Sleep
1. Natural or 2. Induced
1.Natural Sleep:
It occurs due to exhaustion of physical or mental frame in us and is
controlled through circadian rhythms in our bodies. It is specified by REM and
Non-REM cycles. REM means Rapid Eye Movement. The natural sleep cycles are
affected by circadian rhythms (natural self-generated rhythms in our body
affected by outside factors like light, temperature and hormonal secretions) in
our body. While awake we are in Alpha range of frequency vibrations of 7-11 Hz
but as we fall asleep we move from Alpha to Theta 4-7 Hz and then to Delta
specified by 0.5-4 Hz. Generally one goes through a period of 6-8 hours to
relax the body fully, which is affected by the secretion of melatonin by our
pineal gland. It also affects our gastrointestinal lining, maintains immune system
and If our sleep is not of good quality then we feel tired even after getting
up. If such state is repeated again and again then our body falls in to stress
and which may lead to various physical and mental diseases.
As per researchers, a sleeping person passes through 4-5 stages of 5-15
minutes each in a sleep cycle. The first cycle is from 70-90 minutes while
subsequent cycles may be from 90 to 120 minutes. Initially REM component is
less in sleep but in later stages REM component increases. A child goes in REM
sleep almost 50% of the time.
We pass through 4 cycles, first two cater to light sleep while other two
cater to deep sleep.
During first stage one moves from Alpha(7-13Hz) and Beta(13-21Hz)
stage of frequency generation. During it, our muscle activity slows down, eye
movement is very slow and we can be woken up easily. Alpha reduced to half and
this stage lasts for small duration of time. It represented by ‘an idling brain
in a movable body’.
During Second stage, is the most important part of the sleep pattern
and involves sleep spindles and K complexes. It last 0-3 seconds every 3-10
seconds. Eye movement stops, brains waves are slow with occasional bursts of
energy. Spindles gradually increase and decrease close to Delta waves while K
complexes occasional surges of high amplitude energy. During this period memory
consolidation and synaptic pruning takes place.
During third stage, we move between Theta and Delta waves. Its first
stage of deep sleep. Brain waves are very slow, one moves from sound sleep to
very deep sleep in it. It may be called a stage between REM and Non-REM. Sleep
walking, bed wetting reacting to dreams occur during this phase. Muscles are paralyzed
to avoid any injury. Some dreams are remembered and some are forgotten. It’s a state
of ‘an active hallucinating mind in a paralyzed body’. Large amplitude Delta waves
are produced here. People in 20’s spend about 20% time of the sleep in it, people
in 40-50’s spend about 10% time of the sleep in it, people in 70’s spend about 5%
time of the sleep in it.
During the fourth stage or state 2 of the deep sleep, delta waves
are predominantly produced. One is in a very deep sleep state if one is woken
up now then one will feel totally disoriented. Heart rate, respiration rate and
kidney process slow down while digestive process increases. 50% of the time
/delta waves occur during this stage which are slow and of large amplitude.
Impulses do not reach the cortex.
Walking state is from Beta to Gamma level, while pre sleep state may vary
between Alpha range while deep sleep state occurs in Delta and Theta range of
vibrations. During deep sleep our body relaxes all the muscles and growth hormones
are produced and brain moves to no thinking state.
2. Induced
a. Through Medication:
Inability to fall asleep or stay in that state is called insomnia in
patients. To counter such conditions different therapies may be utilized by the
doctors, in which drugs may be one of them. Gama-Amino Butyric acid increases
drowsiness while Orexin6, a natural substance increases wakefulness
in us. But such things if taken regularly can becomes less and less effective,
can affect our thinking and balance, may not let a person to be in fully
conscious state in waking times, sleep quality may not be up to the mark, may
interact with other medications being taken by the patient.
b. Through Hypnosis: This is a specialized process conducted by trained
practitioners. In this a subject is continuously led by outside instructions
and forced to visualize a thing or an idea which is actually not present. He or
she sees what is beings asked to experience what is not there actually.
c. Through Yog Nidra: It can be done personally or by outside
instructions of a trainer. It passes through well structured two stages mainly. During the
first stage the physical body is neutralized while in the second stage subtle
body is activated. It’s a process in which physical body is totally rested
while mind and senses are totally heightened. Unlike this, in normal sleep both
body and mind get neutralized. It is a highly developed model of yogic practice.
Normally in the world, people utilize it in relaxation of the body alone which
is a very small part of it. But actually, it is essential to understand control
over subtle body which is essential for all kinds of higher spiritual practices.
While higher practitioners, use it to develop control to separate subtle body
from the gross body. The structure of the practice can be developed by any experienced
person suiting the requirements of the subject. One feels there is no limit to
it. Even difficult subjects can be taught to children in the yoga nidra
sessions. Sports coaches can experiment with sportsmen to enhance their performance
in the respective game.
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