Why do we close our hands while sleeping?

Here is one of the questions I have answered at Quora.com. If you have a question, leave a message here below.

Why do we close our hands while sleeping?

Hands reflect the level of negative neurological stress in your body and your brain.

If you do this while sleeping, it indicates your body-brain system cannot let go, and as a result, the quality of your sleep is not as good as it possibly can be.

Whenever you notice your hands are closed and feel tense, you could do some gentle and relaxing movements that can reduce neurological stress and at the same time, make it easier for you to fall asleep and sleep well.

Here is something you can try right away:

The idea is to treat your left hand with a slow, soft, and relaxing massage.

If you think of it, getting a massage from someone else can feel very relaxing and comforting. But, when you do it yourself, you can in reality achieve much deeper relaxation, even in the deepest structures of your brain. Here, the key is to is to pay attention to what you do and focus your mind to sense as much as you can. So, if you watch TV or read a book, your attention is somewhere else, and the relaxing effect is less. Ideally, it’s just you and the movements.

To prepare, find a comfortable position. Rest your left hand, palm down, for example on your lap if you sit. Use pillows as support if necessary. Then:

Gently and slowly, with your right hand, massage your left hand.

Slowly rub the left-hand fingers, one by one.
Make small and soft movements.
Pay careful attention to what each hand feels.
What does your right-hand feel?
What does your left-hand feel?
Then rub some other areas of your left hand that you can reach easily.

To sense more:

Make the movements even slower and softer.
Close your eyes, relax your face, and breathe freely.
You can always pause if you like.
Continue with massaging.
Make the movements even softer and slower.

So, this is something to start with. Be patient - one movement cannot completely overcome all negative neurological stress. However, after the first “a-ha” moment, you may sense how your body and mind start to calm down.

Thanks for reading,

Oliver

“Good sleep is achievable, and it’s just a gentle movement away”

Too high or low support will twist your neck muscles, which can affect your whole body.

If you prefer to lie on your back, make the support thinner than when you lie on your side.
Fold the towel so that your neck feels well supported and you can roll your head easily from side to side.
Note that the alignment of your neck often reflects first the way it is when you stand or sit.
Therefore, after some time, it might be necessary to adjust the hight

If you lie on your side, create a support so that your neck is in line with your spine.
Experiment with different heights, until you feel your neck is as relaxed as possible and free to move.
If necessary combine a folded towel with a flat pillow
Be aware that some pillows get compressed during the night and won't give you consistent support.
A folded towel, on the other hand, maintains its shape very well.
Once you have created the right support for your head, move it a little backward, so that nothing or as little as possible touches your cheek.
A gentle touch on the cheek triggers a rooting reflex, which activates the neck muscles to turn your head.
Ideally, the core support is under the side of the skull, behind the ear, where you can find the center of balance of your head.
Note also that your neck doesn't need any support. Therefore, avoid squeezing a soft pillow under your neck as it will bother you by limiting body circulation and free movement.

The support you get is firm, yet comfortable and the flat surface promotes comfort and ease in movement.

Some weeks ago, my mother-in-law told she had a stiff neck every morning. When I asked her how she supported her head, she told having a basic, soft, and quite a thick pillow. I then told her how I support my head with a folded bath-towel, sometimes combined with a thin pillow. This allows me to adjust the support so that my head is well balanced and free to move. It is a great solution, functional and cheap.

As always — thanks for reading.

Questions and comments are welcome!

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