With the goal of (eventual) world peace, I went into “yogic sleep” yesterday evening.

Yoga-philes around the world, including yours truly, participated in the “Global Mala” this weekend.

Described as the “the largest unified worldwide yoga event,” studios from around the world held yoga-centric fundraisers to help create a global “Peace Wave.”

The Lotus Room and Yogani, both in South Tampa, led 108 sun salutations on Bayshore Boulevard on Sunday.

Idealistic? Sure.  But why not give it a shot?

As Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Or for those who remember Michael Jackson in his pre-dangling-babies-off-balcony days: “If you wanna make the world a better place / take a look at yourself, and then make a change.”

Photo By Laraine O’Neill of Sunday’s yoga on Bayshore

I went to a “Yoga Nidra” or “yogic sleep” guided mediation class at Yogani studio. It is supposed to be a conscious deep sleep where you are incredibly relaxed but are still aware of your feelings and thoughts.

It was my first meditation class. 

There’s a misconception often floating around that people who do yoga and meditate are naturally calm, serene and low-key. I’m energetic, easily excitable and easily distracted. I’ve found that yoga keeps me from going into the deep end – and I’ve heard others express a similar sentiment.

When I practice, part of what keeps me focused is the immediate threat of tipping over or falling if I don’t, so the thought of staying focused and still for a whole hour is a little terrifying to me.

The experience was kind of surreal and kind of wild. Really.

Here’s part of what I did:

*Set an intention of a goal for myself (I said I’d like to be “more focused with my energy” – an alternative to my usual “more disciplined and more organized” bleck.)
*Visualized myself in a rewinding movie of the day
*Imagined past moments of frustration, joy, happiness
*Tried very hard to watch a Gulf of Mexico sunset in my mind’s eye

What I didn’t expect:

*That my body and head would hurt from keeping awake and still for so long
*To feel energized today after not enough sleep (It’s Monday!)
*To Feel focused the next day

I didn’t have any life-shattering epiphanies or grand awakenings during the conscious sleep. I did feel calmer and more aware of my senses (the world often slows down after yoga for me anyway). But I think these evolutionary kinds of changes are subtle and come with practice.

The next Yoga Nidra class is Nov. 4. In the meantime, I’m going to give the studio’s Tuesday night mediation class a whirl. A very thoughtful whirl.

Until next time, namaste.