Whether you are new to yoga or not, you wouldn’t be the only one to wonder what the best time to do yoga is.
The simple answer?
The best time to do yoga is the time that benefits you the most.
We know – it’s probably not the answer you’re looking for, but the best time to do yoga can depend on various factors, including:
- Your availability/free time
- When you feel most energized – or most stressed
- When you want to feel the benefits of doing yoga
It should go without saying that there is no single best time to do yoga. After all, no two people are the same.
But it is possible to find the best time for you.
And to help you out, this guide has everything you need to know.
The Benefits Of Yoga
Running through the benefits of yoga might seem irrelevant, but the truth is that understanding the benefits of yoga can help you to decide when is the best time to do it.
Yoga offers various benefits – including physical benefits and mental benefits.
And to keep things short, the physical benefits of yoga include:
- Improved flexibility and mobility
- Improved strength
- Improved general health and fitness
- Improved blood circulation
- Reduced risk of joint pain or injuries
As for the mental benefits of yoga, these include:
- Reduced stress
- Improved mood – feeling calm, energized, or both
- Improved focus and concentration
- Improved sleep
- A sense of achievement
The Different Styles Of Yoga
Benefits aside, another important factor to consider is the style of yoga.
Whether or not you practice one yoga style or several yoga styles, this is important because you might find your favorite yoga style(s) to be better to do at certain times of the day!
To provide examples of different yoga styles, these include hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, iyengar yoga, kundalini yoga, restorative yoga, bikram yoga (hot yoga), yin yoga, and power yoga.
Some yoga styles are more physically demanding than others while other yoga styles are more relaxed – for example, focused on breathwork or rehabilitation.
Needless to say, this can also help you decide the best time to do yoga or, if you’re totally new to yoga, what yoga style you choose to do.
The Benefits Of Doing Yoga In The Evening
A yoga routine that’s slow-paced and relaxed can be perfect to do in the evening.
This can help to promote longer, deeper sleep by clearing the mind, winding down after a busy day, and relaxing the muscles before bedtime.
As a result, yoga styles such as yin yoga, restorative yoga, and even bikram yoga (hot yoga) are ideal for doing in the evening.
It’s also no secret that yoga is often done together with meditation to calm the mind. This is another factor that can make the evening the best time to do yoga.
The Benefits Of Doing Yoga In The Morning
While yoga can promote and induce sleep, it can also be done to stretch your muscles and wake up your body, increase focus and concentration, and promote a positive mindset.
This makes the morning another perfect time to do yoga – it can be done to mentally prepare yourself for a productive day, or to physically prepare yourself for a day that’s full of activities.
Due to this, ideal yoga styles to do in the morning include hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, yin yoga, ashtanga yoga, iyengar yoga, and even power yoga.
Much like evenings, mornings are generally quiet, which is another reason that can make the morning the best time for yoga.
The Benefits Of Doing Yoga In The Afternoon
Yoga doesn’t have to be done in the morning or evening; it can be done in the afternoon, such as during a lunch or work break.
If you find yoga energizing, doing yoga in the afternoon can promote wakefulness and boost energy levels for the rest of the day – similar to doing an afternoon workout.
Ideal yoga styles to do in the afternoon can include hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, kundalini yoga, iyengar yoga, and power yoga.
Overall, since yoga can energize and boost concentration and focus—especially for getting through the work day—these are good reasons that can make the afternoon the best time to do yoga.
What Is The Best Time To Do Yoga For You?
As mentioned, the best time to do yoga is subjective, boiling down to the style of yoga you want to do and the benefits you want to achieve.
To summarize the above points:
- Yoga in the morning can stretch the muscles and promote a positive mindset
- Yoga in the afternoon can boost energy levels and increase concentration
- Yoga in the evening can encourage relaxation and improve sleep
Despite that, it depends on the style of yoga you want to do – or the style of yoga offered at your local yoga studio.
Different styles of yoga offer different benefits, and these can be more beneficial at different times of the day.
Still, there’s nothing stopping you from incorporating different styles of yoga into your routine. By doing so, you can broaden your yoga abilities and reap the benefits of different yoga styles!
Conclusion
To conclude, there is no single best time to do yoga that applies to everyone.
It might not be the answer you’re looking for, but different yoga styles offer different benefits, so it all comes down to the style of yoga you want to do—or can do (at your local yoga studio)—and the benefits you want to receive from doing yoga at a certain time.
For example, if you want to start the day with a positive mindset, do yoga in the morning.
If you want to boost your energy and increase concentration, do yoga in the afternoon. To wind down and promote better sleep, do yoga in the evening.
Your schedule and available free time are also important factors to take into consideration!
But despite that, the best time to do yoga is simply subjective.
The positive effect yoga had on me was indescribable. Every aspect of my life improved, from social to mental, physical to emotional.
I want my website to help more people get into the world of yoga and teach them how to be present for themselves - even if that’s just for a few minutes a day.
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