Derived from the Sanskrit word meaning union, “Yuji,” yoga has many benefits for the mind and body. As a result, yoga is a beloved activity for millions of people, regardless of age or gender.
People ask if the best time to practice yoga is in the morning or evening. According to the beliefs of Ayurvedic yoga, meditation and asana practice is best in the early morning. Still, it doesn’t matter which time you practice yoga since you need to consider other demands on your time. So whether you practice early morning or evening yoga, you still get plenty of benefits.
However, if you prefer early morning yoga, here are the pros and cons:
Pros of Early Morning Yoga
Yoga has several conveniences, but most importantly, you can practice it anywhere and anytime. The five senses required are at their most active in the morning, allowing for a better union of the body and soul. Furthermore, one of the advantages of an early morning session is less pollution, allowing the body to absorb more oxygen.
These are the benefits of early morning yoga practice:
1. Loosen Up Muscles and Joints
Yoga helps to improve your flexibility thanks to its stretching exercises. During the sleep process, our muscles take the time to rest, but at the same time, the lack of motion causes a build-up of bodily fluids. The result is stiffness or tightness in the muscles and joints in the morning, especially if you don’t exercise.
2. Release Accumulated Stress
Give your nervous system a boost by releasing all the stress accumulated from the previous day. In addition, a morning yoga session helps to regulate your stress hormones, allowing you to face your day in a relaxed state. The state of relaxation reached by the body and mind also strengthens your immune system.
3. Control Your Breathing
The more oxygen you get, the better all your organs can function, including your brain. Therefore, when you practice your breathing exercises, or “Pranayam,” you learn to control your breathing better, improve lung capacity, and benefit the function of all your organs. As a result, the morning air is clean, offering the best oxygen intake to help your body.
4. Allow the Happy Hormones to Flow
Hormones help regulate your mood. Two vital hormones help to promote your feelings of happiness and positivity – dopamine and endorphin. According to researchers, early morning meditation is the most effective way to increase these hormone levels, encouraging increased productivity.
5. Time to Connect With You
The demands of an active lifestyle may mean you have no time to yourself between waking and going to be. Therefore, consider the time you take to practice yoga and find inner peace –essential time needed to help improve your well-being and productivity.
6. Boost Your Digestive System
Studies continue to prove the connection between the brain and gut. The better your metabolism, the better your health, according to scientists. Morning yoga boosts the digestive system, helping to release nutrients and relieve the body of waste products effectively.
7. Sync Your Body and Mind
Those morning coffee cravings result from a body and mind being in two different places. Early morning yoga helps line them up, removing the need for caffeine. One of the best yoga exercises to provide instant energy for both are the 12 yoga asanas of Suryanamaskar (sun salutations).
- Better Concentration and Focus
Early morning yoga practice calms you down thanks to the exercises that help you control your breathing. The extra oxygen from the controlled breathing sharpens your mental focus and concentration, allowing you to function at your most efficient levels throughout the day.
Cons of Early Morning Yoga
It is not surprising that early morning yoga has a few disadvantages. Most people follow the classical school of thought that it’s better when practiced in the morning. However, for some people, this isn’t possible, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have the benefit of its advantages.
Here are the only two disadvantages of early morning yoga practice:
1. Limited Flexibility
Since your joints and muscles are stiffer in the morning, you will feel less flexible. Yoga helps to relieve this, but if you think it’s too painful, evening yoga may suit you better.
2. Difficulty Waking Up
If you sleep late at night or are not an early riser, then getting up for early morning yoga may prove too challenging. On the other hand, if you have more energy in the evenings than in the mornings, evening hours may suit you better to enjoy the benefits of a yoga session.
Conclusion
Even though morning yoga has more pros than cons, it is up to you to choose the best time to benefit your body and mind, depending on your commitments and lifestyle. So find a class or quiet place and calm your soul with a session combining asanas, meditation, and pranayam.