Organic floor mattress and millions of people
We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping. No wonder the beds have been one of the most important things since the beginning of man. Soft or hard, floor sleeping mat, organic floor mattress, regular bed, bed frames, tatami mats, jute rugs… there are many options to choose from. It is the XXI century, time of advanced technology, satelites and quantum physics, yet we still ask ourselves:
- sleeping on the floor, or
- on a mattress with a bed frame?
Let’s have a closer look, examine the benefits of floor sleeping. We will also discover the fascinating story of longevity in a globally respected country where millions of people have been sleeping on the floor for thousands of years. Let’s go to Japan.
In This Article
Why do Japanese sleep on floor beds?
This old ancient Asian culture is filled with health practices, tested for hundred of years, proven to be beneficial to human health. Next, it is no surprise that on one of the Japanese islands, Okinawa, live the highest number of people who are at least a hundred years old. Their diet, exercises, sleep habits, food, architecture and furniture of the places they inhabit, created a system that lead them to longevity. What does an organic floor mattress has in common with this globally respected ancient culture?
It turns out a lot.
5 communites of those who live the longest
In his bestselling book “The blue zones, 9 lessons for living longer from the people who’ve lived the longest”, Dan Buettner takes us to 5 fascinating communities in:
- Sardinia (Italy)
- Okinawa (Japan)
- in the USA
- Greece
- Costarica
These groups of people have lived the longest, for at least a hundred years. One of those communities is based on Okinawa, the fifth largest island of Japan. Buettner looked closely on their health habits, and visited them at their homes. Further, what he found was surprising.
The Japanese health habits for longevity
Those who are over a hundred years old, were born at the beginning of the XX century. On Okinawa, a small island, people were poor. Life was close to the land and hunger was common. Moreover, they ate vegetables that they grew in their gardens. Sweet potatoes were very popular. Lives characterised by periods of hunger, physical activity, discipline, a diet that was healthy but not always tasty, hardened them. Up to this day, when they have much greater choice, they still live in the same simple way. And they live long.
Their children and grandchildren, on the contrary, have much different way of living. Their culture is based on the American style of life and diet. Fast food restaurants filled with processed food are a common reality on the island. It is no surprise that they have problems with obesity and other related illnesses, like diabetes. Their parents and grandparents are one of the longest living people on Earth, but they are not.
The secret of longevity
It sounds fascinating. If a person comes from a family of the longest living people, she should have a long life as well, shouldn’t she? Thanks to Okinawa, we see that it does not work this way. What’s the truth then?
If it is not the inherited genes that define our longevity and health, can it be… that it is our health habits that define most of what happens in our lives? Very likely, the answer to this question is : Yes. In the past, the way of life, was characterised by sleeping on an minimalistic organic floor mattress, a simple futon placed on a tatami mat. It happened out of poverty as well. Not everyone could afford a bed frame. But with a floor bed, no wooden bedframe was necessary. Their bedroom had only the single floor bed and the tatami mat. Their homes, other rooms did not have much furniture either. Moreover, sitting on the floor, while eating or meeting friends was and is common.
Why do Japanese sit on the floor
Also, another question is: is it healthy to sit on the floor or sit on the floor while working? On Okinawa they do. The longest living people sit on the floor while meeting their friends or eating. According to dr. Cavanaugh (from Health.com) “Sitting on the floor can be beneficial for posture, flexibility, and muscular strengthening, while chairs typically provide more back support and less strain on the neck and spine”. Dan Buettner, the author of the world-famous book “The blue zones”, adds that the activity improves posture, mobility, increases overall strength as it exercises their legs, core and back naturally. They sit and get up all day long. Moreover, according to mr Buettner, studies connect rising from the floor without support and sitting down with a longer life. (bluezones.com)
Health habits of those living the longest
- minimalistic furniture at home, a paper door instead of the standard heavy one
- sitting and sleeping on the floor (a simple mattress is placed on a tatami mat)
- simple diet, made of unprocessed food, based on fresh vegetables, grown in their gardens all year long, soy in a form of tofu, miso, green tee, pork eaten very rarely
- fresh herbs, like curcumin, garlic, ginger
- sun exposure, for the face, arms and legs, for at least 15 minutes a day (it supplies the organism with vitamin D)
- your own ikigai (zest in life), reason to wake up in the morning. For them, it is often their family, friends, leadership within their communities
- being physically active, working in their gardens
- sleep habits, like falling asleep and waking up at the same day, sleeping on a simple organic floor mattress, placed on a floor.
- relaxation, being here and now, meeting friends, laughter, minimalism in their space
The #1 secret of an organic floor mattress
Millions of people around the world choose floor sleeping, or resting on the floor in a horizontal position. The secret is surprising. A single floor bed has been used by men for thousands of years. It is not a novelty, but a practice as old as time. Proven and tested to be beneficial. On Okinawa, or other parts of Japan the Japanese floor mattress was either a futon or a buckwheat mattress placed on a tatami rug.
What can I use instead of a futon mattress
What is a futon mattress? It is a foldable mattress for floor. Flexible and thin, people roll it up and store away, so they can use it exactly when needed for floor sleeping. In the past, the Japanese created it with stitched crinkled paper, filled with silk waste, dry straw. Later the design changed to cotton quilted together and filled with bast fiber. Nowadays, the beds composition is simple: compressed layers of material, like cotton, latex or even wool. “Futon” means “a mat that can be used as a mattress.”
We use organic buckwheat beds instead of a futton mattress. Fully organic, thin and flexible, but supportive of human muscular system and spine. It can be rolled up, or kept on the floor as it has a practical outer cover, that is washable. Organic, with GOTS certified organic cotton and filled with organic buckwheat hulls (Demeter certificate), create a bed that is pesticides free. It is an essential quality, as even the tinest particles of chemicals absorbed into our system add up over time. Our world is full of chemicals, thus minimizing their use whenever possible is a great choice. The bed is handmade by persons filled with love and great work ethic.
What do Japanese people use to sleep on the floor
From reduced stress, improved circulation, better posture, the list of benefits of floor sleeping is long. The Japanese also believe that their shoulders, hips and spine maintain a natural alignment when sleeping on the floor. Moreover their muscles are relaxed. The overall sleep quality is improved, which in turn influences all our lives. Sleep is fundamental to our health. From the practical point of view, the floor bed also helps save the room, as you can roll the organic floor mattress up and store as a roll. It does not take much space.
Which mattress is best for floor sleeping
Our customers are certain, and repeat their words over and over again: “The organic buckwheat mattress by EcoHealthLab”. Our customers who celebrate the anniversaries of the moment they bought their beds, state the bed is the best they have ever slept on. They would not change it for any other.
What is it made of? Fully organic, we make it with attention to detail. It is a handmade mastery of craft. Each bed is unique, and we make it uniquely for a specific person, just before sending. By people who take care of others. It takes us up to a few days to create a bed, depending on the size of it. Great for the spine, and beautiful.
Where to find the floor sleeping mat by EcoHealthLab? Simply follow the link Floor Sleeping Mat and enjoy the beauty of it.
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