Finally, I'm falling asleep fast — this 360-degree body pillow is a game changer for side sleepers

I know I’m not alone when I say one of my favorite places to be, especially in the winter, is curled up in bed. And now, it’s even more true. So much so, I’m struggling to get out of bed.

And that’s thanks to adding a 360° body pillow to my bed. I admit, on first inspection I thought such a pillow was probably extravagant, unnecessary and maybe even a gimmick…

Boy was I wrong.

As a side sleeper, it’s easy for pressure to build in the hips, shoulders and knees and for the lower back to feel strained.

But the Yana 360° Body Pillow has completely obliterated my worries. I’ve literally never slept better and I think it's up there with the best pillows for side sleepers we've tested this year. And, lucky for you (or a loved one if you’re looking for Christmas gifts) it’s now 25% off in the Black Friday bedding sales.

Here’s why I’m obsessed with it.

Yana Sleep 360° Body Pillow: was $199 now $149.25 at Yana Sleep

This luxury pillow will last, thanks to its high-quality materials, like durable gel memory foam, cotton, and bamboo velour. In the Black Friday mattress and sleep sales, you can get 25% off, dropping the price from $199 to $149.25, plus you'll get a 45-day sleep trial, which means you can return it hassle-free if it's not for you. A latex option for a more responsive feel is also available for $186.75 (was $249).

View Deal

What is the Yana 360° Body Pillow?

The Yana 360° Body Pillow has a U-shaped design that wraps around the body. With a shredded gel memory foam fill and an ergonomic build that supports side sleeping, it’s a luxury purchase but one that can transform your sleep.

The unique shape means there are plenty of different ways to use the pillow to suit your preferences, and you can adjust the fill by removing the memory foam for your desired loft.

Whether you want to flip the pillow so you can use your own pillows as headrests and enjoy the U-shape to relieve pressure at the knees, or if you want to fold the arms for more support when you’re reading in bed — the Yana pillow offers endless positions for comfort in every sleep style.

There's also a natural latex fill option which will have a more responsive feel. Both options come with a Classic Body Pillow Cover which combines breathable cotton with bamboo velour — a truly indulgent feel that helps keep your temperature regulated throughout the night.

My first impression of the Yana 360° Body Pillow

The 360° Body Pillow arrives vacuum packed in a medium-sized parcel. I was surprised at how small it initially was, but as soon as I unwrapped the plastic, it expanded to its normal size almost instantly.

I still left it for a few hours before trying it, and I was glad I did. After waiting, it was very plump and extremely responsive; bouncing back to my touch.

I initially thought fitting the cover would be a bit of a nightmare because of the U-shape, but actually, once I got the knack for it, it wasn’t difficult at all and only took a few minutes.

First, I tried the Classic cover included. It had a lovely feel, super soft but with a velour texture which made it feel cozy. Then, I tried the Cooling Eucalyptus Cover (an additional $89). With a silky, cool-to-touch feel, it was very luxurious and reminded me of the kind of bedding you find in hotels.

I was a little dubious about how big this pillow was. And my husband’s face confirmed he was feeling the same. Time to put it to the test.

Night 1: Instant comfort

With my bedroom set for a relaxing night (candles, my favorite pillow spray and my sunrise alarm clock set to ‘sunset’) I slid into bed.

After a few moments clambering into the pillow, I lay on my side, head resting on the U-shape, arms either side of the pillow like a hug, and legs either side of the pillow. I was instantly comfortable.

I waited a moment, but there were no pressure points anywhere on my body, no tension and no strain. I was just comfortable. Incredibly comfortable, actually. So much so, I fell asleep almost instantly.

I’m someone who tosses and turns constantly throughout the night, which is why traditional one-sided body pillows don’t work for me. Dragging them around as I move is the perfect recipe for waking up throughout the night.

But because this pillow wrapped around me, I could move and settle into the other side of it straight away. I didn’t even wake up once.

Night 2 to 21: No one can take this pillow away from me

And it only got better. Now I didn’t have to battle my existing pillows (the Yana 360° replaces any other headrest you need). I could get into bed, lie down and fall asleep fast. There has been no pressure building in my shoulders or strain as the pillow is full enough to lift my head, filling the gap where my neck is.

Similarly, it doesn’t feel cumbersome to hug throughout the night because the ergonomic design means there’s more filling in some areas compared to others, to compliment the way your body is naturally shaped.

An unforeseen benefit of this was that my anxiety at night actually decreased. It sounds crazy, but when I didn’t have to worry about lying awake unable to fall asleep or get comfortable, I could just enjoy feeling relaxed and supported. I guess it's similar to how a weighted blanket feels like a hug.

Not only has falling asleep been a dream (pun intended), but sleeping through the night means I’m waking up refreshed and in a great mood (avoiding those pesky seasonal affective disorder (SAD) symptoms that usually plague me this time of year).

I was sleeping so deeply recently, that when my husband came to bed and accidentally knocked something over, I literally gasped ‘Where am I?!’ — I had slept myself into another dimension.

So yep, I refuse to sleep without this pillow. It’s my new best friend.

My opinion after 3 weeks of testing

Trust me, your sleep is well worth investing in. And considering how significantly the quality of mine improved thanks to this pillow, I highly recommend you give it a try. And after all, the 45-day trial period means if it’s not working for you, simply return it and get your money back.

My one worry with this pillow was that it was going to be too big, and that there’d be a pillow in the way of cuddling my husband. While it is a big addition to the bed, my husband loves it too.

I often wake to find him cuddling one side while I’m cuddling the other. We’re not big night time cuddlers (he sleeps hot) so this is a pretty good solution for us.

I would say, if you’re sharing a full size mattress, this might be a little too big. But I share a queen size and it works perfectly. I imagine it’s a god send for solo sleepers.

Is it worth the splurge?

There’s no getting around the fact that this is a luxury purchase. At $199 for the memory foam option and $249 for the latex, it’s not insignificant.

However, considering you won’t have to use normal pillows again, think of it as an investment. Sleep is one of the most important aspects of both our physical and mental health. Anything that improves it is worth the money in my books.

And with 25% off when you enter the code BLACKFRIDAY, those prices are down to $186.75 for the latex and $149.25 for the memory foam — still a lot of money, but not an unreasonable amount for the right pillow.