Posted on August 3rd, 2011

Question: I was wondering if you feel there is a 'best' time to practice? Based on the commentary from some of the videos it appears to be morning?

Answer: Time of practicing yoga comes down personal preference and, of course, schedule. Practicing in the morning is very ideal for creating a foundation of balance and awareness for the rest of the day. Many people find the body to be more "stiff" in early morning practices, therefore more patience is required to allow the body to open and receive postures.

Mid-day and evening practices are wonderful for clearing the body and mind of tension that may have accumulated through the early day as well as bring the mind into a more relaxed state prior to sleep. The body also tends to be more receptive to stretching later in the day as daily movements and activities can loosen up muscles and joints.

Traditionally, yoga is/was performed in India in the very early hours of the morning. Partly so one could practice comfortably before the day became too hot, but also to work with the energetic flow of the day. The early hours of morning are believed to offer the most grounding qualities.  This is why some yoga traditions like Ashtanga and Kundalini encourage early morning sadhana.

You can definitely practice the "morning" video flows at anytime of the day. These flows are designed to help the body "waken up” and gradually introduces opening poses which is needed in early practices.  However, the structure of these flows can complement practicing at any time of the day.

If your schedule is not as issue for you, I would personally recommend enjoying a regular morning asana practice that includes pranayama (breathing exercises) and then ending the day with an evening meditation or relaxation. More important is to simply find consistency in a regular practice while experimenting with different styles and lengths of practice to accommodate lifestyle patterns.

Expert Q & A provided by My Yoga Online teacher and Co-Founder, Kreg Weiss.

Tags: Beginner, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Yoga Tips, Yoga, Kreg Weiss, yoga expert, sadhana

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