Cotton Hammocks
If you are looking for a hammock, but don’t like the feel of nylon. Try a cotton hammock. Cotton hammocks will stretch to the contours of your body. Cotton hammocks tend to be much more comfortable that nylon hammocks which help with hammock back care.
Since cotton is a good absorber of moisture, leaving a cotton hammock outside for long periods of time can make it more susceptable to mildew and mold. Be sure to store your cotton hammock correctly, or clean it regulary to avoid mildew build up.
Cotton hammocks will usually be made with spreader bars that keep the material from wrapping around you when you lay on it such as brazillian hammocks do.
Cotton hammocks may be a little less sturdy than a regular nylon rope hammock, but the comfort can’t be beat. Select your hammock based on what is important to you!
History of Hammocks
Everyone loves hammocks, but have you ever wondered where hammock swings came from? Let us not forget that hammocks and hammock swings are a fairly rudimentary concept. We have just perfected the concept by making them more comfortable and durable. Hammocks can be traced back 1000 years ago to the Mayan Indians in Central America. Early hammocks were created from the bark of the Hamak tree. Hamak trees are not abundant so over time the sisal plant became the choice material. The sisal plan fibers could also be softened by working them with your hands. This provided for more comfortable experience on the hammock. Only in the last 50 years did cotton hammocks appear.
The hammock made its way from Central America to the states via trade routes. Once America Indians adopted hammocks, they started to expand on the idea making such types of hammocks like rope hammocks, quilted hammocks and fabric hammocks.
The Europeans also took on the hammock craze. They used canvas cloths in their hammocks and distributed them to their Navy which they used for many years. These hammocks were small and compact. When they went into battle, the hammocks were rolled up and places against the ships walls to provide another layer of protection against gun fire.
Once hammocks were adopted by Americans in the eighteenth century, they were not what they are today. Most required great balance to use them so as not to flip over and fall to the ground. Over time Americans perfected the materials and structure to help make hammocks more stable and comfortable.
Throughout the world millions of people use hammocks as their primary bed or furniture. Us Americans use them as a way of relaxing outdoors, but that should shadow the importance of hammocks in the history of the world. I currently have a hammock and wouldn’t trade it for anything. There is nothing better than rocking in the breeze on a warm summer day.
Benefits of Hammock Swing
Hammocks are great for spending some peaceful time outdoors; you may be surprised to know that hammock swings also have many health benefits.
Many therapists are recommending hammock swings to patients because of the resulting health benefits. Once such benefit of using a hammock is having reduced back and neck pain.
When lying in a hammock your entire body is “hugged” so that all your weight is distributed over the surface area of your body. This reduces the amount of weight that rests on your muscles unlike when sleeping in a bed. Once you remove the weight from these pressure points allows your muscles and spine to help realign to reduce the pain in those areas. A large number of Americans have back and neck pain. Many times there isn’t much you can do to alleviate the pain. If this sounds like you, try a hammock swing.
Another health benefit of hammocks is gaining increased concentration. According to doctors, the swinging movement caused by a hammock helps to stimulate the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the part of the brain that helps you concentrate and focus. Now you know why many people tend to read while lying in a hammock. The increased focus and concentration allows you to fully digest what you are reading more so then if you were just sitting in a chair.
These are just a few of the health benefits gained from a hammock. Once you get a hammock and set it up you will start to see how relaxing it can be. This relaxation also turns into other benefits since you are in a different state of mind then you are when you are stressed or tired.
Hammocks are in no way a replacement for a doctor’s care, but many people are starting to realize health benefits from no medical procedures. Owning a hammock swing is definitely one way to help.