What does your sleeping direction say about the quality of your sleep!

Is it possible to get a better night’s sleep by sleeping in the correct direction?

How would you rate the quality of your sleep, on a scale of one to ten? Do you feel rejuvenated when you wake up?Maybe your dreams are active and agitating, causing you toss and turn all night? It could be your sleeping direction, though you can put the blame on the late-afternoon Coffee, the glass of Wine, or the stress at work.

One of the most important pillars of health as per Ayurveda is sleep or Nidra. Since so much importance is given to restful sleep, Ayurveda and Vastu has a lot of recommendations about how to get a good night’s sleep!

Vastu shastra, another sister science of Ayurveda, is a Vedic science of architecture, environmental harmony, and well-being. It deals with directions. Using the Panchamahabhutas (the five great elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth), directions, and energy fields, Vastu aims to create a congenial environment for living and working that promotes better health, wealth, prosperity, and happiness.

Let's discuss the human body's cardinal points. According to the Indian yogi Paramhansa Yogananda: “the North point of the human body is located around the top of the head and South at the base of the spine. East is located in point between the eyebrows and West at the back of the head, around the medulla oblongata”.

Furthermore, where on Earth is the North? You must be thinking that's in the North Pole, Yes, that is correct! However, it is only true for those who reside in the Northern Hemisphere! Because of the inversion of polarity, the magnetic North of anyone residing in the Southern Hemisphere points towards the South Pole.

Mythological anecdote

Legend has it that Goddess Parvathi went for a holy bath and asked her son, Lord Ganesh, to stand guard. When Lord Shiva, her husband, and Lord Ganesh’s father, asked to enter the space where his Mother was bathing, Lord Ganesh refused to let him in. Incensed, Lord Shiva chopped off his head. Goddess Parvathi emerged, took in the scene, and threatened to end all of creation. She acquiesced with two conditions: one, that her Son be brought back to life, and two, that he be forever revered before all the other gods in prayer.

Shiva, having cooled down by this point, agreed to Parvati’s conditions. He sent his devotees out with orders to bring back the head of the first creature that lay with its head facing the North (the belief is that the soul departs from the North to find union with Brahman or Consciousness). They soon returned with the head of a strong and powerful elephant named Gajasura, which Brahma placed atop the boy's body. Breathing new life into him, he was declared as the Gajanana and offered him the status of being the foremost among the gods in prayer, and the title of the leader of all the Ganas (classes of beings), Ganapati.

Best sleeping direction in the Northern hemisphere

First and foremost, it's critical to understand how electromagnetic energies and magnetic fields affect human health. The magnetic poles of the Earth and the human body are similar. The magnetic poles of our planet are located in the North and South, respectively, and run from North to South. Sleeping with one's head facing North can cause the two positive poles to repel one another due to the Earth's magnetic pull.

The optimal direction for sleeping, according to Vastu principles, is East or South, with the head facing East or South and the legs pointing North or West. The scientific method of sleeping is also this. If sleeping with your face either East or South is not feasible, you can opt to sleep with your head turned NorthEast or West. Steer clear of sleeping with your head facing North.

A study was conducted in 2009 in the Department of Physiology at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences in India to investigate the potential effects of sleeping with the head turned in a particular direction on blood pressure, heart rate, and serum cortisol levels during supine rest. It was discovered that individuals who were told to sleep with their heads facing South had the lowest levels of heart rate, serum cortisol, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP, and HR). These results were statistically significant, but it was suggested that additional research be done in other groups.

Best sleeping direction in the Southern hemisphere

According to Vastu Shastra, the direction in which you should sleep depends on which hemisphere you reside in. One can sleep with the head pointing towards any direction except the South direction. Because of the inversion of polarity, the magnetic North of anyone residing in the Southern Hemisphere points towards the South Pole , thus, North and East are the recommended sleeping directions for the Southern Hemisphere according to Vastu Shastra.

North

Finding our true North, the North star has long been used for navigation—is beneficial both spiritually and practically, but sleeping with face towards the North is not advised at all since it can lead to problems with blood circulation, elevated stress, psychological problems, physical problems, and sleep disorders like insomnia. (The only exception is for yoga practitioners who wish to engage in astral projection and lucid dreaming).

To quote Dr. Vasant Lad, “Only dead people sleep pointing North.” It is Hindu custom to arrange a corpse so that the head of the deceased is pointing North until cremation. According to Hindu belief, the soul leaves the body by traveling North!

East

Why East is the best sleeping direction in Vastu?

The rising sun's direction, known as the East, is thought to be beneficial for spiritual pursuits like meditation. It enhances concentration and memory. Thus, sound sleep is ensured by sleeping with the head pointing East and the feet pointing West. The kids' room's bed should be oriented toward the East to encourage healthy growth. According to Ayurveda, sleeping with your face towards the East balances your vata, pitta, and kapha doshas. It is advised that academics, educators, and individuals seeking new job prospects or promotions consider East. It is believed that this type of sleep gives one a strong, energising feeling. Furthermore, this is the recommended position for those who want to overcome any health-related challenges.

West

West to East sleeping is not recommended. Some claim that it causes restlessness and an increase in Rajas, or ambition, but there are more effective ways to achieve that. Some people even think of it as a neutral sleeping position. But according to Vastu, sleeping with one's head to the West can cause nightmares, restless and disturbed sleep, and a violent inclination.

South

The Hindu god Yama rules the South, so if you want to experience the deep and heavy sleep of death, sleep in the South. Referring back to the magnetic pole theory, a harmonious exchange is created by a mutual attraction (head positive, South negative) that draws energy into the body rather than out, as in the case of North. This path encourages prosperity, happiness, and good health.

It's all about aligning your inner compass with the Earth's magnetic field. Try moving your bed around and observe the results 😊