Hammocks for sleeping? (1 Viewer)

  • Welcome to the Roundtable! If you have an account already, please sign in, otherwise feel free to register. Note that you will be unable to post or access some boards and information unless you sign in.

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
i guess ever since my teenage years, i have struggled so much with the concept of beds to sleep in. i have yet to find one i find genuinely comfortable, i had to make a makeshift-topper filled with pillow fillings to make my current mattress bearable although i got the most soft option i could find... i have tried all sorts of ones and yeah... even though i am skinny and it gave me bruises, sometimes it was more comfortable to sleep on the floor because the mattress situations were so bad and having an honest hard floor was just better than the pretending-to-be-soft-but-then-it-isnt-really mattress (and dont get me wrong, i had one of the expensive swiss ultra-tech-sciency kind back then, not some cheap shit).
i tried topping them with sheepskins (those are awesome, but the underground still sucks), i tried getting used to different sleeping positions to no avail...
now i read somewhere that the concept of beds was to create a feeling of safety by being higher than the floor so (in medieval times) rats and stuff wouldnt get to you... (yikes!) and that in a lot of places, people do sleep in hammocks, or in other places where rodents arent an issue, actually on the floor. which i cant really imagine is good if you regularly get bruises on the hips from lying on a hard floor... but yeah maybe these people dig up the earth a bit to make a mould for their bodies?

anyway, i wanted to ask, is it really that uncommon to sleep in hammocks? i really dont know anyone personally who does, is this an issue of living in europe? if someone has experience or knows someone who sleeps in hammocks at home, how is it?
i imagine that it might give a feeling like being held, cocooned, but i will have to try it to see... i just ordered one and will definitely let you know how it goes when i tried it!
 
Last edited:
  • Intriguing Post
Reactions: Lila

therium

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Nov 1, 2018
1,422
2,740
Michigan
now i read somewhere that the concept of beds was to create a feeling of safety by being higher than the floor so (in medieval times) rats and stuff wouldnt get to you... (yikes!)
Rats and mice can easily climb just about any wood surface. I think the real reason was to lift the bed off the floor to avoid cold air drafts that are closer to the floor. Rich people often had enclosed beds with curtains around them to retain heat.

Yes it's uncommon to sleep in hammocks right now. I have never liked hammocks because I end up sleeping in a slightly curled position, which is bad for my back.

If you prefer a softer mattress try getting a mattress topper, 1-2", and see if that helps. Try a hammock too. Hammocks from Merida, Mexico are the best. I used to have one from there. But don't leave it outside as the tope is cotton and will rot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
Rats and mice can easily climb just about any wood surface. I think the real reason was to lift the bed off the floor to avoid cold air drafts that are closer to the floor. Rich people often had enclosed beds with curtains around them to retain heat.
that makes much more sense as the reason! also, in some scenarios in houses with dirt floors for example, it might have been practical to not have all the dirt and dust in your face at night.

If you prefer a softer mattress try getting a mattress topper, 1-2", and see if that helps. Try a hammock too. Hammocks from Merida, Mexico are the best. I used to have one from there. But don't leave it outside as the tope is cotton and will rot.
i have a memory-foam mattress at the moment, that felt so hard and gave me a stiff neck and hips for a week until i placed the first topper on... the first topper wasnt enough, still had hip-issues and always sore shoulder muscles, until i put another, this make-shift-self-made topper on it extra... now i have sheepskins on top, which are (finally) something that retains warmth excellently (with like now almost 40cm of mattress underneath, you would have thought that would have insulated enough, but no, only sheepskins will do!)... i tried sleeping on camping mats, which is slightly better if i dont put too much air in so i get a feeling of sinking in a bit, but i only have a narrow one and cant relax because i always feel like i will roll off it at some point and it doesnt "hold" me... so i am now hoping that the hammock is maybe my thing! i have no idea why i havent tried that yet, maybe because it just isnt done around here usually and because i was afraid id be cold, but if i put the sheepskins in the hammock, it might work!

sleeping preferences can be so different!
 

Linda

Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Staff member
Global Moderator
Administrator
Board Moderator
Jul 20, 2016
6,572
20,209
My hammock sleeping experience spans many years. As a child at camp, sometimes we would sleep in jungle hammocks (fully enclosed with top and net sides). It was glorious. I've also had several hammocks in the backyard, either strung between trees or on a stand. I've napped in those, and it was very restful. However, I do move around in my sleep, and shifting position in a hammock requires great skill.

