Hi Alan
Thanks for your comments above.
I noticed the same kind of tiring effect with other eastern music - might be something to do with the different scales and chords producing notes and sounds not normally heard in Western music.
Anyway I think I have cracked it. Recently I have been very aware of the way I eat and what I am eating. By chewing my food for a lot longer whilst eating mindfully my eating has changed in that I now eat much less, fell more energy and drink more water.
The water is crucial and now even if I feel any pressure in my head,for instance, taking a pint of water usually clears it.
I have been drinking too much tea - which of course is a diuretic (although not as bad a coffee) and dehydrates the system leaving it vulnerable to overload.
So the result of this is that I can listen to the Gayatri mantra without any side effects 
John, the devotion was never an issue, you can see the reason from my comments to Alan (Balance), thanks.
Wilder:
Chanting is another practice in addition to your normal AYP practices and has to be self-paced accordingly.
Doing 16 rounds of 108 Gayatri mantra repititions is asking for trouble in my view. If you start with one, see how you go and build up from there - no rush.
That’s great Sparkle. Hydration is good for intense japa. The energy built up in the body requires more water perhaps.
The calming effect, or tiredness may be due to the opening to the underlying silence behind the sacred syllables coming forth. Maybe the sacred syllables open the way for the silent well of sound.
It does help, I think, to pronounce the sanskrit as accurately as possible to benefit from the full energy production. It may be that some of the tiredness is due to not fully engaging the sacred sanskrit. Or perhaps you already have that down. It has taken me a long time to pronounce well, and there are still little nuances that can be challenging for a westerner’s tongue. If you speak Gaelic, or just with your Irish accent, you have a whole different way of experiencing that. Maybe your tongue is easier matched? I dunno. I have gotten “fairly” good at pronunciation after a few years of practice.
OM
P.S. Amma Karunamayi also has tutorial C.D.s that are step by step instructional for correct pronunciation. She stresses the importance for correct pronunciation. Another interesting note, since Amma’s visit to my town is a few weeks behind now, my chanting has subsided somewhat.
Have fun Louis
i am ready to change my diet when needed, but diet restrictions are not given much. i am currently doing around 3 rounds of gayatri every afternoon along with my ayp meditation. but this hasnt been really consistent with my efforts of ayp. not sure if that really helps me anyway. it takes me around 10 mins for each round of gayatri and i do it a bit fast. are there any demerits in it?
- wilder
Moderator note: Topic moved for better placement
do black magic practitioners get scared by GAYATRI MANTRA CHARMS?
I enjoy this version with Deva Premal. At live concerts the roof lifts when the whole audience chants with her…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d63COahIpVM