** To see a demo video of the Crown Lift please visit our You Tube page or click this link: @sanctuarysleepcrownliftinsert
Find Your Comfortable Neutral Position ...and how to dial in your Crown Lift height
Goal: The goal in sleep is to find relaxed, balanced head position where your neck muscles can let go — not tipped up or tucked down — so your spine can rest. What many of us don't realize is that just because we lie down that does not mean our muscles are relaxed. In fact, most times they aren't.
Reminder: This is not medical advice. This is comfort positioning. Always check with your provider if you are under medical care.
Most pillows claim to be modular and supportive. But, modular just means placing foam beneath the entire pillow and support means in the neck area.
The Crown Lift solves both of these because it is engineered to be adaptable to every person's needs.
- Crown Lift adds support directly beneath where you need it
- Support means the crown of head-the heaviest point of load
What You’ll Need
• 2–3 bath towels (or thin pillows)
• A ruler or tape measure
• Optional helper or phone camera (side photo)
Step 1 — Start flat
Lie on a firm surface (firm mattress, yoga mat, or carpet). No pillow yet.(Only do this if you are capable of lying on your back without discomfort). Knees bent is fine if it eases your back.
Feel: If your chin points up = you’ll need more lift.
If your chin tucks down = you’ll need less lift.
Step 2 — Build a simple “test support”
Roll a towel into a loose cylinder (about 1–2") and place it under your neck only (not under the back of your head). Close your eyes and take 3 slow breaths.
Adjust: Add or remove thin folds until your face feels level — not angled up or down.
Step 3 — The chin level check
Do a tiny “yes” nod. You should feel no strain under your jaw or at the base of your skull. Jaw, tongue, and throat should feel soft, not held.
Step 4 — The quick alignment check
Have a helper take a side photo (or use your phone timer).
• Your ear should line up roughly over the middle of your shoulder.
• Your nose should point straight up, not toward the wall behind you (too much extension) and not toward your chest (too much flexion).
Step 5 — Measure your needed lift
Keep your towel stack exactly as it was in Step 3 (that’s your “neutral”).
1) Slide a hardcover book gently under the back of your head (occiput), not the neck.
2) Measure from the mattress/surface to the underside of the book.
That number is your Crown Lift™ target height (the amount of head lift you like at neutral).
Use Your Crown Lift With That Measurement
0.5″–1.25″ 1″ lift (add pillowcase pad for ~¼″ extra)
1.25″–2.25″ 2″ lift or 1″+1″ stack
2.25″–3.25″ 3″ lift or 2″+1″
>3.25″ 3″+thin topper or pillow with deeper crown zone
Fine tune: Start lower and add height in ¼–1″ moves until your chin feels level and muscles let go. Congratulations! You have officially found your Crown Lift Height!
The Crown Lift® System is designed for standard memory foam, down, and synthetic pillows. It is not recommended for use with solid Latex or TPE (Gel-Grid) pillows. (such as Original Purple or Saatva Models) These materials are often too dense or high-rebound to allow the system to provide the intended structural lift.
**This is general comfort guidance, not medical advice. After any surgery or injury, follow your surgeon/PT’s instructions. Your personal neutral may be straighter or more curved than others — comfort + stability wins.