Effect of cyclic meditation on sleep architecture and subjective sleep rating

Abstract

BACKGROUND Cyclic meditation (CM) is a technique in which yoga postures are interspersed with periods of supine rest in recurring cycles. AIM AND OBJECTIVES The present study was designed to • To compile the ancient information on sleep from ancient Indian scriptures and allied literature. • To study whether practicing cyclic meditation would influence the sleep structure in normal persons. • To compare the effects of practicing cyclic meditation in the day time with the effects of supine rest practice, on the heart rate variability during sleep.