Meditation

[Chris01]

This may seem like a silly question, but it's one that has been on my mind.
Heres the deal. I've read countless methods of meditation, but when i try, all i can get... is the feeling that im falling asleep. Is this right? am I possibly doing something wrong? I am as new as you can get to meditation, so i dont know... anything. could someone please help? Thank you
-Chris

[Malcolm]

Thats fairly common when your new to it. I used to fall asleep too. Visualization takes practice.

[Loreley]

It's a fairly common reaction in the beginning. You can do a few things about it, though. One would be not to meditate when you're already tired or sleepy. Try the morning hours, for example, instead of the late evening or nighttime. Also, try meditating sitting (lotus position) rather than lying down. Don't meditate after eating a big meal. A full belly is likely to make you sleepy. Make sure that the room is well aired, and that the temparature isn't too warm and "cosy". If you find yourself still falling asleep, don't give up. As someone else in the thread already mentioned, it does take practice.

[Rosana]

Have your tried different kinds of meditation, f.e. mindful walking or tai-chi?
I've used to have this problem too. In addition, I became sleepy or angry, because I HATE sitting and counting breaths, as I was taught. Then I discovered the art of meditating in every time, every place - f.i. when ironing, I focus myself completely on pressing the fabric, smoothing creases, warmth of the steam. The same goes for listening to music, watching the tides, cutting vegetables or showering - possibilities are endless.
It worked for me quite well, and benefits from this kind of meditation are just the same as from "traditional" transcendental form. Good luck!

[Jenett]

Heres the deal. I've read countless methods of meditation, but when i try, all i can get... is the feeling that im falling asleep. Is this right? am I possibly doing something wrong? I am as new as you can get to meditation, so i dont know... anything. could someone please help? Thank you

How often do you take time to fully relax during the day?

Some people if they're constantly on the run have this 'all or nothing' response: they stop for a little, and start feeling exhausted because they're finally stopped, and their body isn't used to being relaxed without being sleepy.

If this is the case, you want to start by looking at some of your lifestyle habits: make some more time, at different points in your day, to just relax without going straight to bed (and make sure you're not overtired, constantly in need of sleep, etc.)

If you take short bits of time (to sit and look at the sunset, to sit on the grass outside and feel the grass and the sun on your skin, to have a cup of tea or a piece of chocolate, to do nothing for 20 minutes...) it gets easier. and it will likely make it easier to meditate, because you'll be better able to distinguish 'sleepy' and 'relaxed' and 'close to meditative state'

On the other hand, exploring different times for meditation, different styles, and different approaches is also a good thing. One thing that's often advised is to keep a running log. If, every day, you write down the date, how much you slept the night before (and how well), the general weather, and maybe the moon phase, as well as your meditation trials and how they work for you, you'll probably start seeing some patterns over the course of a month or two.

You may discover that certain weather affects you, or that days you sleep badly, you need to pick some other kind of meditation than lying there late at night. Or that good days where lots of stuff goes well make some things easier for you, and hard days where you're relieved it's over make other kinds of meditation more rewarding/accessible.

(Some people also track food and more detailed information: not necessarily needed unless you know you have food or allergy sensitivities or other things, but sometimes handy for other patterns.)