Body Pillow Benefits

So Much More than Just a Big Pillow

Sure, they look comfy, but do I really need a body pillow? Well, we all heard it as kids. “Stand up straight.” Turns out, mom was right. Good body mechanics and posture are important factors in maintaining overall health. Awareness of how to properly move, sit, and stand helps you stay active and prevent injury. So it just makes sense - conscious body alignment during the day, body alignment while you sleep. That’s where the body pillow comes in.

For side sleepers, hugging a body pillow helps align the shoulders, spine, hips, and pelvis in a neutral position, evenly distributing the weight of your body and relieving stress on pressure points. The extra support means your muscles can fully relax, allowing for a more restful night’s sleep and a more comfortable awakening. For those who experience lower back pain, positioning your bent leg across the pillow with your knee tucked up toward your chest can lengthen the space between vertebrae, create openness in your hip, and give the whole region some much needed breathing room.

A body pillow can also provide great comfort and therapeutic benefit for moms-to-be. Pregnancy creates increasing skeletal stress and muscle imbalance as the body works to accommodate the growing weight of the baby. As the months progress, baby shifts mom’s center of gravity, resulting in increased arching of the lower spine, which in turn brings new aches and pains. The neutral spine position that results from cradling a body pillow minimizes discomfort and allows the body to unwind, realign, and restore through the night. Mom and baby get a good night’s rest.