AP exercises during the day?

[PlasmaAstralProjection]

What are some exercises I can do during the day to help me AP? Eg do you think concentration exercises would help you AP?
It seems that I can't stay focused on anything when I am trying to AP. Either I'm half awake and can't keep my mind focused on one AP technique or I am too tired to do anything and fall asleep.

(Edit: wrong title)

[Xanth]

There is no one single technique that is easiest.

You need to find that which works best for you.

You'll, most likely, have to go through several before you find it.

[PlasmaAstralProjection]

Or should I ask. Can concentration exercises help with AP?

[Chris J.]

do you think concentration exercises would help you AP?

I think the most important thing to AP is the ability to focus, so I think that would definitely help.

It seems that I can't stay focused on anything when I am trying to AP. Either I'm half awake and can't keep my mind focused on one AP technique or I am too tired to do anything and fall asleep.

Maybe you should try practicing at a different time of day, when you are less tired. If your mind is tired, it will be much easier to lose concentration and to fall asleep.

[blis]

Something I do throughout the day is regularly still my mind. I find when I try and hear what sounds are present around me my thoughts cease. Just stop moving for a few moments and concentrate on hearing the sounds around you like you do when you are trying to pick out a quiet noise thats hidden behind  louder ones.

If I'm intending to attempt an obe at night I try and spend as much time as I can throughout the day visualising myself having one. I picture myself, in the room I will be in, getting up and out of my body.

[Selea]

What are some exercises I can do during the day to help me AP? Eg do you think concentration exercises would help you AP?

It depends on which way you want to achieve APs. Focus is a key to everyone, but there are various types of concentrations, and you must apply them to what you want to achieve.

If you want to have full willed conscious OBEs than you must learn how to fully concentrate on a thing to the exclusion of all else. An example of this can be concentrating on the breath. In this case you must concentrate on the breath and that alone. Every deviation on focus on breath is a break. Not only thoughts, but also feeling of the body, earing outside sounds, etc. In little words you must become the breath (this is called Dhyana). After, with more practice the same breath (and so "you") cease to exists (this is called Samadhi). This type of concentration requires much training, but with it you will be able to do many things more than just OBEs. However before having the first results it requires more time. Usually to be able to do OBEs you need at last to be able to hold concentration on a thing for 10 mins with maximum 2-3 breaks. This is the road called "Meditation" (also if that word has be used a lot meaning things completely different), or "Yoga". Usually the focus of this type of concentration is done with things that don't attract attention (as the breath, or a simple image), because you must train the mind with the most boring things.

If you instead want to achieve OBEs with the aid of sleep the concentration needed is a bit different. It is like a part of the mind is observing you going to sleep. In this case the type of concentration needed would be for example retaining a sort of conscious notice on what you do in the day, but without conscious interference with what you do. You must become like a "spy",so to speak, you will have to see but not be seen. Sleep is a good catapult for OBEs since it requires much less training. In sleep you are already in "yoga"  unconsciously, so all you will have to do is to retain a thread of consciousness therein. Contrarily to before the methods used in this type of concentration usually have as a focus activities that can caught-up your attention, so that your focus doesn't wander in sleep.

[Xanth]

I'll just say that I'm not a big fan of the "focused breathing" techniques for projection.
And I'll explain why... these particular techniques bring your attention to a place you don't want it to be: your physical body.
The idea of projection is to disassociate yourself from the physical in all forms.

So yeah... focusing on your breathing... I think it's a bad idea personally. 

[Selea]

I'll just say that I'm not a big fan of the "focused breathing" techniques for projection.
And I'll explain why... these particular techniques bring your attention to a place you don't want it to be: your physical body.
The idea of projection is to disassociate yourself from the physical in all forms.

So yeah... focusing on your breathing... I think it's a bad idea personally.  

Just for your knowledge: you can project either while focusing on the physical body. The body transforms to nothingness by itself if you are concentrated.

[Xanth]

Just for your knowledge: you can project either while focusing on the physical body. The body transforms to nothingness by itself if you are concentrated.

Oh, I know. 

I'm just sharing my own personal experiences with it. 

[Stookie]

I'll just say that I'm not a big fan of the "focused breathing" techniques for projection.
And I'll explain why... these particular techniques bring your attention to a place you don't want it to be: your physical body.
The idea of projection is to disassociate yourself from the physical in all forms.

So yeah... focusing on your breathing... I think it's a bad idea personally. 

Using breath as a method to induce another state of consciousness is a common technique. You're actually removing thoughts about your body (and everything else) and becoming one with your breath. It's more about being able to concentrate on a single thing, in this case, your breath. Or instead of breath, an image you hold. You stop all else and make it "alive".

The problem you're speaking of is when people lose their focus on their current exercise and instead center their attention on the physical. Like the thought "is my body asleep yet?", or "am I relaxed enough?". A properly done breathing technique won't do this.

[CFTraveler]

I agree.  Plus, most of the time breathing exercises are done early in the sequence (at least the way I advocate it) in between relaxation and trance cultivation.

[Xanth]

I agree.  Plus, most of the time breathing exercises are done early in the sequence (at least the way I advocate it) in between relaxation and trance cultivation.

Oh, most definitely.
I'll use it as a means strictly to relax.
Once sufficiently relaxed, I'll move onto my method of choice.
I won't use it as a means of disassociation though for the purpose of projecting.
For me, it just is too "physical".  hehe