However, it is unlikely that sleep during meditation explains increased night time arousal as the frequency of falling asleep during meditation was positively correlated with increases in slow wave sleep - > the more dozing during meditation (less actual meditation) associated with deeper night time sleep

Relationship between sleeping during mindfulness meditation and night time sleep

Certain forms of contemplative training may reduce the need for sleep.

Meditators may be sleeping during meditation practice.

University of California, Davis

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy group demonstrates suppressed slow wave sleep and slightly significant increases in arousal, awakenings and stage 1 sleep after treatment compared to control group. Arousal and lighter sleep correlated with higher mindfulness meditation amounts.

Mindfulness training associated with arousal in polysomnographic sleep profiles


Britton, W. B., Haynes, P. L., Fridel, K. W., &amp; Bootzin, R. R. (2010). Polysomnographic and subjective profiles of sleep continuity before and after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in partially remitted depression. Psychosomatic Medicine, 72(6), 539–548. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0b013e3181dc1bad 

Polysomnographic and Subjective Profiles of Sleep Continuity Before and After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Partially Remitted Depression

Arousing effects of mindfulness meditation practices is more pronounced in higher amounts of meditation practice and it is possible that lower amounts of mindfulness meditation practice may have a sedative effect while higher amounts may be associated with arousal

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