To sleep or not to sleep . . . that is the question
Falling asleep during yoga nidra and hypnosis is a fairly common occurrence. You may find yourself nodding off at different moments only to come back wondering what you missed. In our culture of doing, we often forego the rest we need to get something done. As my father in law used to say “there is plenty of time to sleep when you are dead.” This sentiment is deeply ingrained in our western minds and results in some deeply exhausted humans. The more of a doer you are, the more likely you will find staying awake a challenge during activities such as meditation, yoga nidra and hypnosis.
Some yoga nidra teachers specifically discourage sleeping, while others feel it is part of the practice. For me, I fall somewhere in the middle, it all depends on your intention for the practice. While in the hypnagogic state, you are riding a fine line between waking and sleeping and occasionally dip into sleep. It isn’t bad; it is part of the journey of exploring the edges of consciousness. Additionally, in our sleep-deprived world, people really need to be allowed to sleep if that is what their bodies need. In hypnosis, sleeping is more problematic as the intent is to communicate with the subconscious mind. However, I had a teacher who said it was perfectly okay to fall asleep during a hypnotic recording because your mind is still hearing and absorbing the suggestions.
The term “sleep” is associated with both Yoga Nidra (meaning "Yogic Sleep) and hypnosis. However, this "sleep" is not the type you experience at night. Instead, it is a form of deep physical relaxation with mental awareness still present. Unlike regular sleep, yoga nidra and hypnosis allows practitioners to maintain some awareness of their surroundings. This state, called a hypnagogic state, is where the brain waves slow down, and the body is essentially asleep while the mind remains aware.
“Just as there is more than one kind of yoga, there is more than one kind of sleep. There are layers and levels to this thing we call sleep… micro and macro, biologically, personally, and culturally. Sleep isn’t ‘just losing consciousness’ — sleep is part of consciousness”.1 In order to access these other kinds of sleep, our bodies must not be sleep deprived. If you are curious about exploring these other states of “sleep” make sure you are well rested before beginning your practice.
So, is it okay to sleep or not sleep? It basically comes down to the intention of your practice. If your intention is relaxation for sleep, then by all means, fall asleep during your practice. However, if your intention is to connect to Higher Awareness or gain more clarity of your thoughts and emotions, sleeping through yoga nidra may not be as helpful in reaching those goals. In hypnosis, if you are having a live session, falling asleep is not optimal; you will miss important suggestions and guided visualizations to deepen your state. This is why in hypnotherapy sessions, there are built-in responsiveness exercises to ensure the client is awake.
If you are well rested and habitually falling asleep during practices in which you are intending on being aware, this may be a sign to pay attention. Sometimes falling asleep is a way of avoiding something difficult. Several years ago I was listening to a Marissa Peers hypnotic recording and I would always fall asleep at this one point in the recording where I was to imagine nurturing myself as a baby. For the longest time I did not even know what I was missing because I would always fall asleep at the same part. One day I was curious so I just fast forwarded to hear the part I always missed. Then I realized, it felt overwhelming to me to nurture myself and love myself as if I were my own child. This was good information on what I needed to work on. If I had not been curious and fast forwarded to the part I was missing, I may have never had that insight.
In conclusion, the decision to sleep or stay awake during yoga nidra, hypnosis, or meditation hinges on your personal goals and needs. If your body craves rest, allowing yourself to sleep can be incredibly beneficial. However, if your aim is to achieve higher awareness, address emotional blocks, or gain clarity, staying awake is crucial. By listening to your body and understanding your intentions, you can navigate these practices more effectively and reap the maximum benefits.
Source:
Jennifer Piercy, "Is It Okay to Fall Asleep During Yoga Nidra?", Insight Timer. Link
