And then 30 minutes later, you find yourself waking up with a puddle of drool on youryoga mat.
If your meditation sessions tend to lead to an accidentalpower nap, youre not alone.
Why do I keep falling asleep during meditation?
I know this sounds like too simplified of an answer, but its really this straightforward, she says.
Most of us have been carrying around months, years, even decades of accumulated fatigue, says Chen.
However, the main culprit is almost always just coming to the meditation sleep-deprived, Dr. Breus reiterates.
meditation expert, and founder and director of the Melbourne Meditation Centre
Is it good or bad to fall asleep during meditation?
Theres nothing inherently bad about falling asleep during meditation, especially if its something your body needs.
What is the difference between deep meditation and falling asleep?
But unless youveactuallyfallen asleep during meditation, you were probably just very deeply relaxed, he says.
And while sleep can also be a blissful (and needed!)
experience, were not conscious of whats happening while asleep like we are during deep meditation.
There is no awareness of whats happening in the here and now while asleep.
(Unless, of course, yourelucid dreaming… but your imaginary capabilities would give that away.)
Can meditating help me sleep at night?
meditation expert, and founder and director of the Melbourne Meditation Centre
Because its inherently relaxing, meditation is often suggested as something to try if you havetrouble fallingor stayingasleep.
How can I enhance my alertness and avoid falling asleep during meditation?
But itdoesmean youre bypassing the actual meditative state (and its benefits) and going straight to dreamland.
What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?
Get enough sleep at night
The most common reason people fall asleep while meditating is because theyre sleep-deprived.
So, if you want to be fully present and aware of your meditation, being well-rested is key.
Your brain associates your bed with sleep, so finding a different location for mindful meditation is key.
Instead, find a comfortable spot to sit.
Just open a window, and youll perk right up once you feel the invigorating breeze.
Just dont drinktoomuchotherwise, youll have another problem: having to go to the bathroom halfway through your practice.
And that can mean little energy left for meditating.
Instead, try meditatingbeforeyou eat.
Try a walking meditation
You dont have to sit with your eyes closed to reap the benefits of meditation.
Bonus points if you walk outside so you might experience the feel-good meditation vibesandget some mood-boosting natural light exposure.
In fact, some experts swear thatthree-minute meditationsare an ideal option, especially for beginners.
When this happens, the head often suddenly drops, and this motion wakes them up again.
Just because you experience a microsleep doesnt mean you should probably abandon your practice for the day.
Basso, Julia C et al.
Brief, daily meditation enhances attention, memory, mood, and emotional regulation in non-experienced meditators.Behavioural brain researchvol.
356 (2019): 208-220. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2018.08.023
Tang, Rongxiang et al.
Brief Mindfulness Meditation Induces Gray Matter Changes in a Brain Hub.Neural plasticityvol.
16 Nov. 2020, doi:10.1155/2020/8830005
Jamil, Aneeque et al.
Meditation and Its Mental and Physical Health Benefits in 2023.Cureusvol.
2023, doi:10.7759/cureus.40650
Levine, Glenn N et al.
Meditation and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Journal of the American Heart Associationvol.
28 Sep. 2017, doi:10.1161/JAHA.117.002218
Deolindo, Camila Sardeto et al.
A Critical Analysis on Characterizing the Meditation Experience Through the Electroencephalogram.Frontiers in systems neurosciencevol.
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