Shadowing Practice: What’s the best position to sleep in? - Rachel Marie E. Salas - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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In the 1970s, psychoanalyst Samuel Dunkell proposed a curious, albeit almost completely unsubstantiated, theory that the position you sleep in reflects your personality.
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In the 1970s, psychoanalyst Samuel Dunkell proposed a curious, albeit almost completely unsubstantiated, theory that the position you sleep in reflects your personality.
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For example, preferring to snooze in the so-called royal position indicated self-confidence, while sleeping semi-fetal meant you’re sensible and well adjusted.
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While Dunkell’s ideas lack any definitive proof, how we sleep can impact our health.
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So, what’s the best position to sleep in?
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Sleep positions go by countless creative names— the zombie, mountain climber, free faller, and soldier— yet sleep experts typically simplify them into four basic types: left side, right side, stomach, or back.
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Until the age of one, it is recommended that babies sleep on their backs to lower their risk of choking and suffocation.
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As young children, we start to move around more in our sleep, usually ending up on our sides and backs.
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And this tendency to avoid sleeping on our stomachs only grows with age.
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By adulthood, most people prefer side-sleeping, while fewer favor back-sleeping, and stomach-sleeping is the least preferred overall.
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But of course, individual sleep styles are highly personal: some people are sworn belly sleepers, while others can't nod off unless they're sprawled out on their backs.
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How we spend the night affects our bodies in several ways.
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Different sleep postures shift the relative positions of our internal organs, which can either relieve or worsen certain health issues.
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Others can leave the spine unsupported, straining nearby tissue, and preventing the muscles in the back, hips, or neck from fully relaxing.
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This can then lead to tension and stiffness in the morning.
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Take, for example, the least popular position: sleeping prone.
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Of the four, this also tends to be the least recommended by sleep experts, as it's thought to stretch the natural curvature of your spine.
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Yet there are unique situations when lying on your stomach may be beneficial.
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For patients with certain respiratory conditions, for example, it allows the back of the lungs to expand more freely.
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Sleeping on your back, on the other hand, is often preferred by those with lower back pain.
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When paired with a small pillow under the knees, this position allows the spine to maintain its natural curve.
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However, it may be less than ideal for your sleep partner.
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For some people, lying on their back can cause the soft tissues of the throat and tongue to collapse into the airway.
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Then, as the body tries to pull air through, these tissues vibrate, creating the sound we call snoring.
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This is also why people with sleep apnea are often told to avoid this position.
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This condition already involves pauses in breathing, and back sleeping can increase the likelihood that the airway collapses completely, blocking airflow.
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Today, most experts generally recommend side-sleeping, particularly when combined with a pillow between the knees, to better align the spine.
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But as it turns out, which side you lie on may make a difference.
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For example, studies show that sleeping on the left side often reduces heartburn symptoms for those with acid reflux.
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Your stomach is primarily located on the left side of your body, so this position situates it below the esophagus, allowing gravity to naturally keep stomach acid from flowing back up.
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However, for people with congestive heart failure, who often have an enlarged left ventricle, sleeping on the right side can help relieve chest pressure and improve their overall quality of sleep.
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Clearly, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
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And attempting to reap the benefits of any one position can be tough, since most people shift positions 20 to 30 times per night without even knowing it.
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Pillows and other sleep training devices can help you stay in one place.
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But fortunately, unless you have a specific concern, sleep movement isn't always a bad thing.
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It's how your body naturally relieves pressure, responds to discomfort, and ultimately prevents injury.
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So, the next time you find yourself drifting to the free faller, soldier, or zombie, you can rest assured.

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Context & Background

In the engaging video titled "What’s the best position to sleep in?" by Rachel Marie E. Salas, the discussion revolves around various sleeping positions and their potential impact on health. The dialogue explores historical theories related to personality and sleeping postures while also focusing on practical advice for achieving a good night's rest. By delving into how different positions can affect well-being, viewers gain a deeper understanding of how sleep habits are intertwined with physical health and comfort.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “What’s the best position to sleep in?” - This phrase can be useful when initiating discussions about health or well-being.
  • “It is recommended that babies sleep on their backs.” - A great statement for educational contexts, especially when discussing infant care.
  • “Sleeping on your back may cause snoring.” - Ideal for conversations about sleep issues, especially with partners or friends.
  • “Studies show that sleeping on the left side can reduce heartburn.” - This phrase can be employed in discussions about nutrition and health.
  • “There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.” - Useful in various contexts, emphasizing the importance of personalized approaches.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

If you are aiming to improve your English listening and speaking skills while absorbing the content from this video, the shadowing technique is an effective method. Follow these steps to maximize your practice:

  1. Choose the Segment: Pick a short segment of the video (1-2 minutes) that you find engaging. This helps you focus on both understanding and pronunciation without feeling overwhelmed.
  2. Listen Actively: Watch the selected segment and listen carefully to how the speaker articulates their points. Pay attention to intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation.
  3. Pause and Repeat: After playing a sentence or key phrase, pause the video. Repeat what you heard, mimicking the speaker's tone and speed. This practice will enhance your shadow speech and help internalize the rhythm of English.
  4. Rewind as Necessary: Don’t hesitate to rewind the video and listen again if certain phrases or words are difficult. Understanding the context will aid your overall comprehension.
  5. Reflect on Vocabulary: Take notes of any new vocabulary or phrases. Use them in your own sentences later to reinforce your learning.

By incorporating the shadowing technique into your routine, you’ll not only improve your English speaking practice but also develop a greater appreciation for how language can be shaped by context and communication styles. This approach effectively melds learning with engaging content, such as that found in "learn English with YouTube" resources.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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