Is It Better to Do Yoga Before Bed or in the Morning
We all know that yoga is one of the best things you can do for your body. Yoga can make even the stiffest body more flexible over time, and it can be practiced by mostly anyone—from kids to the oldest members of our communities. Yoga is usually light on the body, but there are some forms of the practice that can be intense as well. The practice of yoga is physical as much as it is mental, and the benefits are endless. You’ll even get a spiritual cleanse alongside your yoga practice. There’s a debate on whether it is better to practice yoga in the morning or at night. But before we decide on which is better, let’s examine the overall benefits of yoga when practiced at each time.
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YOGA IN THE MORNING
There’s nothing more relaxing than doing yoga first thing in the morning while everything around you is rousing from sleep. You can enjoy the sounds of the morning birds outside or take advantage of the peace and quiet in your home for your yoga practice. Since the body usually wakes up stiff in the morning, practicing yoga first thing will help you get your body stretched and ready for the day. It can literally awaken every part of your body to prepare you for your day.
Doing yoga in the morning can also prepare you mentally for the day ahead. It can allow you to be more positive as you get to work and perform your day-to-day activities. Morning yoga practitioners tend to wake up earlier and use yoga to fuel their day. Imagine waking up just before sunrise and performing your sun salutations just as the sun goes up. It’s a thrilling and exhilarating experience that night practitioners just can’t have.
YOGA IN THE EVENING
If you practice yoga in the evening, when most everyone is in bed, you’ll also enjoy the peace and quiet as you wind down and settle into the night. While many people suggest not to exercise before bed, doing yoga before you sleep can actually put your mind at ease and allow you to have a better sleeping experience overall. It can calm you after a long and hard day’s work and give you the release you need at the end of the day.
Yoga in the evening also means that you can relax your muscles before you tuck in. That can also result in you waking up more refreshed in the morning to start your day. You can also try to practice yoga by moonlight, while the light of the moon only illuminates everything around you. It can be quite a unique and relaxing experience as well.
THE VERDICT
The truth is it doesn’t really matter when you practice yoga. The point is to practice it when it is the best time for you. Some people are morning folks, but others are just night owls. We should all listen to the rhythm of our bodies and take that to determine when we function the best.
The best time to really do yoga is when you need it the most. If you’re feeling heavy after having a difficult day, do yoga at night to release all that negativity and tension and get back to your center. If you’re waking up feeling tired and weak, use your yoga practice to energize your body positively. Having a set yoga schedule can sometimes negate the effects of yoga. If you’re stressing out too much about having a regular morning practice, stop. You need to focus on deepening your practice internally rather than the process of turning it into a habit. If you do yoga on a daily basis, your body will begin to tell you when it needs it. It’ll fall naturally with your existing life schedule. Yoga should not be something that will cause you any stress or mental cloud. It should be the one thing in your life that can give you clarity.
So whether you practice yoga in the morning or practice yoga at night, you’re on the right path. The most important thing is that you’re practicing yoga, to begin with, and giving your mind, body, and spirit access to the many benefits yoga can provide.
