Comments on: Science in Action: Why Did I Sleep So Well? (part 11) http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/ Self-Experimentation, Scientific Method, the Shangri-La Diet, etc. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:36:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Seth’s blog » Blog Archive » Why Did I Sleep So Well? directory http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-218853 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:37:49 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-218853 [...] Science in Action: Why Did I Sleep So Well? (part 11) [...] […] Science in Action: Why Did I Sleep So Well? (part 11) […]

]]> by: seth http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-218847 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:25:46 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-218847 Willy, no. One foot is an inch or two off the floor. Willy, no. One foot is an inch or two off the floor.

]]> by: Dave Lull http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217325 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:06:46 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217325 Kirk's URL has a period at the end that "corrupts" the link. Here it is without the period: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc Kirk’s URL has a period at the end that “corrupts” the link. Here it is without the period:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc

]]> by: Kirk http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217082 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:01:48 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217082 A brief comment for Sam . . . the teachers in my Tai Chi group say that if the stances are getting easy, you need to sink lower. They tell a story about one of the best students working on Descending Single Whip (also known as Snake Creeps Down) with our master teacher. They were both at the lowest position and the teacher said, 'OK, like all one-legged stances, you should be able to pick your other foot off the floor.' Which he proceeded to demonstrate, while the student struggled. Perhaps one of your fellow dancers has studied Tai Chi and can show you this stance. It can also be found at 4:45 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc. And, by the way, while you're in stance, stay relaxed. (One of our teachers taught a professional dance company; he said they were able to learn the stances and flow immediately, but could never relax.) A brief comment for Sam . . . the teachers in my Tai Chi group say that if the stances are getting easy, you need to sink lower. They tell a story about one of the best students working on Descending Single Whip (also known as Snake Creeps Down) with our master teacher. They were both at the lowest position and the teacher said, ‘OK, like all one-legged stances, you should be able to pick your other foot off the floor.’ Which he proceeded to demonstrate, while the student struggled. Perhaps one of your fellow dancers has studied Tai Chi and can show you this stance. It can also be found at 4:45 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USJPmCZ6Efc. And, by the way, while you’re in stance, stay relaxed. (One of our teachers taught a professional dance company; he said they were able to learn the stances and flow immediately, but could never relax.)

]]> by: Willy http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217035 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:49:09 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217035 > I’ve found that if I just raise one foot slightly I can stand one-legged much longer (about twice as long) than if I stand one-legged and pull the other foot behind me (stretching my leg muscles). Do you mean keeping both foot on the floor but raising one a bit so the load is put on the other one?. Thanks. > I’ve found that if I just raise one foot slightly I can stand one-legged much longer (about twice as long) than if I stand one-legged and pull the other foot behind me (stretching my leg muscles).

Do you mean keeping both foot on the floor but raising one a bit so the load is put on the other one?. Thanks.

]]> by: JohnN http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217019 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:56:40 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-217019 On why one-leg standing works, here's one hypothesis to consider: Standing on one leg creates asymmetrical loading forcing our body to engage more of the fine-control muscles and more neurons (firing) to maintain balance. Of course, these fine muscles tire out very easily - you can tell by the lactic acid burn which incidentally also signals the body to produce growth hormone. This acute but brief stress will force your brain to enter deep sleep to absorb the lesson. I think Tai Chi works for me (like Charles suggest) - probably because of the very slow and deliberate movements with absolute body control (& concentration). Can we test this hypothesis by standing on one leg with our eyes closed to intensify the experience? My limit on a good day is 20-40 seconds after some refinements to fine-tune the body posture. On why one-leg standing works, here’s one hypothesis to consider:
Standing on one leg creates asymmetrical loading forcing our body to engage more of the fine-control muscles and more neurons (firing) to maintain balance. Of course, these fine muscles tire out very easily - you can tell by the lactic acid burn which incidentally also signals the body to produce growth hormone.
This acute but brief stress will force your brain to enter deep sleep to absorb the lesson.
I think Tai Chi works for me (like Charles suggest) - probably because of the very slow and deliberate movements with absolute body control (& concentration).
Can we test this hypothesis by standing on one leg with our eyes closed to intensify the experience? My limit on a good day is 20-40 seconds after some refinements to fine-tune the body posture.

]]> by: seth http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216875 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:05:40 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216875 thanks, James, that's a good idea: hopping on one leg. thanks, James, that’s a good idea: hopping on one leg.

]]> by: James http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216858 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:45:18 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216858 I had stuff I needed to do yesterday when I thought about standing on one leg, so I hopped around. In total I only stood on each leg for a few minutes, but the hopping shortened the time it took to become hard to continue. I had stuff I needed to do yesterday when I thought about standing on one leg, so I hopped around. In total I only stood on each leg for a few minutes, but the hopping shortened the time it took to become hard to continue.

]]> by: Igor Carron http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216759 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:13:07 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216759 Seth, In a similar vein, I don't know if you remember this study http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6795822/ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/493323 http://nuit-blanche.blogspot.com/2005/01/its-all-downhill-from-here.html that seemed to show that walking downhill did not yield the same results as walking uphill. Is there a mechanism that is specific to the soporific mode as opposed to the others ? Igor. Seth,

In a similar vein, I don’t know if you remember this study

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6795822/
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/493323

http://nuit-blanche.blogspot.com/2005/01/its-all-downhill-from-here.html

that seemed to show that walking downhill did not yield the same results as walking uphill.

Is there a mechanism that is specific to the soporific mode as opposed to the others ?

Igor.

]]> by: seth http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216611 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:11:44 +0000 http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/2008/09/03/science-in-action-why-did-i-sleep-so-well-part-10-2/#comment-216611 MT, yes, one-legged squats, or just bending the standing leg, might be an improvement, in the sense of producing the same effect more quickly. I'll try it sometime. MT, yes, one-legged squats, or just bending the standing leg, might be an improvement, in the sense of producing the same effect more quickly. I’ll try it sometime.

]]>