What’s The Best Time To Practice Yoga? If you are intending to enrol in a yoga teacher training and incorporate yoga into your daily routine, you may be curious about the best time of day for yoga practise. The good news is that yoga can be practised at any time. What’s more essential is that you practise yoga frequently, as both morning and evening practises offer numerous advantages.
The timing of your yoga practise is completely up to you, whether it is immediately upon waking or just before bedtime. Keep in mind that you don’t want to stimulate your body before night, so knowing which asanas to select and at what time of day is crucial. Choosing the time of day to practise depends on a variety of variables. The yoga practise sessions can be scheduled according to your personal schedule and the patterns of your body.
Yoga is a spiritual and physical practise that can be practised at any time of day. The early riser would appreciate the energising effect of several asanas to begin the day, while the sluggish riser would benefit from a gentle practise that progressively awakens the body and mind.
Most people find a morning practise session to be energising and revitalising — the ideal way to start the day. Others practise yoga to relax after a stressful day has exhausted their body and mind. Here are defining for the The Best Time To Practice Yoga.
What’s The Best Time To Practice Yoga?
Value of Morning Practice
Morning yoga sessions are obviously more likely to be completed. Even if you are not the type to practise in the morning, the morning may be the ideal time for you. The later you schedule it, the greater the likelihood that conflicts with other activities will arise and that the practise will be neglected. The same applies if you frequently have evening commitments and are fatigued at the close of the day. It is highly recommended that you practise in the morning, and if you can squeeze in an evening session as well, all the better. If you want to make consistent progress in your asana practise, you must engage in twice-daily practise. You will observe a marked improvement in your body’s responsiveness and flexibility.
It goes without saying that you’re more likely to get a yoga session done if you schedule it in the morning. Even if you aren’t the morning type, the morning might be the best time for you to practice The later you schedule it, the more conflict with other activities will arise, and greater the chance of the practice getting sidelined. The same holds true if you are often committed to evening duties and find yourself exhausted at the end of the day. It’s definitely best to make sure you practice in the morning, and if you can manage to include a session in the evening too, that’s a bonus. If you want to make steady progress in your asana practice, a twice daily practice routine is a must. You will notice a marked improvement in your flexibility and you body’s responsiveness.
The morning is generally the coolest part of the day, making it a good time to energize yourself. If you start your practice in the early morning before 6.00 am you will be surprised how pliable and flexible your body is. The longer you sleep in the morning the stiffer the body gets. Until the evening when it softens again. Doing asanas first thing in the morning, after your meditation, is a way to de-clutter your mind and ready your body for the day. You’ll also benefit from exercising on an empty stomach, with all those twists and spine-bending postures becoming that much easier.
An ideal morning yoga session comprises of gentle warm-ups and stretches at the beginning. Energizing poses such as the sun salutation should feature prominently in a morning session. This is highly beneficial in warming and waking you up as well as connecting you with your breathing. After a few standing and balancing poses, you can progress onto some gentle inversions and heart openers. Such a coordinated session can leave you feeling awake and energized – so you can skip that morning cup of coffee!
The morning is typically the coldest portion of the day, making it an ideal time to gain energy. You will be surprised at how supple and flexible your body is if you begin your practise before 6 a.m. The longer one sleeps in the morning, the more rigid the body becomes. Until it softens again in the evening. Doing asanas first thing in the morning, following meditation, is a method to clear the mind and prepare the body for the day. Additionally, exercising on an empty stomach will make those rotations and backbends simpler.
The optimal morning yoga session begins with a series of moderate warm-ups and stretches. In the morning session, energising poses like the sun salutation should be emphasised. This is extremely useful for warming and awakening you up, as well as reconnecting you with your respiration. Following a few upright and balancing poses, you can move on to some gentle inversions and heart openers. Such a synchronised session can leave you feeling alert and energised, so you can forego your morning coffee!
A few days of early morning practise will soon have you waking up prior to your alarm, eager to confront each day as it arrives.
Benefits of an Evening Practice
If your mornings are rushed with you barely making it out the door on time, commitment to a morning practice can be clearly unrealistic. Or with all the time in the world, if you still need an hour or two to get going in the morning, a morning practice may not be the thing for you.
Some of us may find more time in the evening, with no rush to complete the practice. An evening yoga practice is best to also help you wind down after a busy day, especially with a calming practice that involves some twists, but mainly forward folds, such as seated forward bend and inversions.
The perfect evening session should soothe and relax you. Keep in mind that if you’re practicing late in the evening, you’ll want to avoid energizing backbends and big heart openers, such as the bow.. What’s recommended are soothing surrender postures and inversions, such as shoulderstand and plough that can induce relaxation in the evening.
Practicing suitable yoga poses in the evening can help ease the stress of the day and fight insomnia. It can even turn a bedtime routine that can get your mind and body refreshed, helping you fall asleep faster. Wrapping up your yoga practice with meditation can further prepare your mind and body for a deep sleep.
A regular evening practice can also help with unhealthy practices that you’re trying to avoid – such as snacking or watching television. It’s definitely a better idea to practice yoga instead.
It’s Your Choice
Your personal rhythm, your surrounding environment, the changing seasons, the heat and cold are all aspects to account for when determining the timing of your yoga practice. Let your energy levels guide and help you identify the right time of day to practice. Just make sure you practice on empty stomach
The perfect way to determine it is to be honest with yourself and experiment. You may discover benefits in both and that on certain days certain time slots work better than others.
The best approach however according to the approach of traditional yoga is a twice daily practice, both in the morning and evening, to prepare the body/mind for the day’s adventure in the morning and to reset it for a good night’s rest in the evening. Furthermore, a twice daily practice prevents the decline of the energy levels within the chakras, making it a valuable practice for meditators who require to maintain optimally balanced energy in the chakras, resulting in emotional balance, which is required for steady spiritual progress.
Also read: Why you should exercise even if you are thin
Final Thoughts: Making yoga a part of your lifestyle
Remember that consistency is key in any practice. The more regular your yoga practice, the more you will notice its effect on your body, mind and life. Disciplined yoga practice can help you discover yourself and by joining a yoga teacher training class, you can deepen your spiritual connection with the world and others around you.