Gymnast McKayla Maroney Stretches In Bed With Useful Advice
By Rebecca Cukier on June 12, 2021 at 5:10 PM EDT
McKaylaMaroney/Instagram
Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney is worth listening to for anyone who struggles with sleep. The 25-year-old vault queen is fresh from an Instagram post addressing her own sleep habits, one the London 2012 Olympics face today shared via her Glohé wellness account. McKayla was happy to reveal that she's an unusual "belly" sleeper, even saying she tries "every night" to fall asleep on her back, but it still doesn't work. The California native actually addressed multiple aspects of sleep hygiene. Check it out below.
McKaylaMaroney/Instagram
Scroll for the photos. McKayla, this year in the news for serious reasons as she was both rushed to the E.R. with kidney stones and then back in the hospital for kidney stones surgery, hasn't abandoned other aspects of her health. Her feed, which covers everything from sunscreen recommendations to feel-good tips, today opened with various bed photos, not limited to one of the GEICO face big ole stretching amid sheets and holding her morning coffee.
Maroney opened by asking fans how often "you wash your pillowcases?"
Glohe/Instagram
McKayla, who linked breakouts to not changing pillow cases often enough - the star has been bravely open with her own past acne battles - suggested changing pillow cases every night "to reduce bacteria buildup."
Then came the real confession. "Unfortunately I sleep on my belly😂😂 Which everyone at the mattress store seemed to be up and arms about. I knew I should’ve lied and just said my side," McKayla continued, admitting: "I guess belly sleeping is uncommon." Swipe below for the full gallery - scroll for more photos.
McKaylaMaroney/Instagram
McKayla says it how it is. The flexible superstar told fans that side sleeping isn't exactly ideal for "chest wrinkles" or "face squishing," adding:
"Trust me, I’ve known this for 6 years now, and every night I try to fall asleep on my back, just to flip back onto my stomach again🥲🥲 So!!
If you can sleep on your back, you should definitely try to!!!"
Her advice is to try and sleep on your back if you can, as it's a great way to "fight against wrinkles." More photos below.
Maroney, who is a survivor of both binge eating disorder and anorexia nervosa, has spent much of 2021 reflecting on her past and disordered behavior, also reaching out to other sufferers with helpful advice. McKayla has since made headlines for back-flipping onto a roof in a promo for car insurance giant GEICO, much to her fans' delight.
Closing today, the star wrote: "Anyway, wash your pillows. It really helps with acne. Especially if you get sweaty at night, or share pillows with a sweaty boyfriend." Scroll for the insane roof back-flip.