state of health.

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How to Incorporate This Practice?

• Conscious Awareness: In The next time you finish a meal, consciously make an effort to lie on your left side for 30 minutes. You can set a timer on your phone as a reminder.
• Gentle Movements: After meals, avoid strenuous activities. Lying on your left side or sitting in Vajrasana for 5-10 minutes can help stimulate digestion. Vajrasana, a seated yoga posture, is also known for aiding digestion.
• Consistency is Key: Like any health practice, consistency is essential. Incorporating this habit regularly after meals will improve your digestive health over time. Therefore, after learning how to we sleep better, your responsibility is to make it your habit.

To learn more about the positions of sleeping visit here.

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Final Thoughts: The Wisdom of Ancient Traditions

Our ancestors were well-versed in the inner workings of the body, and their observations have stood the test of time. By adopting this simple habit, we can enhance our digestive health, prevent discomfort, and experience overall well-being. While it may seem like a minor adjustment, lying on your left side after eating offers substantial benefits for the body, proving that there is a reason behind every age-old practice mentioned in our scriptures. Health is not just about what we eat but also how we treat our bodies afterward, and this practice is a perfect example of how a small change can have a big impact on our overall health. Hence, the practice of sleeping on the left side after eating is the best answer to “how should we sleep“, deeply rooted in ancient wisdom, aligns with both Ayurveda and modern science.

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