Yoga has many health benefits. But to benefit from all of them, it’s important that you practice yoga at a healthy time for you.
Do you know when the best time to do yoga is? You may be surprised to know that some times are better than others. However, everyone’s ideal yoga time is unique to them.
Sure, there’s a general ideal time for practicing yoga, but when it comes to your life and your daily activities, you’ll want to choose a time that works best for you. So how do you figure out when exactly that time is? Continue reading below to find out!
Morning Yoga
When given a general answer for when’s the best time to practice yoga, you’ll be told morning time. Engaging in yoga directly after waking up is a great way to loosen up stiff joints and relieve your body from any aches and pains. Just like you’d want to stretch before starting a workout, playing a sport, or engaging in any other physical activity, you’ll want to stretch before beginning your day.
You might not realize it, but your daily activities are just as physically demanding as an hour of working out or playing sports, if not more. Yoga is an excellent way to stretch and prepare your body for the day. It also helps give your metabolism a nice boost in the morning.
Yoga helps promote better digestion, lower blood sugar levels, and boost energy. If you’re someone who normally lacks energy when waking up in the morning, then you’ll benefit greatly from yoga practices during this time. If you want to ensure that you do yoga every day, doing it in the morning checks it off your list and improves your mood throughout the day.
Get ready world, it’s time to shine!
Evening Yoga
Everyone’s schedule and daily routines are different. You might not have the opportunity to practice yoga in the mornings. Or maybe you woke up late and have to pass on your morning yoga routine.
Either way, there’s no reason to worry. Although the morning time has wonderful benefits of doing yoga, yoga is best done when it suits you the most. If you don’t have the time in the morning to fully engage in your yoga and relax your body, then it defeats the purpose.
If evenings work better for you, then that’s a great time to partake in the activity. Your day may have caused you pains and aches from stress and other physical tension. That’s why your body is craving yoga at the end of the day.
Your muscles are warmed up and ready to stretch and position themselves in multiple yoga poses. Your brain is also more alert and ready to put in the optimal effort needed to get the most out of yoga. It helps you let go of all the stresses of the day and of all the food you ate throughout the day.
Again, yoga helps your digestive tract, which is great for at the end of a long day. And it’ll improve your sleeping patterns!
Meals and Yoga
Although you can practice yoga immediately after a meal, it might be better to wait an hour or two after the meal to begin your yoga. This is because our minds and bodies sometimes feel drowsy after consuming a full meal. Before you begin your yoga, you want to feel awake and ready to enter your poses.
This is why it might be best to wait however long it takes you to get past your drowsiness before beginning. Other than feeling sleepy, there’s nothing else stopping you from practicing yoga during lunchtime or mealtimes. If you feel energized and awake, then go for it!
For some people, lunch breaks are an ideal time for their yoga. It relieves stress from the morning and prepares their body and mind for the remainder of the day. If you have enough time during your lunch breaks to practice yoga, then go for it!
Discovering What Works For You
Discovering the perfect yoga time for you means understanding your own routine and schedule. The best time to practice yoga is ultimately whenever works best for you. Everyone is different and everyone has their own schedules.
Find a time where your mind and body are ready to engage in the activity and when you find it benefits you the most. Take the time to try yoga at different times throughout the day. Try it one day when you wake up in the morning, another day while on your lunch break, and so on.
Use trial and error to determine the best time for you, and then go from there. You should also take note that you don’t want to do yoga while drinking alcohol or feeling hyper or sleepy. Practice it when your mind and body are relaxed but not sleepy, and not while you’re under the influence of drugs.
So, When’s The Best Time to Do Yoga?
With that being said, the best time to do yoga is what feels best for you and your body. You have the freedom to come up with your very own unique yoga routine. This routine might be the common every morning dedication, or it might be something that you come up with on your own.
The choice is yours! But morning yoga is the most popular, due to its ability to wake you up and give you the energy you need for the day.
If you want to practice during other times, just be sure you’re not too sleepy after eating a meal or ready to lie down in bed. Yoga gives the body a boost of energy so schedule your yoga at a time that’s best for you to feel energized.
And when you don’t have the time to join a yoga class in person, join a class online! It’s convenient and the best way to stay healthy while on the go!