Yo - Traditional Korean Mattress

My dad is a light sleeper and works irregular hours so he often makes a bed for himself on the floor or in another room, so as to not disturb my mom's sleep or have his own disturbed by her early wakings.  He's never minded sleeping on the floor - he's an outdoorsman who loves camping and sleeping under the open sky so why not sleep on the floor?  But recently (I think after watching some of my mom's Korean dramas) he asked my mom to buy him a yo or traditional Korean mattress. 

Last week, when Charlie's father was in town and sleeping in our bedroom, we got a chance to test it out for a couple of nights.  The first night it was nice.  Comfy even.  Harder than I would have imagined, but on top of a warm ondol floor, I could see how it could be very comfortable.  The second night, however, we were both stupid enough to sleep on our sides and the result?  A very, very horrible crick in our backs.  I limped around for the greater part of that morning until I finally walked it off.  My dad laughed at our fraility, but I'm guessing that he's a back sleeper.

Koreans traditionally sleep on ondol heated floors, an underfloor heating system that is unique to Koreans.  They sleep atop a yo and underneath an ibul, which is a traditional Korean quilt.  And even in the States, many Koreans use a pillow filled with wheat husks called a pyogae.  I can understand that since whenever I sleep away from home, one of the things I miss most is my pillow.  I've tried a  pyogae, however, and it's just too hard for me to get used to.

I'm thinking about getting a yo myself one day for guests because it's easily stored (it rolls up easily) and they are less cumbersome and perhaps even more comfortable than an air mattress (which never seem to keep their air).  Maybe I could just warn guests not to sleep on their sides.  

- Nina

Comments

[twizzle]

Nina, Thanks for this post! I've been fantasizing about resolving our space problem by getting rid of our huge queen-sized, Amish-constructed, cherry-wood bed that takes up 3/4 of the bedroom and replacing it with a yo, which we'd roll up and store neatly in the corner each morning. Our daughter would sleep in our bedroom, too, which would then free up her room to be a much-needed office.

My mom always laughs at how much space Americans think they need, when Korean families of seven to ten can all cram comfortably into a couple of rooms. She's right, you know. Does each family member really need its own bedroom when most of the world's people all sleep in one room?

[kjungs]

i've considered getting a yo. and i've also fantasized about having a more simplifed house with not so much furniture. western furniture is very permanent and doesn't make good use of room space. i like the concept of rooms being versatile, ie roll-up the bed and pull out the sewing box.

[honglien123]

I love learning these things about Korean culture, and now, I'm seriously thinking of getting a Yo for my parents. They currently sleep on the floor every night next to their 6 year old mattress which is still brand new because they never use it. It's a mystery to me why they do it. Each night they roll out a Hello Kitty padded tatami mat (that's the only way I can think of describing it). A Yo sounds much cooler.

[Puka]

I'm trying to catch up! My little girl and I went to Korea for two weeks and California for one week. Got sick as soon as we got back in addition to jet lag and am just now back to myself.

I prefer sleeping on the floor. My husband and I sleep on the floor. We have a bed that's been relegated to a corner for quite a while. I guess we will put it in an extra bedroom when we move in the spring. The floor is more comfortable to me. Plus, I love being able to put away the blankets and have space.

[weigooksaram]

My husband is comfortable sleeping on the floor, but the few times I've tried it I didn't sleep very well. It's all about what you're used to, I think.

The funny thing is that we bought K a twin bed, but she prefers to sleep on cushions on the floor every night.

[Jae Ran]

I would love a yo. I also prefer sleeping on the floor but hubs would never go for it! The first time I went back to Korea about 6 years ago now, I stayed in an ondol room and it was wonderful!!!

[beloved]

I've slept on a yo many times at my mother-in-law's house in Korea but it was always with the ondol which for me makes it much more enjoyable. My husband slept on the floor his whole life but now (in the
U.S.)prefers a bed because without ondol, the floor is just not as appealing, especially in the winter.

