Meditation - Staying Awake
Why is staying awake while meditating important? Falling asleep
is certainly relaxing, and can be good for you, but to get the
full range of benefits from your meditation you need to have
your brainwaves in the alpha and theta ranges. When you are
asleep, your brainwaves range from theta to delta. Meditation
should be a state of relaxed alertness (primarily alpha
brainwaves). Try the following tips to stay awake.
1. Don't lay down. Laying down may be the comfortable way to
meditate, but it is also the surest way to have trouble staying
awake. Find a comfortable posture for meditating, but not TOO
comfortable.
2. Don't meditate where you sleep. A comfy chair may be a great
place to meditate - unless its the one you fall asleep in while
watching TV. Anyplace where you regularly sleep is likely to
trigger a sleep response in your body.
3. Create slight discomfort. If you are too comfortable to stay
awake, try turning the thermostat down, sitting in a harder
chair, or otherwise creating a minor irritation that will be
enough to keep you awake, but not distract you too much.
4. Try meditating in a new place. Using a chair set in the back
yard, or doing your meditation in the car at a nice park can be
a good way to get out of a rut and wake up your mind.
5. Use an automatic wake-up position. Rest your elbows on the
chair arms and have your hands comfortably up in the air. If you
begin to sleep, your arms will fall, waking you up. Many
meditators have used positions that prevent sleep in this way,
without being uncomfortable.
Sleep is good, but meditation is more than relaxation. It should
help you develop a sense of peace and relaxed alertness. If
meditating has become nothing more than your favorite sleeping
aid, start using these tips today to get back on track.