What Your Sleeping Position Says About Your Love Life

We've all heard the saying: "Actions speak louder than words." That applies as much when we're asleep as when we're awake. Want to know how you and your parter REALLY interact? Check your sleeping position! (For those of you who are snickering, in this article the word "sleep" is not defined as an extracurricular activity...!)

The Football: Both you and your partner are on your sides, facing each other, with one foot touching. Neither of you needs around-the-clock love maintenance and support. Your schedules are full to bursting, and you wouldn't have it any other way. For you, quality time is more important than quantity time, and you make the most of the moments you do spend together. Spending a lazy weekend at home would bore you to tears; you'd rather get up and get an early start to your jam-packed day.

The Classic Spoon: You and your partner have full front-to-back contact, with one person snuggled up against the other. Both of you view your relationship as more pure and traditional. The individual on the "outside" wants to protect the other from the problems of everyday life; the person on the "inside" is sensitive and doesn't mind giving up control once in awhile. If you spoon, you're supportive of each other and almost never go to bed angry. You're also into comfort, including all those foods like meatloaf, apple pie, and anything else that's warm, gooey, and likely not all that good for you.

The Tetherball: One of you is on your back with a single hand on the other. You're both independent and strong-willed, but are willing to compromise and love finding common ground. A romantic dinner may erupt into a heated debate over politics, religion, or how to properly fold the towels, but frankly you both enjoy sharing a bottle of wine and heated discussion.

The Cliff-Hanger: You and your partner sleep on opposite sides of the bed with your backs to each other. You could be considered practical (after all, you DO need your sleep and the bed has plenty of room), but it could also signify there's a bit of distance in your relationship. You're all about opposites -- meat versus vegetarian, Republican versus Democrat, going out and partying versus staying at home and cocooning -- but you still appreciate the other's differences as well as their personal space.

Many couples have totally different sleeping styles. Maybe you fit into one of these solo groups.

The Spaghetti Noodle: You sleep on your side, arms and legs sprawled. You're mellow and go with the flow in everything. Some structure wouldn't hurt you, so you may find yourself pairing up with...

The Soldier: You sleep on your back, your arms at your sides. You're a textbook type-A personality. That rigid exterior needs some soothing, so your best partner may be...

The Womb: You curl up into a ball when you sleep. You value comfort, coziness, and privacy. Since you don't want somebody invading your space, you might find you end up with...

The Crab: You lie face-down, often hugging your pillow. You have a tendency to be stubborn and want things to go your own way. You need somebody flexible enough to bend around you, and the Spaghetti Noodle is the perfect choice.

One sleeping style may fit you to a T; you might discover you combine several styles to get yourself through the night. In any case, what you don't say is just as important in a relationship as what you do say, and these snoozing poses may shed some light on your partner and you.