Q : Why do I feel sleepy when I try to watch my thoughts. This doesn't happens every time but it does happen specially while traveling and watching thoughts or watching breathe. It seems so difficult.
Devotee
Answer Well, isn't it a boring thing watching your breath. It is indeed a very boring thing and mind always needs some excitement. Watching your breath going in, watching your breath going out definitely it is a monotonous thing and you will get bored thus you feel sleepy. Thus you want to doze off.
That is the reason it is better to do some kind of Pranayam than to do watching of your breath. Because when you are doing Pranayam there is so much to do. Isn't it? Although you are just sitting crossed legged but still there is so much to do. The first and the most important thing is making right Mudra with your hand.
To do Pranayam your hand Mudra should be correct. Many people do it with one finger like this……This is not the right way to do it. Your Mudra should be correct for that you fold these first two fingers down and you join these Anamika and Kanishtika (ring finger and small finger) and with your thumb, you sit straight , your spine is erect, your posture preferably in Padmasana, bend your head little low and then hold your right nostril with the right thumb, close it.
Now see, so many things you will be doing, you"ll be closing and opening with your thumb and finger. You will be holding or taking your inspiration or doing expiration of the breath. If you are doing some other Pranayam for example Bhastrika then you are inhaling and exhaling long. There is so much to do. If you are doing Kapalbhati again there is so much to do. Your stomach has to move but your chest and shoulders have to remain immobile.
You are doing so much in Kapalbhati so you won't ever get bored doing your Kapalbhati. But you will get tired doing Kapalbhati after sometime. But when you are simply watching your breath it will get boring and your mind will feel sleepy. And that is the perfect sign that you are still not ready to do this. Your mind needs some kind of a toy to play with.
Gurumaa