I do better at night if I've stretched out several times during the day. There are many qigong routines on youtube that address the big muscles in the back, which I've discovered need lots of stretching these days.
 
  • Love this post!
Reactions: Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
I do better at night if I've stretched out several times during the day. There are many qigong routines on youtube that address the big muscles in the back, which I've discovered need lots of stretching these days.
qi gong is awesome! its kind of hard to stay in the practice though when feeling increasingly like run over by a truck in the morning... but i agree, it can help with sleep immensely :)
and wow this jungle hammock camp sounds like a lot of fun, those must be amazing memories!
 

Tania

Involved Wayfarer
Jul 30, 2016
350
694
Unfortunately I been sleeping on the cheapest IKEA Mattress on the floor for years - it makes it easy to get up in the morning and for some reason I’m still thrilled to hit the hay every night
I have tried to sleep on a hay/grass mattress at a great great grandparents summerhouse once. That was amazing !! But I’m pretty sure that was wedding thread sheets.
It seems there is so much to the totality of the sleep experience which I’m sure you are also thinking about - what direction you are turning - drafts - temperature etc.
I agree that a night on the actual floor can help fix some back issues and hammock sleeping is beautiful - but for extended periods of time - I don’t know ....seems it might depend on your general lifestyle.
Did you look into Japanese sleeping traditions ?
 
  • Love this post!
Reactions: Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
Well if a cheap Ikea matterss works for you, thats awesome! i had one too, but it was so thin, when it was on the floor i just hit the floor with my hips, so yours must probably be the second-cheapest :ROFL:
uh a hay mattress like in the old times must be awesome to sleep on, i just imagine smelling the hay all night and no chemicals!

Did you look into Japanese sleeping traditions ?
i did - when i was younger i had a futon, and it did not work well for me either. i am a side sleeper. i cant for the love of god fall asleep on my back, let alone stay asleep. at least on flat surfaces i cant. it makes it awesome when sunbathing, it means i never fall asleep and burn myself accidentally! but the futon was too hard for me, i was bouncing right off of it and it made almost no difference to other mattresses or the floor. it just doesnt hug you at all. maaaaaaybeeeee with a lot of side pillows piled around and with a giant pillow as a topper? i dont know, it didnt feel good.
if it doesnt work out with the hammock, i will make myself a giant pillow filled with wool stuffing to sleep on, i just decided. i have a local wool things producer near here who sells all sorts of wool products from local mostly organic farmers, so that is my next option.

one more thing i want to say though: i just spent the second night on the floor on my camping gear, and i must say, the back and neck hurt like hell now, but i feel so much clearer, no dizzyness in the morning and not like hit by a truck - maybe its just the chemicals in the mattresses that are that incredibly awful?
 
  • Wise Post
Reactions: Lila

Linda

Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Staff member
Global Moderator
Administrator
Board Moderator
Jul 20, 2016
6,572
20,209
I know several people who love their futons, but I've never liked them.

You might be on to something with the chemicals. Some foam products have terrible off-gassing issues.

Another thing that works for me is oil pulling (coconut oil) for 20 minutes before bed. I have no idea why it works, but I do sleep well when I do that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lilia and Tania

Tania

Involved Wayfarer
Jul 30, 2016
350
694
Well if a cheap Ikea matterss works for you, thats awesome! i had one too, but it was so thin, when it was on the floor i just hit the floor with my hips, so yours must probably be the second-cheapest :ROFL:
uh a hay mattress like in the old times must be awesome to sleep on, i just imagine smelling the hay all night and no chemicals!


i did - when i was younger i had a futon, and it did not work well for me either. i am a side sleeper. i cant for the love of god fall asleep on my back, let alone stay asleep. at least on flat surfaces i cant. it makes it awesome when sunbathing, it means i never fall asleep and burn myself accidentally! but the futon was too hard for me, i was bouncing right off of it and it made almost no difference to other mattresses or the floor. it just doesnt hug you at all. maaaaaaybeeeee with a lot of side pillows piled around and with a giant pillow as a topper? i dont know, it didnt feel good.
if it doesnt work out with the hammock, i will make myself a giant pillow filled with wool stuffing to sleep on, i just decided. i have a local wool things producer near here who sells all sorts of wool products from local mostly organic farmers, so that is my next option.

one more thing i want to say though: i just spent the second night on the floor on my camping gear, and i must say, the back and neck hurt like hell now, but i feel so much clearer, no dizzyness in the morning and not like hit by a truck - maybe its just the chemicals in the mattresses that are that incredibly awful?
Ha! I do Think it’s the second cheapest matress actually !!! It was hell when i was pregnant last time. First time i had one of Those Long body pillows for side sleeping which i recommend and actually made a baby matress with these Shells which right now i cant remember what was - but great alternative to chemicals and something to look into - you buy the shells and make your own matress.
 
