D.R. Kaarthikeyan
By D.R. Kaarthikeyan
I am writing this message on the importance of sleep, in view of the tragic loss of dear Sharat Jois, the great yoga master, grandson of the great Yogacharya Shri Pathabi Jois, Ashtanga Yoga-Mysore.
Please also see my email dated 13th November 2024 (attached again herewith). I am too shocked to believe such a tragedy can occur to such a healthy, dynamic, positive person with enormous energy and enthusiasm. I spoke to his dear wife Shruthi also at length.
I made further inquiries and I am of the firm opinion that the young Yoga Master with a global following overworked himself in the USA by devoting his entire time with his countless enthusiastic yoga teachers students and depriving himself of sleep for days together and still trekking in total exhaustion. The result is cardiac arrest!
Hence I feel it my duty to share with you all about the importance of adequate sleep even with the best of physical health.
I feel that dynamic young master worked hard serving his passion of teaching yoga to his countless yoga followers/teachers to the extent of even sacrificing his sleep
“ Sleep is the best meditation.” – Dalai Lama.
Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day — Mother Nature’s best effort yet at contra-death.
Sleep is essential to every process in the body, affecting our physical and mental functioning the next day, our ability to fight disease and develop immunity, and our metabolism and chronic disease risk.
Thomas Dekker’s quote, “Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together,” emphasises the interconnectedness of sleep and health. It suggests that sleep is a crucial link in maintaining overall health and well-being.
Good sleep protects our health, boosts our immune system, and helps our bodies and brains restore themselves. Most of us live in places where we can lock our doors at night and sleep in relative peace without fear of harm. It’s a blessing we often take for granted.
It can make getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis seem like a dream. But sleep is as important for good health as diet and exercise. Good sleep improves our brain performance, mood, and health. Not getting enough quality sleep regularly raises the risk of many diseases and disorders.
Sleep is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells (neurons) communicate with each other. In fact, our brain and body stay remarkably active while we sleep. Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes toxins in our brain that build up while we are awake.
A good night’s sleep is when you fall asleep easily, do not fully wake up during the night, do not wake up too early, and feel refreshed in the morning. Regularly having difficulty falling asleep or trouble sleeping through the night isn’t normal for healthy people of any age.
“The shorter your sleep, the shorter your life span.” “
“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.”
Psalm 127:2 says that sleep is a gift from God to His beloved.
Many restorative processes occur during sleep, such as: Increased production of growth hormone, which is thought to help with muscle growth and rebuilding of cells. Strengthen the immune system to prevent sickness and fight infection.
Sleep keeps us healthy and functioning well. It lets your body and brain repair, restore, and re-energize. If you don’t get enough sleep, it can affect your memory, focus, immune system, and mood. Most adults need 7 hours of sleep each night.
Quality sleep means you are getting uninterrupted and refreshing sleep.
Another thing that your brain does while you sleep is, process your emotions. Your mind needs this time in order to recognize and react the right way. When you cut that short, you tend to have more negative emotional reactions and fewer positive ones.
Other than eating right and exercising, getting sufficient sleep is equally important to lower your risk of developing certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, or high blood pressure.
Although all the stages of sleep are necessary, deep sleep is especially important for brain health and function.
Sleep is essential to every process in the body, affecting our physical and mental functioning the next day, our ability to fight disease and develop immunity, and our metabolism and chronic disease risk.
Sleep is truly interdisciplinary because it touches every aspect of health.
After a sleepless night, you may be more irritable, short-tempered, and vulnerable to stress. Once you sleep well, your mood often returns to normal. Studies have shown that even partial sleep deprivation has a significant effect on mood.
It’s the body’s way of recharging and healing. For some people, it’s also a great escape. Dreaming is fun, and sleep is a way to get away from problems in the real world. Sleep enthusiasts know that a good snooze is a great cure for things like stress, anxiety, and a bad mood.
Sleep has a fundamental role in shaping our overall health and quality of life – helping to regulate hormones, bolster immunity, and enhance cognitive function and emotional resilience.
It is true during many of the challenging periods in my official life, I had spent weeks together with hardly 2 or 3 hours of sleep. Particularly during the investigation of Rajiv Gandhi Assassination, I hardly could get 3 or 4 hours of sleep throughout the period of investigation.
The result is I was declared diabetic and I have managed to still live in that condition, may be due to yoga and Meditation and blessings of my parents and Masters.
By D.R.Kaarthikeyan, IPS (R)
Padma Shri Awardee
Former :
Director, Central Bureau of Investigation
Director General, National Human Rights Commission
Special Director General, Central Reserve Police Force
