Thursday, December 27, 2007

Deciding When To Do Yoga
By Scott Hughes


Whether you are just starting yoga or you have been doing it for a while, you may need to decide when during the day to do your routine. Most people who have practiced yoga for a long time have probably changed the time they do it each day. We all adjust our daily schedules now and then. Let's explore some of the different times of day you can do yoga.

Morning - You can do yoga in the morning if you want. Doing yoga in the morning will help wake you up fully and prepare you for the day. Also, assuming you usually shower in the mornings, you can use your morning shower to wash off after practice. Unfortunately, if you have to go to work early in the mornings, you will probably need to get up earlier. Also, you may have trouble squeezing in breakfast with your practice. You want to eat when you wake up before doing yoga, but you also probably do not want to do it immediately after eating.

Afternoon - Trying to do yoga in the afternoon may not work if you have a busy schedule. You may not find time for it. Even if you do find time, you may find yourself feeling rushed and stressed during your yoga practice, which may ruin it for you. On the plus side, doing it in the afternoon may help you avoid doing it when you are tired in the morning or at night. Many people find that they are at their physical and mental peak during the afternoon. Also, afternoon yoga may act as a stress-relieving break from your daily activities.

Evening and Night - You can do yoga during the evening or at night. This would probably include any time from when you get home from work until you go to bed. By waiting until nighttime, you can do your it without having to worry about your daily chores and getting to work on time. On the downside, you may feel tired at night, which can negatively impact your yoga routine. Also, if you are worn out from the day, that may cause you to skip your practice. Some people may also find that doing yoga at night hinders their ability to fall asleep.

Obviously, the best time for you to do yoga depends on your personal schedule and preferences.
People who take classes at a studio or gym may be have less options because they have to go at the set time of the class. Although, many studios and gyms offer at least some selection between different classes during the day. People who do it on their own at home will have more leeway in choosing the time.

With the options you do find for yourself, try to choose the time that will help you get the most out of your yoga practice. You want to be at peak condition to perform yoga, but you also do not want the practice to disrupt the rest of your day.

Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!

Scott Hughes owns and manages OnlineYogaClub.com which is an informative website about yoga. You can discuss this article and other topics related to yoga at the Yoga Forums. It's completely free, and you can ask any questions that you have about yoga.

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