[zoe]

I'm not exactly sure what a yo is (I'm not Korean) but in my household, we are fond of sleeping on the floor as well. Although my husband and I now sleep in a bed, our kids all have futon-like things (sounds similar to what Honglien's parents use) that we unroll for naps & nighttime sleep and then store when not in use, converting the bedroom into a playroom. Also, we've installed tatami in the sleeping part of the room for additional comfort. They like it, and we have a few extra of these futons for when guests stay over and I anticipate it will work great for kids' future slumber parties. Also, after I gave birth, we used to co-bed with our kids (controversial I know) and at that time we put our mattress on the floor so that we didn't have to worry about a baby falling off the bed.

Some of our non-Asian friends are shocked that our kids don't have "proper beds" but it saves space (living in NY) and it works for us for now at least.

[Nina]

Zoe, that sounds like such a great idea!

[zay]

your yo rolls up? i used to have a yo as a kid that i got to use on friday nights so that i could sleep in the living room only to wake up early on saturday morning and watch cartoons. heh.

our yo folded in three parts...is your's the same?

you mentioned air mattresses not holding air...i bought a queen sized air mattress from walmart a year ago in preparation of my parents staying a week with us. i put air in it once for their arrival. 'til this day (a year later) the bed remains inflated fully and serves as my guest bed always.

[kim]

Hi

I would like to buy a Yo, i live in Auckland New Zealand.

How and where can i buy one?

Thankds

[honglien123]

BTW, where does one buy a Yo? (In the bay area?)

[David]

where can I buy a yo in los angeles koreatown or from the internet?

[Mary]

oh my gosh i have been wanting a yo ever since i was a kid and my best freind's nanny slept on one. where on the internet can one be found?

[Debbie]

Hi, can someone tell me where I could buy a Yo on the internet. If you know the website please email me with it.
Thanks

[jose gomez]

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[yavona]

where would i be able to get a yo? is there a website that i could order from?

[Theresa]

I live in ATlanta and have been looking for a yo for years but have been unable to locate a store that sells them. Can you purchase them on the internet? If so can you pelase email me!

[Johan]

Yeah where does one get a Yo, preferably online? Anyone know?!

[Simmons exceptionale mattress]

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Have a great day
Susan Kem

[Amy]

Indeed, does anyone know how a person in the US can buy a yo? I slept on one when I taught English there, and miss it terribly. We didn't get any responses above... any new thoughts?

[karen]

I was wondering where do I get a yo-traditional mat for myself. I live in California SF. Thanks so much. I've been looking for a yo so long.

[Linda Miller]

where can i get a yo?

[Linda Miller]

the closest i've found to a yo is definitely in wa state. they have thick little blankets thats as close to a yo as i've been able to find so far. theyre definitely not as comfortable as a yo, but still much better than an air mattress. they're beautifully colored but not too cheap. i asked the owner of the store where i could find a yo and he said they were no longer made because the material its made from is not good. i'm still looking around.

[custom furniture brooklyn]

A Brooklyn based furniture company serving customers in all Boros of NYC. specialize in brooklyn custom furniture, office furniture, wallunits

[ignisfatuus]

Not quite the same thing, I know, but I was looking around for traditional shikibutons and the only place I could find selling them was here: http://www.jlifeinternational.com/houseitems/futon/shikifuton/shikifuton_e.html

Not sure of the quality though, haven't ordered yet.

[Richard]

Where can I buy a yo mattress? I live in San Francisco,California

[Erik]

I live with my future parents-in-law so the basement is mine and mine alone. The cement floor and very thin carpet make throwing down a thin blanket murder on my back. Ive been through 3 air beds in about a year and am at my wits end with them.

I remember staying over my ex's place (korean) and we slept on the floor on top of four or five very dense blankets. I presume these are not the yo you speak of but it was a good setup.

Any ideas on where to buy either a yo or some super dense blankets??????

[Bira]

Also looking for a Yo in the SF bay area, any ideas of where to shop?

[James Gallahan]

Where can I buy a Yo please? I will order from anywhere.

[Mary]

Sorry guys, The only places I found were in Los Angeles Area.

이불마트 EBUL MART (Blanket Market)
3525 W. 8th St.#212 Los Angeles CA 90005
(213)386-8505

NA SUNG BEDDING GOODS
975 S. Vermont Ave #105 Los Angeles CA 90006
(213)385-4279

- Mary

[Mary]

My other suggestion is to buy a futon mattress and sleep on that on the floor. I think it's actually very similar.. but a bit thicker maybe. =)