I’ve slept full-time in hammocks since 2013. Surprisingly, i still seem to be learning some basic stuff.
One is how to side sleep in a gathered end. I’m still predominantly a back sleeper, but only recently have gotten comfortable for longer periods on my side. At the risk of stating the obvious to some, the key is to find the flat line. If you just roll over from your back onto your side, it’s likely that your hips will feel ill supported, too low. So push your butt rearward “up the wall” until it finds a good level.
Sort of how a trail can cross a canyon between ridges without losing elevation by following the slope along the walls, so your body can find a level lay by staying out of the low middle of the hammock. Again this is maybe real obvious, but how come it took me so long to figure out? Don’t answer.
The other thing I’ve learned is that lay direction preference is almost wholly habit, at least for me. I thought for years that I was a head-left, feet-right guy, as immutably as I’m right handed. It turns out though that hanging my hammock along a different wall makes it easier for me to lay the other way, and after about 2 weeks it’s as if I’ve always laid this way. I’m sure i could go back with practice. Habit, not physiology.
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