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Advanced Yoga Practices Plus
Lesson
227 - Meditation, Activity and Sleep
(Audio) Aug 20, 2004 Q: I'm wondering about activity after sadhana (practices). First of all, the lessons have mentioned interpersonal interaction as well as physical activity. Is the main point to become re-engaged with the external world/re-grounded? Is vigorous physical activity the best for promoting integration after meditation practice (after the rest period)? I also find that frequently I want to (feel compelled to) sleep after meditation and have sometimes slept for an hour or more. Am I better off going with the flow and taking the sleep that my body and psyche seem to want, or would it be better to ignore the sleep and move purposefully into some kind of activity? Is there a drawback to sleeping after meditation practice? A: Yes, activity "grounds" the inner silence and ecstatic energies we cultivate during meditation, pranayama and other practices. Actually, the word "integrates" is a better description. Over time, as we do practices daily and are active in normal life according to our inclinations (no special conduct or activity required), we come to naturally sustain the qualities of inner silence and ecstasy all the time, no matter what we are doing. That is the fruit of all this - being out in the world, living our life as we choose, becoming a self-contained bundle of unbounded ecstatic bliss, and radiating that wherever we go.
Q: The question is a common one: The problem of sleepiness (or drowsiness) as a result of practice. I am using another system that is mainly pranayama, similar to the AYP spinal breathing pranayama method. It's not sleepiness due to lack of sleep or another factor. It's perfectly clear that sleepiness is a direct result of practices. I know that sleepiness or drowsiness is a result of purification. Buried karmic stuff is released and causes temporary sleep. After the sleep the karmic stuff is mostly neutralized. But in the next practice, it happens again. Sleepiness not only leads to loss of time, but also my sleep pattern is disturbed (sleeping at different hours everyday, sometimes sleeping 2 or even 3 times) and it becomes harder to adjust sleeping hours, etc. 1. I'm getting enough sleep. I'm not particularly stressed, on the contrary. 2. I sleep very well and when I sit for practice, there's no need for sleep (and no sleepiness), but it happens anyway. 3. I also tried eating very little, or not eating at all, because meals cause drowsiness. But even this has no effect. Nothing works. I looked everywhere for a solution. Tried taking a break from practices, taking a shower, exercising, cold water on the face, coffee. Nothing works. You may say, 'Take it easy, slow down a bit. 'Practice less, or self-pace.' I know, I've read all these things in the AYP forum. I searched there on 'sleepiness' and 'drowsiness,' and found this entry written by you: "The fuzziness and sleepiness you experienced in your first session will pass (maybe it already has). As mentioned, it is inner purification occurring. You are off to a good start." But in my case the sleep problem is chronic. Do you know a working solution for this? No matter how difficult it is, I can implement it. I really feel down, demoralized, in low spirits because of this problem. It's a huge hindrance to my practice. Please help if you can. Thank you, and best regards
For more on sleep related to AYP practice, see Lesson 227 above. If you take up the AYP approach, including Deep Meditation as the core practice, rather than pranayama, you will find results more in line with awakening, as you will find abiding inner silence rising in daily life, which is beyond sleep and inner obstructions. We can be much more helpful with that approach. Pranayama methods taken as primary and stand-alone tend to be problematic (see Lesson 43), and perhaps it is time to examine the approach you are using. If cause and effect in practice are leading to ongoing problems with sleep, then it may be time to consider a change. However, don't expect instant results from AYP. Imbalances that have occurred over time tend to take some time to unwind. But with prudent practice using effective methods, they will unwind. Perhaps your difficulties with drowsiness and sleep during and after practice are a reflection of a unique matrix of inner obstructions you have there. If so, it will pass eventually. Inner obstructions are not infinite, whereas abiding inner silence is. With effective daily practice of deep meditation, sooner or later this will pass. Not to worry. It will be alright. All the best on your continuing path! The guru is in you. Discuss this Lesson in the AYP Plus Support Forum Note: For detailed instructions on deep meditation, see the Deep Meditation Online Book. For detailed instructions on building a balanced daily practice routine with self-pacing, see the Eight Limbs of Yoga Online Book. |
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Meditation will always give us what we need, because we are bringing up pure
bliss consciousness from within, the source and sustainer of all that we are. If
there is some accumulation of fatigue in the nervous system, meditation can
bring us into a sleep-like state during or right after practice. This sleep
associated with meditation is of a much deeper variety than ordinary sleep.
Deep-rooted impurities are being dissolved. So, we don't force against sleep if
it comes during or right after meditation. Of course, if we have to get up and
go to work, then we do that. If we have the time to honor a need for more rest,
we should allow it. There are cycles that come and go along our journey in
practices. We may go through a period of falling asleep during or after
meditation. And then one day, we are wide-awake and radiating bliss. Some clouds
have been dissolved. As mentioned in a recent lesson, sometimes we can have both
the bliss and the clouds. It is all part of the process of purification on the
road to enlightenment.