  • Love this post!
Reactions: Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
You might be on to something with the chemicals. Some foam products have terrible off-gassing issues.
yeah i watched this the day before yesterday, i know its an ad but it still shows some disturbing stuff about foam mattresses...

anyway, i just got rid of the whole bed yesterday, after seeing this i couldnt call some disposal guy fast enough :ROFL: and the universe orchestrated it so easily, it must be right. the worker who came by was soooo nice and we even had a lovely chat and he was mask-free too :)
camping gear it is in the meantime!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Linda

therium

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Nov 1, 2018
1,422
2,740
Michigan
There were some interesting ad-hoc "studies" back in the 1800s. (It was in a book about Cholera.) It seems some people were a lot more sensitive to energies back then. What the study found was when a person slept with the head of the bed at the south, and the foot of the bed towards the north magnetic pole, the person was sick a lot. A person who slept with the head towards magnetic north, and feet towards magnetic south, slept much better.

The interesting part is this was before electricity existed, and neither did electric lights. Book was published in 1849 so the observations were before then.

Then there are archaeological findings that show many cultures buried their dead with feet towards the east, to see the rising sun.
 
Last edited:
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
There were some interesting ad-hoc "studies" back in the 1800s. (It was in a book about Cholera.) It seems some people were a lot more sensitive to energies back then. What the study found was when a person slept with the head of the bed at the south, and the foot of the bed towards the north magnetic pole, the person was sick a lot. A person who slept with the head towards magnetic north, and feet towards magnetic south, slept much better.

Then there are archaeological findings that show many cultures buried their dead with feet towards the east, so see the rising sun.
i havent read those studies, but i really sleep much better with my head towards north/northeast. all other directions just dont feel right. i am magnetosensitive though, i only need a compass to find north when i am in an area where there is a lot of radio-frequency pollution like in cities.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tania
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
sooooooo here is my update. i have slept in a hammock for 5 nights now. i have thrown out the bed before i could install it. and it is AWESOME! honestly, it is not for everyone. but if you crave that feeling of being held and lulled to sleep with gentle rocking motions, and have a good lining like sheepskins or a good wool-stuffed mat for warmth, after 2 nights of getting used to nesting into it you can have amazing nights without any tossing and turning (ok as a side sleeper, i wake up once briefly, turn on the other side, and resume baby-coma-sleep until morning)
after the first night of detoxing the VOC's from the mattress i had inhaled while getting it down the stairs for discarding, i havent had problems with sleeping rhythm and duration anymore like before, and no dizziness or headaches in the morning. but that can also be achieved by good quality natural fiber bedding with like, wool, cotton, latex and stuff mattresses. i very much recommend doing that change, it is totally worth it to support your health by reducing the amount of synthetic fibers with their coatings and toxins at least in the bedroom.

the thing is, i fell down another rabbit hole! off to purge every other synthetic material thing i can get rid of from my apartment. sadly i cant remove the pvc flooring and wall-coating in my bathroom, now i know at least why i am always so resistant to going in my bathroom and why i hate showering although i love the feeling of water. heat and humidity makes pvc off-gas... ok ok if you want to go down the rabbit hole too, do it yourself i'll stop now XD
 

Linda

Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Staff member
Global Moderator
Administrator
Board Moderator
Jul 20, 2016
6,572
20,209
Wonderful news from you - so glad you found a comfortable sleeping arrangement. A good night's sleep makes all the difference in our outlook. Congrats on the rabbit hole adventure, but I think I need to save that one for another time. It is great info for everyone, and thanks for taking us along on your journey.
 
  • Love this post!
Reactions: Lilia

Linda

Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Staff member
Global Moderator
Administrator
Board Moderator
Jul 20, 2016
6,572
20,209
This thread inspired me to replace my mattress topper with an organic latex one. Looking forward to that.
In one of the reviews, a person said the world would be a better place if everyone could get a good night's sleep.
That is right on so many levels - physical for sure.
 
