Yoga is a practice of self-acceptance and compassion. In a class, beginners and experts alike struggle, sweat and fall over, but dedication to the practice will bring improvement.
Yoga can relieve aches and pains and prevent chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also improve balance and posture, and encourage healthy lifestyles and positive mental health.
Time of Day
The time of day that you practice yoga can significantly impact the benefits that you receive from your sessions. Whether you are looking to start your day with an energizing morning session or wind down before bed, there is a time of day that can best suit your goals and schedule.
Many people find that practicing early in the morning provides them with a natural energy boost and a calm state of mind for their entire day. This is due to the fact that yoga can help balance the Kapha dosha in the body which is often heightened in the morning.
However, for those who are not naturally morning people and have difficulty waking up in the early hours, evening yoga may be a better option. This can be particularly effective if you practice gentle and restorative poses that encourage your body to relax into a deeper state of awareness. It can also be very helpful for those who are experiencing symptoms of menstrual pain and imbalance.
Committing to a Regular Practice
Yoga is a practice of self-care that provides many benefits beyond the physical. Regularly practicing yoga helps us to pause and breathe, allowing the nervous system to calm down, which leads to greater compassion and understanding of others, and more equanimity in dealing with life’s stresses.
In addition, regularly practicing yoga can help to prevent cognitive decline as we age, by promoting better balance and mobility. Moreover, yoga increases feelings of interconnectedness and community.
Committing to a regular yoga practice is the key to reaping all the benefits. To establish a habit, schedule yoga into your calendar or day planner, and make it just as important as meetings, appointments and travel time. It may also help to set up a “celebration” that you will perform after every session (a happy dance, jumping up and down or self-hug), to reinforce that yoga is an integral part of your daily routine. Creating new habits takes time and dedication, but the rewards are great.
Finding a Time That Works for You
Yoga is a physical and spiritual practice that helps promote flexibility, strength, balance, and body awareness. It may also help relieve stress and anxiety. Research is ongoing, but the results so far are promising.
Yoga’s 8 limbs guide students along a progressive path of self-discovery, exploration, and inner peace. They include physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation.
Physical poses build strength, balance, and endurance. They may also help reduce back pain and improve posture. Yoga’s focus on mindfulness—paying attention to the present moment without judgement—may also help alleviate stress and boost mood.
Teens can use yoga to build confidence and develop a positive body image. They can also benefit from the relaxation techniques that yoga offers, which can help them manage stress related to school pressures and social anxieties. Breathing exercises, like Alternate Nostril Breathing, can be calming and help decrease the anger, irritability, and frustration associated with depression. Restorative poses, like the legs-up-the-wall pose and the reclining butterfly pose, can help students sleep better at night.
Getting Started
The more you practice yoga, the greater the benefits you’ll experience in terms of flexibility, balance, strength and inner peace. That said, you can also see some significant improvements with just a few short sessions each week.
To get started, find a quiet space for your practice and stock it with some basic yoga props. You’ll also want comfortable clothing that offers plenty of stretch and a mat (plus water for hydration).
Before you unroll your mat, take the time to clarify your intention. This will give your practice meaning and help you stay motivated to show up consistently. For example, if you’re looking to increase your flexibility, focus on reducing stress or cultivate mindfulness, clearly defining these intentions will guide your practice as you move forward. Once you establish a routine, the consistency will naturally lead to more frequent and longer classes. But to start, just commit to practicing at least once a day and work from there.