TikTok has been flooded by millions of posts with the hashtag #floortime (not related to Floortime therapy for children affected by autism), as users share selfies of themselves lying on the floor and share tips on how best to take a quick nap on the ground.
This trend isn’t exactly breaking news though.
It’s reminiscent of the corpse pose in yoga, or simply how children sprawl out during playtime or tantrums.
And yet, while many adults will lie down for a snooze, floor time is not the same as nap time.
Psychologists explain that the relaxed posture of lying on your back can have a calming effect because the body and mind are virtually aligned.
To achieve this effect, one must let go as if sinking into the ground, University of Utah emeritus professor of psychology Dr Alan Fogel was quoted as saying in a recent article in the New York Times.
Focusing on letting go in this way helps the body and mind to relax – to “just be”.
Lying on the floor can also help to avoid brooding, because on a hard surface like the floor, we are more aware of our physical sensations and less distracted by our thoughts, Emeritus Prof Fogel says.
Also helpful: breathing!
Focusing on one’s breathing while lying down – as suggested during mindfulness exercises – and directing attention inward, can lead to feelings of being grounded and having things under control when you stand up again.
It’s the ultimate “grounding” experience – quite literally.
You can then consciously use this technique as a kind of “reset” strategy when you need it because you can lie on the floor almost anywhere. – dpa