  • Love this post!
  • I agree
Reactions: Lila and Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
the world would be a better place if everyone could get a good night's sleep.
This is sooooo true! half of the grumpiness and the hostility that stems alone from that would dissipate!

and, awesome, may this new topper feel amazing and give you sleep like on a cloud :)
 
  • Love this post!
Reactions: Linda

therium

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Nov 1, 2018
1,422
2,740
Michigan
Lilia I heard someone say that our man-made carpet fibers and shoes prevent us from grounding to the earth. And some people who like to go shoeless do so to be grounded. They say they feel much better a few months later.
 
  • I agree
Reactions: Lilia

Linda

Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Staff member
Global Moderator
Administrator
Board Moderator
Jul 20, 2016
6,572
20,209
When I walk outdoors barefooted, I feel it immediately - two-way energy movement.
 
  • I agree
Reactions: Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
Lilia I heard someone say that our man-made carpet fibers and shoes prevent us from grounding to the earth. And some people who like to go shoeless do so to be grounded. They say they feel much better a few months later.
yes going barefoot outside is amazing and so important for wellbeing, i take every chance i get to walk that one beautiful forest-path that doesnt have gravel on it. the thing is, indoors, if one doesnt have carpets out of synthetic stuff, chances are if one isnt quite well off financially, that there is laminat flooring or even worse, pvc, which can also off-gas quite nasty stuff, formaldehyde among other substances that i kind of dont want my skin to take up all the time, beside the fact that most modern housing isnt built with energetic grounding in mind even if you dont place carpets. but anyway, the carpets/rugs on top of those synthetic floorings are even worse i noticed, when i was handling mine to get them into garbage bags, i had quite a flash and was dizzy the whole next day also. still need to get rid of the couch now XD gosh i am really in a purging frenzy!
 
  • I agree
Reactions: Lila

Lila

Collected Consciousness
Staff member
RT Supporter
Global Moderator
Board Moderator
Jul 28, 2016
4,804
10,196
sooooooo here is my update. i have slept in a hammock for 5 nights now. i have thrown out the bed before i could install it. and it is AWESOME! honestly, it is not for everyone. but if you crave that feeling of being held and lulled to sleep with gentle rocking motions, and have a good lining like sheepskins or a good wool-stuffed mat for warmth, after 2 nights of getting used to nesting into it you can have amazing nights without any tossing and turning (ok as a side sleeper, i wake up once briefly, turn on the other side, and resume baby-coma-sleep until morning)
after the first night of detoxing the VOC's from the mattress i had inhaled while getting it down the stairs for discarding, i havent had problems with sleeping rhythm and duration anymore like before, and no dizziness or headaches in the morning. but that can also be achieved by good quality natural fiber bedding with like, wool, cotton, latex and stuff mattresses. i very much recommend doing that change, it is totally worth it to support your health by reducing the amount of synthetic fibers with their coatings and toxins at least in the bedroom.

the thing is, i fell down another rabbit hole! off to purge every other synthetic material thing i can get rid of from my apartment. sadly i cant remove the pvc flooring and wall-coating in my bathroom, now i know at least why i am always so resistant to going in my bathroom and why i hate showering although i love the feeling of water. heat and humidity makes pvc off-gas... ok ok if you want to go down the rabbit hole too, do it yourself i'll stop now XD
Brilliant.
Don't forget your teflon pans; ask the veteranarians in your area what can happen to a bird in the kitchen when heating one of those.
 
  • I agree
Reactions: Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
Brilliant.
Don't forget your teflon pans; ask the veteranarians in your area what can happen to a bird in the kitchen when heating one of those.
yeah i changed them all 2 years ago to iron pans because of that XD also, plastics in the kitchen are quite ubiquitous in many households too and not the best choice for a good health.

also while we're at it... be mindful of cleaning products, skin-care and hair-care products, and actually, pretty much everything that is marketed in "conventional" stores and has more than like 3 ingredients on the label or something you cant pronounce easily. it seems like all industries are either really out to kill everyone with an easy profit as a side, or just dont care when they can make some profit off of people who cant afford better, or maybe some producers of stuff just dont know (but that excuse sort of sucks, when you manufacture something, you ought to know what you put in there and what it does...)
and dont get me started on the food industry as well...
 
