We all know that the things we do in the morning determine how the rest of our day goes. And the vast amount of research into morning routines has identified two key habits: exercise and mindfulness.
Yoga ticks both those boxes, making it one of the best things you can do in the morning. But did you know that the morning is also the best time to practice yoga according to yogic philosophy?
Let’s explore the many incredible benefits of having a morning yoga routine and how to cultivate one.
Ancient yogic teachings suggest that the early morning is the most auspicious time for practicing yoga and meditation. Moreover, morning yoga can be energizing and refreshing, helping you awaken and begin the day with vitality. Here’s how practicing yoga in the morning can benefit us:
Physical Benefits Of Morning Yoga
- Relieves aches and pains – Practicing yoga in the morning helps to release joint stiffness or muscular tension accumulated throughout the night.
- Increased energy levels – A morning yoga routine provides a natural energy boost to kickstart your day by improving blood and oxygen circulation and clearing stagnation in the body’s energy centers.
- Better digestion – If our digestion is sluggish, we feel sluggish. So, practicing yoga in the morning can boost your metabolism, helping your body properly absorb and digest the food you eat throughout the day.
Mental Benefits Of Morning Yoga
- Productivity boost – Practicing yoga in the morning clears your mind and brings you into the present moment. As a result, you have more clarity on the day’s priorities, improving your productivity.
- Improved focus – The mental clarity also helps you stay focused throughout the day and enhances your decision-making abilities.
- A sense of control – Cultivating healthy morning habits like yoga enables you to start the day on the right foot. By making time to connect within, you can better handle the inevitable stressors and challenges that come your way.
Emotional Benefits Of Morning Yoga
- Stress-relief – Yoga is well known for its stress-relieving properties. Practicing yoga in the morning can help you process and let go of any stressful events of the previous day.
- Anxiety management – Morning yoga can reduce anxiety for the day ahead, helping you approach important meetings and big projects with a calmer, more centered mind.
- Mood-boosting – Yoga releases endorphins, the feel-good hormones that boost your mood. So, if you wake up in a bad mood (as we all sometimes do), a morning yoga practice can help you quickly turn things around and approach the day more positively.
Morning Yoga & Yogic Wisdom
According to ancient Hindu beliefs, the best time to practice yoga is early morning before sunrise. This period is known as Brahmamuhurtha, which occurs between 1 hour 36 minutes and 48 minutes before sunrise.
Spiritual practices performed during Brahmamuhurtha are believed to have a more profound effect because the mind is still. It is also said to increase your energy levels and help you advance in your spiritual growth.
Moreover, according to Ayurveda, the hours between 2 am and 6 am (before sunrise) are Vata time. This is known as a time of receptivity, as the air and ether elements are dominant.
The Magic Of Sun Salutations
Sun salutations (Surya Namaskar) are traditionally practiced early in the morning, facing the rising sun. They serve as a greeting and gesture of gratitude for the sun’s light and life force.
The sun salutations also have many physical and mental benefits. They boost our energy and increase alertness by sending fresh oxygen throughout the body and brain and improving circulation to all the major organs.
Tips For Maximizing The Benefits Of Morning Yoga
If you’re yet to cultivate a morning yoga routine, here are some expert tips on maximizing the incredible benefits mentioned above.
Know Your Dosha Type
If you’re a ‘Kapha type,’ you might wake up feeling sluggish and lethargic and struggle to find the energy and motivation to get out of bed.
If this is you, I recommend beginning your day with some gentle morning stretches to awaken your body and mind slowly – you can even do them in bed. Once you feel more awake, do a few slow rounds of the classical sun salutations.
However, if you’re a ‘Pitta type,’ you will likely wake up with lots of energy. In this case, you can incorporate many dynamic movements, backbends, and twists into your morning practice.
Consistency Over Duration
Many people feel they cannot practice yoga in the morning because they lack time. However, your morning yoga routine can be as short as 10 minutes.
If you are very short on time in the morning, do just a few sun salutations to awaken your body. Then, you can do a longer practice later in the day when you have more time.
Practice On An Empty Stomach
It is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach. This is because practicing yoga in the morning before eating will increase your metabolism and kickstart your digestive system.
Doing yoga before breakfast will also allow you to utilize more energy, as digestion consumes a lot of energy. However, if you’re hungry, you can drink tea or eat fruit beforehand.
Set An Intention
Intention setting is a common practice in yoga classes. However, it can be even more potent in morning practice.
Setting an intention in your morning practice allows you to reflect on your primary focus/priority for the day and then cultivate it through yoga.
For example, if you’ve been distracted and struggling to concentrate lately, your intention could be presence or focus. This intention carries over off the mat, staying fresh in your mind as you move through the day.
An Additional Tip For Cold Climates
We all feel stiffer in the morning than we do later in the day. However, the colder the environment, the colder and thus, stiffer your muscles will be.
So, if it’s the winter or you live in a cold climate, remember to include plenty of warm-up stretches before you move into standing postures, backbends, and inversions.
Taking a warm shower before practice is also a good idea, as this will help relax the muscles and aid flexibility.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to cultivate more energy, boost productivity, or reduce anxiety for the day ahead, morning yoga is key.
Moreover, you don’t need to practice for one hour to experience the transformative benefits. A few rounds of morning sun salutations will make a noticeable impact on the rest of your day!
Enjoy this 5-Day Morning Yoga Series!
