VI: 16

Chapter 6, Verse 16

"Yoga is a harmony.
It is not for those who eat too much,
Nor for those who eat too little.
It is not for those who sleep too much,
Nor for those who sleep too little."

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi:

It is a common axiom that anything in excess is out of sync with the Golden Mean.  Food, which is a source of energy, and sleep, which is a source of rejuvenation, create dullness and inefficiency when too much or too little is assimilated.  Krishna cautions against excess in either direction, because the mind then becomes dull and fails to reach the finer states of awareness during meditation.  The present verse advocates a moderate routine in daily life for success in Yoga.