  • I agree
Reactions: Lila and Linda

Linda

Sweetheart of the Rodeo
Staff member
Global Moderator
Administrator
Board Moderator
Jul 20, 2016
6,572
20,209
First night with latex mattress topper - OMG - wow, what a difference - I slept soundly and in one position for 7 hours - my back feels straight
 
  • Divine
  • Cool Post
Reactions: Lila and Lilia
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
oh and did you know? all of that "sustainable bamboo" crap like plates, cups, and so on that people buy instead of throw-away-plates and believe they have something healthy to put their food and drink on/in, is actually bamboo pulp mixed together with.... you guessed correctly! toxic synthetic glue stuff laden with chemicals!!!
 
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
First night with latex mattress topper - OMG - wow, what a difference - I slept soundly and in one position for 7 hours - my back feels straight
wow, i am so happy for you! :) this was a good decision then! glad you sleep better now too :)
 

Lila

Collected Consciousness
Staff member
RT Supporter
Global Moderator
Board Moderator
Jul 28, 2016
4,804
10,196
oh and did you know? all of that "sustainable bamboo" crap like plates, cups, and so on that people buy instead of throw-away-plates and believe they have something healthy to put their food and drink on/in, is actually bamboo pulp mixed together with.... you guessed correctly! toxic synthetic glue stuff laden with chemicals!!!
I need a Phlup (spitting sound) icon for this one :))
 
  • Funny
Reactions: Lilia

therium

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Nov 1, 2018
1,422
2,740
Michigan
And those "compostable" forks and spoons don't compost, or breakdown, at all. I'm running my own experiment here. I've had a plastic fork outside, in ground contact, for 2 years, and it hasn't changed a bit, although it's slightly dirty. Don't waste your money on those.

And a compost pile is an aerobic environment which must be cared for, it's like a living thing. A landfill is the opposite, it's an anaerobic environment and not much breaks down there, not even paper.
 
  • I agree
  • Intriguing Post
Reactions: Lila and Lilia

Bert

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Jan 10, 2019
352
779
Belgium
And those "compostable" forks and spoons don't compost, or breakdown, at all. I'm running my own experiment here. I've had a plastic fork outside, in ground contact, for 2 years, and it hasn't changed a bit, although it's slightly dirty. Don't waste your money on those.

And a compost pile is an aerobic environment which must be cared for, it's like a living thing. A landfill is the opposite, it's an anaerobic environment and not much breaks down there, not even paper.
Indeed the compostable plastics only degrade at a composting temperature of +75 °C. Normal composting installations wordt at 70 - 75 °C so below this temperature. only with special installations that work at higher temperatures 75-85 °C you can compost them and they take a longer time to compost which you don't have in industrial installations. So indeed at normal temperatures nothing will happen.
That said the pretreatment of the composting installations will remove all these plastics as contamination so it won't even get into the installation ;-).
So it is greenwashing

won't get into the anaerobic treatment too much but paper will break down in the anaerobic environment of a landfill. but indeed very different processes.
 
  • Helpful Post
Reactions: Lila

buddy love

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Oct 1, 2018
74
148
Lilia, are you allowed here on the forums to share which make and model of hammock is helping you to sleep more efficiently?

Does anyone else know of very good hammocks. there are literally thousands of brands and non-branded.
 
  • Cool Post
Reactions: Lila
OP
Lilia

Lilia

Involved Wayfarer
RT Supporter
Retired Moderator
Jul 26, 2016
293
743
Vayuna, via Switzerland
Lilia, are you allowed here on the forums to share which make and model of hammock is helping you to sleep more efficiently?

Does anyone else know of very good hammocks. there are literally thousands of brands and non-branded.
i havent tried many different ones, but i watched several videos where people talked about that on youtube... i got a brazilian style i would say single hammock although it was advertised double but the same size (200x135cm fabric surface) is usually advertised as single. i would not recommend a smaller one in any case, that one is just the minimum to be exactly right for one person in my opinion. as i didnt have much funds and have no good wall to put it up, when i got it, i decided upon one of these "vivere" hammocks with a stand, that are also available on amazon (but i purchased it via a local hardware store).
what i would not recommend is a hammock that has planks on both ends to make the fabric flat, you definitely want a south american style one that folds in on itself so you can optimally stretch it out with your body weight and shift into a comfortable position. also, you do not want one that is made out of a wide fishnet fabric, for obvious reasons i guess, unless you want to wake up looking like... well i have seen sausages that look that way. also, the material should be 100% cotton, preferably organic, otherwise the switch doesnt make much sense... there are a lot of nylon, polyester and polyamide cotton blends on the market from what i saw.
 
  • Helpful Post
  • Informative
Reactions: Linda and Lila

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)