Beyond relaxation: How advanced tantric yoga meditation supercharges your mind
When most people think of meditation, a peaceful image comes to mind: someone sitting quietly, eyes closed, breathing slowly, letting their worries drift away. For many in the yoga community, meditation is synonymous with relaxation and stress relief. But what if meditation could be much more than a way to unwind? What if, with the right approach and enough practice, meditation could actually energize your mind and body?
Recent research into Tantric Yoga meditation - especially the practices of the Ananda Marga tradition - suggests just that. While popular forms of meditation like Transcendental Meditation (TM) are known for inducing deep calm and even drowsiness, Tantric Yoga meditation can lead to a state of heightened alertness and energy, particularly for seasoned practitioners. Most studies on meditation have focused on techniques where the primary goal is to sit quietly and repeat a mantra, leading to measurable relaxation in the body and brain. This has shaped the widespread belief that meditation is all about switching off and letting go.
Tantric Yoga, however, offers a different experience. In this tradition, meditation is seen as an active process - a mental workout that demands deep concentration and a powerful sense of focus. To understand how this type of meditation affects people at different levels, researchers studied three groups: those who had never meditated, those with about two years of practice, and experts who had been meditating daily for over four years. During meditation sessions, scientists measured heart rate, skin conductance (a sign of physiological arousal), breathing, and brain activity.
The results were eye-opening. Beginners tended to relax and even get a bit sleepy, but the experts showed the opposite pattern. As they meditated, their bodies became more activated: heart rates increased, skin conductance went up, and brainwaves revealed deep mental engagement and focus, not relaxation. Some even experienced sudden bursts of energy that felt like moments of ecstatic concentration.
This challenges the long-held idea that meditation is always a passive or purely relaxing state. As practitioners gain experience, meditation - especially in the Tantric Yoga tradition - can become an “active” process that energizes both mind and body. There isn’t just one physiological pathway or outcome; instead, meditation can be tailored for different goals: relaxation for beginners, and heightened energy and focus for those who are more advanced.
For yoga practitioners, this opens up exciting new possibilities. Meditation is not a one-size-fits-all practice. With dedication and advanced techniques, it’s possible to use meditation not only to cultivate calmness but also to tap into powerful states of concentration, energy, and inner vitality. If you’re just starting out, meditation will likely help you relax and find some calm. But as you deepen your practice, it can become a tool for energizing your mind, boosting your concentration, and awakening a powerful sense of presence. It’s not just about switching off - it’s about waking up to your own potential.
Over time, you might discover that meditation isn’t just a way to escape the world, but a way to fully engage with it - alert, focused, and alive. This evolving understanding offers a new paradigm for both practicing and teaching meditation, showing that with the right approach, meditation can be as invigorating as it is calming.
Tips for yoga practitioners:
Progress Gradually and Practice Regularly Research shows Tantric Yoga’s energizing effects appear mainly in long-term, daily practitioners. Beginners often feel relaxed or drowsy; advanced meditators achieve deep concentration and heightened activation. Begin with basics and slowly increase session length and depth.
Treat Meditation as Active Mental Training Tantric meditation requires focused effort, not passive relaxation. Train your mind like your body - use breath and mantra to anchor attention and note when you feel alert or energized. Active practice helps access deeper presence and vitality.
Match Goals to Your Experience Use meditation differently as you progress: beginners can prioritize relaxation and stress relief; advanced practitioners can pursue concentration and inner energy. This flexible approach lets you gain benefits at every stage.
Inspired by the research of J.C. Corby & colleagues, Archives of general psychiatry, 1978
doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1978.01770290053005
