Jim,
are you still reading this particular topic? It seems you were quite well on your way 2 years ago, and I only read this particular line of topic right now, jumping in on this thread after I lost all my email and internetconnections not so long ago, but… believe it or not… I did as you suggested: NOT go to sleep after the practices. I did so because I was guided doing so by someone else in these forums talking about how important it is to have the lights on at night. (Being an astrologer however, it does depend, what light it is that one is referring to, so it is entirely difficult to calculate it correctly with astrology only, it needs some inner intuition as well.
From an astrological point of view though, I would imagine that in your case what would be best is to believe in what it is that you believe in, avoid the Moon, and follow the Sun, day and night, in your own way. That might not be applicable to other people though. It depends I guess on your own birthchart and so on and so forth.
Vil, may I use your first two alineas freely /quoting them?
Yogani: thank you so much for starting this AYP course online. It not only saved my spiritual life, it also guided me through an experience where if I have upset anybody, I sincerely apologize. Since I am back online (apparently), things must be going well over here and I may eventually even resume the translation of your lessons.
Love to you.
Hey, yoginstar, feel free to quote if that’s what you meant. I wasn’t sure: 
VIL
The sivenanda/satyananda lineage is deeply into yoga nidra and has been since very long before the trend started. There are a ton of pulpy little paperbacks, published in India, by Satyananda, and I’ve been reading through them. I can’t say that I’m in love with everything I read (this is understatement; I find a bunch of it disturbing…very occult and very geared up about getting power power power), but there are some great nuggets. I’ve not yet made a careful study of his yoga nidra teachings, but if you’ve not yet explored his “take” on this, it might be the missing link.
To digress, Satyananda very very adamently warns not to EVER sleep right after yoga practices. he says that doing so even once can derail your whole sadhana, and has all sorts of tips for avoiding dozing off during/after meditation et al. However, he also (separately) recommends meditating and doing mantra as you drift off to sleep. Maddeningly confusing.
This might clear it up , this is taken from a satsang of Swami Satyananda "The problem of sleep I wish to give a warning, however, to all those who are keen to pursue meditation to the extent of realization and samadhi. Meditation should only start after the scientific process of relaxation has been completed. If not, they will always talk of sleep, lethargy, and failures that follow entering meditation abruptly. During the practice of meditation, the main problem is sleep, which you experience as you relax. First drowsiness dawns and then deep slumber. For those who want to remove tensions, sleep is necessary, but those who seek spiritual evolution will have to find a solution for this problem. If you want to attain samadhi or to contact the astral body, the mysterious kundalini and other higher forms of meditation, it becomes all the more essential to know the technique to overcome this difficulty. The complaint of all aspirants is that when they succeed in attaining inner silence, they fall asleep and realize it only afterwards when the awareness revives. No doubt they feel fresh, but spiritual evolution is arrested there itself. Even in the case of earnest aspirants, their spiritual progress is arrested because they enter into slumber. Housesholders who have to discharge various duties remain ever busy and are under continuous strain. Naturally they fall asleep even with a little concentration. The other difficulty is that if the consciousness does not slumber partially, inner silence is difficult to achieve. So, there is difficulty in both ways. The mind has to be drowsy to a certain degree and, at the same time, one has to be careful not to sleep. Therefore, it is necessary for those who want to avoid sleep during meditation to keep a few points in mind. First, you will have to practise detachment. You will have to reject the continuity of thought by constant and persistent practice. This is the first solution. The second solution is asana and pranayama. When you get up in the morning, have a wash and practise some asanas like sarvangasana or sirshasana. This will check the tendency to sleep. Deep breathing as in ujjayi pranayama decarbonizes the system, removing drowsiness while increasing introversion. When you feel that you are about to sleep, start nadi shodhana pranayama and kumbhaka, using the ratio 1:4:2. Practise five rounds and then concentrate. This is beneficial for those who face waves of depression due to tension and continuous thinking. If you can minimize the degree of depression, you will be able to visualize the object of your meditation very clearly. "
Moderator note: Topic moved for better placement