At first it hurts to put your body in this position. You have to stretch a bit, crack some bones and unwind some muscle. You wiggle in bed, scooching left and right with your hips, foot soles facing the ceiling in chaotic order. But you are committed.

Soon you find yourself in position. Your feet are pulled up slightly so your legs fall open with bent knees. If needed, you use a pillow to support the knees. Not all hips open wide when they age. Your feet are at least hip width apart, turning outward.

Your arms open up wide. From shoulder to elbow they point slightly up over your head. The rest of the arm, beyond the elbow and all the way to the hand points straight up. You feel like an ancient Egyptian scarab, spread out like this.

It feels so good, being so open. There is no pillow beneath your head. You are lying on a flat surface. Slowly your body begins to relax into this position. It stretches itself and it feels good. Slowly you doze off and when you wake you feel refreshed, like you just had a massage.

What inspired this? I've been watching my baby sleep for a few months now and the little body goes into this position all the time. It looks so relaxed and full of ease. I had to try it out for myself, especially because I have been entertaining the hypothesis that I have much to learn from my baby.

I was pleasantly surprised. Now, before I nap, I feel how my body wants to be and sometimes I find myself back in this baby position, lying on my back. It doesn't work every day, as it requires a degree of flexibility, but most of the time it feels good and the effects are incredible. Now I watch my baby for cues on how else I might move or rest my body. I am convinced that little body is wiser than mine.

TIP: If your body is not able to get into this position, try some others or work with support from pillows and blankets.

I feel we often take how we sleep for granted and we get used to certain positions to fall asleep in. One of my personal fears is growing old. Not in the sense of aging, but rather in the sense of just sticking to the same thing over and over without questioning it, especially in the areas that are so ingrained as routines, such as sleep. We are never too old to try something new and be pleasantly surprised. I am convinced that doing this often keeps me young! What are your thoughts?

I wish you sweet dreams. May you sleep like a baby.