Yoga is a practice that is known to help the mind and body, as well as your soul, which is exactly why it’s become such a popular activity in recent years.
Not only can yoga help to reduce your stress levels and anxiety, but it can also help to strengthen your muscles and increase your flexibility too.
While yoga can come in many different forms, with varying degrees of intensity, did you know that one of the biggest factors that can contribute to the effectiveness of the activities you do is the time of day in which you do them?
That’s right, just as eating and sleeping can affect your yoga, so can your timing.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what the best times of day are to do yoga, and how you can use this information to maximize its benefits.
Whether it’s morning, noon, or night, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of doing yoga at different times of the day, as well as provide tips on how you can create a routine that best fits your schedule.
So, let’s dive in, and get started!
Yoga In The Morning
For many, the morning is the perfect time to incorporate some yoga into their schedule, not only does it help to wake you up and feel much more energized, but it can also help to make you focus better, in turn making you more productive.
Other benefits of morning yoga included improved metabolism, and better digestion too, so it’s easy to see why so many people do it in the morning.
If you’re doing yoga in the morning, you should always try to wake up earlier than you think, which will give you plenty of time to do some stretching ahead of your yoga routine, alternatively, you could do some deep breathing exercises instead.
The issue with morning yoga is that many people find it difficult to motivate themselves to move in the morning, while some people also suffer from physical stiffness or discomfort after sleeping.
This is exactly why a consistent schedule and stretching routine are so important though, as they’ll have you ready for your yoga session in minutes.
Yoga in the morning can be extremely beneficial, but it might not work for people who don’t enjoy waking up early, or for those who frequently work late nights.
Yoga In The Afternoon
Many people state that they often feel sluggish as the afternoon sets in, which means it’s the perfect time to inject some yoga into your routine.
It can help release any tension in your muscles, as well as reinvigorate your mind and body for the rest of the day that still lies ahead.
Afternoon yoga is convenient because it can be done anywhere, either at home, work, or in any outdoor setting, so it doesn’t matter where you find yourself, you can do it without having to majorly disrupt your usual schedule.
The best areas to focus on for afternoon yoga include your chest, shoulders, and hips, all of which can become tense after sitting at a desk all morning, while some meditation or breathing exercises will help to refresh your mind.
The only downside is that many people might struggle with fitting yoga into their afternoons due to work commitments, and it can also be difficult to find somewhere with full privacy to do it too.
If you can manage to fit it into your schedule, afternoon yoga can be extremely beneficial.
Yoga In The Evening
When it comes to unwinding and relaxing after a long and stressful day, yoga can prove to be a great way of letting go of that unwanted stress and tension, helping you to prepare for a good night’s sleep, so that you’re ready for the next day.
The evening is also a particularly good time to do yoga if you find that your daily schedule is often too busy and full to find room for a yoga session, as more people tend to be free during the evenings.
A focus on breathing, relaxation, and gentle movement will help to relax your body and mind, making that transition from day to night much easier.
Incorporating some gentle twists, with a focus on releasing tension on your shoulders, back, and neck, this should help you to relax, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t downsides to doing yoga in the evening.
People are often tired in the evenings after a busy day at work, which means that they might also be too tired to do any yoga, people also have to attend to a number of other responsibilities in the evenings, which means that there is less time for them to fit a yoga session in their evening schedules.
If you have time to fit some yoga into your evening schedule, then you’ll be able to relax much easier in the evenings, and sleep much better too!
When Should You Do Yoga?
There is no singular best time of the day to do yoga, and being able to fit a yoga routine into your day is a sure way to help strengthen and relax your body and mind. That being said, there are still some benefits to working out at different times of the day.
Morning yoga is great for preparing yourself for the day ahead by easing your body and mind into waking up, and it also helps to set a positive tone for the rest of your day.
Afternoon yoga is good for helping you to stay focused throughout the day, which can help to boost your productivity too.
Evening yoga is best for helping you to relax after a busy day and can help you sleep better.
As you can see, all three options are great, so it’s all about what works for you and your schedule.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to yoga, and when the best time of day is to do it.
While there might not be any specific best time, there will be a best time based on your commitments and schedule, no matter what time of day you do yoga, you’ll be reaping the benefits, enjoy!
I created this website to help newcomers to yoga and enthusiasts alike, and to share our common passions for yoga.
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