Expert says the zero gravity position will give you a better night's sleep

We spend about one-third of our lives asleep and it's one of the most important things we do with our time.

Getting your head on the pillow for long enough each night is really important, as is the position you actually have when you've finally nodded off.

Sleeping in a bad position can leave you waking up the next morning in a bit of a state and there's a bunch of ways you can avoid having a crooked neck and bad back when your alarm goes off the next morning.

Strategic pillow placement is a crucial aspect of constructing a cornucopia of comfort for you to sleep in and an expert has explained one of the best positions you can have when nodding off: the zero gravity.

It got its name as it's similar to the pose astronauts take when they experience weightlessness - and it's pretty easy for you to try out.

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Martin Seeley is a sleep expert and CEO of Mattress Next Day who has all sorts of tips you can take for a better night's sleep -and now he's recommended that people give the 'zero gravity' position a try.

"The position involves elevating the head and the feet slightly, so that the body is in a reclined position with the legs and head slightly above the heart," Martin said.

You can use an adjustable bed if you've got one of those to achieve this position, otherwise you can always just use pillows to prop up your head and legs.

The theory behind this sleeping position is that with a slightly raised head and feet it will 'alleviate pressure on the spine and improve circulation'.

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Martin said this could 'lead to a more restful and comfortable sleep', which sounds very pleasant, and crucially for anyone sharing your bed the expert said 'it may also help reduce snoring'.

One or two pillows under the head and another one under your knees to prop up your legs ought to be enough to nail this position for a good night's sleep, the key thing is you should be reclining with your head and legs slightly above your heart.

According to Martin this position comes from NASA finding a way to help its astronauts 'adapt to microgravity during spaceflight'.

It turns out that it works back here on planet Earth too, with hospitals and care homes making use of the 'zero gravity' position while also leading to the development of specialised beds so people can sleep in the pose.

Topics: Life, Health, Sleep

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@MrJoeHarker