What happens if you meditate laying down?

I have heard you go to sleep and it is very bad, why is it so bad??? Or have I heard wrongly?

 

it's not bad, it's just that you're not meditating when you're sleeping. some people have good meditations lying down, others have trouble staying awake and so they don't get much out of it except a peaceful nap. maybe that's exactly what they needed.

Some forms of meditation have specific rules about posture. If the one you're studying prohibits laying down, then don't do it.

 

I meditate on my back all the time, I just prop my head up with a pillow a bit and I am able within 30 seconds to go into a mind awake body asleep state, from there with enough time and concentration I can achieve an out of body experience, happens rarely though.

 

If you meditate laying down i think that there is a possibility to go in to a trance... That is not bad thing but it is not meditating... But i know that somebody does meditating laying down and it's one way to do it...

 

Like sleep paralysis you mean?

 

No, I can just move my finger and come back out of the trance. It is really fun to do this when I am stoned because I can envision myself slowly spinning or rising above my body. Sometimes I see things like colors or weird patterns.

 

Sounds exactly like S.P. to me Especially the finger part.

 

i think its only wise to meditate lying down if you have knee or back trouble...Personally i find it impossible to meditate lying down, tried many times but more often than not find myself drifting off into sleep, absolutely zippo mindfulness...stick to lotus/half lotus, it exists for a reason...

 

I was once on a meditation reatreat and in the hall one person was meditating lying down, about 10 minutes into it we heard snoring and all started to laugh! It was pretty funny

 

There is a form of mediation that you do in corpse position after doing a session of yoga. I have found that my most successful meditation attempts have occurred at this moment. It's probably because I am so exhausted physically, that my mind has no choice but to relax and not think of distracting thoughts. It feels like I am falling asleep (and at first I was worried that I was, so I would shake myself up). My teacher said it was natural, and you want this, so I learned to give into it. I am at peace when I leave the studio, it's amazing.

 

This is starting to get very interesting. I have been practicing going into a deep trance state and with astral projection. I can get to the point where it feels like my body is totally vibration but always get excited because of the intensity of these feelings. I can imagine myself spinning around or bouncing around the room and trying to break free from my physical body. Soon I will be able to, I am sure of it.

 

sounds cool, I have had similar experiences, but havent been practicing for awhile.....

I meditate laying down with crystals, but do not practice yoga.

 

I prefer to meditate laying down, itis more comfortable..

you will go to sleep if u are tired and it is better then to sleep..

It is not bad, but yogis prefer to meditate sitting...

 

If I use a pillow...I am gone to sleepy land...

I usually start sitting up (right before bed) and then easy myself to lay down (after awhile)...then when I'm finally ready to sleep I put the pillow under my head...and have a peaceful sleep.

 

If you get into the habit of meditating lying down it becomes like trying to fall asleep which meditation is more like trying to fall awake. But for sick and infirm they are able to meditate lying down. I have been told in any number of situations that ideally they should have their head up still a bit. If one cannot meditate while sitting for whatever reason and they need to lie down then they should take up the soft chanting of hymns, or the practices of dream and sleep yogas - yoga nidra. One who is not shava - corpse - should meditate like Shiva - in padma or similar because it is said that the channels straighten out and consciousness flows automatically if one has proper alignment, just by sitting straight without any other technique.

 

It sounds like your mind is becoming quite powerful! Please keep up updated on your progress

 

I like to meditate lying down as kind of a wind down. After meditating for an hour or so my back is killing me, so straightening it out by laying with my back flat on the floor is the perfect meditation to end a session.

I'm a beginner, so for me it's easier to lose myself in the meditation when I'm not thinking about keeping my back straight or stretching my diaphragm. It just seems to come more naturally to me...yesterday was my first real meditation session in a circle of people and the whole session was awesome but I didn't really get OOBE until I laid down. It was quite powerful.

 

thats crazy, I know it. wen I lay down in shavasana or with legs crossed for the energy, sometimes first my body fells asleep and my mind starts watching my body breathing and relaxing. after a while I get a flow of thoughts and "forget where I am", then suddenly my whole body (!?) starts shaking+vibrating, or maybe its just my inner spirit - because I always try to stop it and stand up and walk around but then I wake up and find my body lying there as it was.
I fear this and so the last time it had happen to me is some while ago now.
how can I stop fearing such experiences? I always try to relax in such situations, same while meditation, but I always panic and stop because I think its out of my control.
love, steffi

 

I know a lot of "old school" types frown on lying down, but the best advice anyone's given me about positions is "it doesn't matter as long as you're comfortable." As long as you can stay awake, I see nothing wrong with meditating on your back. I myself sat for a few minutes lying down this afternoon and it was a nice change of pace, very easy to let go and relax. I have bad posture, and I think sitting upright is extra hard for me, so perhaps I and others like me can benefit from this position.

 

I'm with you, StayLoose. My posture sucks and sitting straight only distracts me and makes me uncomfortable.