Here's what your body is saying if you fall asleep during meditation

I've fallen asleep during a guided meditation countless times. While some practices are aimed at promoting sleep, others are targeted at mindfulness, stress relief, or dealing with anxiety. 

Somehow, I always hit the sack just a few minutes after the meditation begins. It starts smoothly with my mind tuned in to the instructor's guidelines but I never make it through to the end. 

For the longest time, I presumed that drifting toward sleep while meditating was a good sign. After all, what can be wrong with it?  

But if you’re someone like me who enters snooze mode the moment any meditation begins, it means you aren't reaping all its benefits, especially wakefulness and improved concentration. 

So what are the reasons behind it? And should you be worried? YS Life spoke to experts to find out. 

Is tiredness the cause? 

Any meditation that you practise aims to calm your body, gently driving it into a state of relaxation. However, it doesn't necessarily have to put you to sleep. 

If it's a pattern you observe every single time, even if it's a short meditation, your body wants you to know how tired it feels, says Khushbu Mehta, a meditation expert from Delhi.

“Most of us go about our days mechanically, pushing ourselves to a breaking point that leaves us feeling physically and mentally exhausted. Whenever the body gets a little downtime, it wants to sleep because of the relaxation that meditation brings. That's why many people end up feeling drowsy,” she adds. 

Agrees Sunaina Sharma, an advertising professional from Mumbai who faced this issue until she fixed her sleep schedule. For many years, she slogged until the wee hours of the night, paying hardly any attention to what her body wanted. With time, she became crankier by the day and turned to meditation to calm down. Unsurprisingly, it didn't work. 

“Last year, I had a severe burnout and reached out to a doctor who prescribed just one medicine: sleep. I've been following a regular sleep schedule and things are far better. My meditation practice has also improved—I can sit for 30-40 minutes at a stretch without falling asleep,” she says. 

It's quite natural to feel this way, points out Mehta. That's because meditation is similar to sleeping in many ways, where participants have to close their eyes and breathe intentionally. And in case someone meditates while lying on their bed, it's a given that they will end up sleeping. 

 Do what your body needs 

If you’re fatigued and tend to sleep every single time during meditation, don't be afraid. There's nothing wrong with it; all it means is that your body is asking for some rest, says Mehta. 

“Since stress piles on day after day, the body gets immune to it. But the moment it experiences a sense of calm, it wants to stay in that zone. However, what's interesting here is that you are moving from a state of high stress to relaxation, so there's nothing to be worried about,” she adds. 

It could also be that some people might believe they fell asleep while meditating when they've only been in a state of restful alertness. In this case, an individual is not conscious about what's happening around them just like how it is when one sleeps. 

“This is a state when you are most relaxed, when there is no mind chatter. It's somewhat like being in zen mode. Many people may consider it similar to sleeping,” shares Mehta. 

How to stay alert during meditation 

If your intention is to be awake during meditation, here are a few tips that you must follow, says Radhika Sarin, a meditation practitioner based in Chennai. 

“The first thing one must follow is to get adequate sleep every night, anywhere between seven to nine hours. Only then can one expect to be fully aware during the meditation,” she informs. 

It is also wise to not meditate while sitting on your bed or lying down until it’s bedtime. 

That's because our brain associates the bed with sleep, making it believe it's time for slumber. But that's where the problem lies—find a comfortable spot in any other room. 

Besides these tips, it's always a good idea to practise meditation in a room where you can breathe fresh. If there's a little window, sit right there and you will instantly feel refreshed.  

Also, make sure you are well-hydrated so that you don't feel as drowsy during the meditation session. “But again, don't overdo it because that can also be troublesome. It can either make you feel bloated or make you head to the bathroom often,” says Sarin. 

Last but not least, don't give up on your meditation practice if you don't succeed easily. Keep trying in short bursts and eventually, you will get the hang of it, concludes Mehta.