Using the Freshness of Morning in your Yoga Practice

You may be a night owl and be at your best during the late hours but the fact is your energy and freshness is more likely to be more in the morning. It is law of nature that morning time is the time for renewal of everything. Sun rises after the dark night, birds starts to leave their nest to begin another day with the first rays of sun. Flowers start blooming again. Similarly morning is the ideal time for Yoga Sadhana or practice.

In the morning the body may be stiffer compared to evening but it is also having more strength and no mental fatigue which happens after a day of work. Apart from the mental fatigue, there are not thoughts which accumulated after interacting with people around us during the day. The thought process disturbs the mind while in the morning when the mind is calmer, the Yoga poses can be done with more awareness.

You will need more determination in the morning for the poses because of the stiffness but with practice the poses become easier to practice. Morning time is also the best time to detoxify using various therapies like water therapy and practicing yoga after that enhances the detoxification process.

Practicing in the Morning
If possible try to practice in a airy room or balcony which has fresh air.
This is one of the routine I can suggest you to try out which works very well.

1. Start with some small routine where in you rotate the joints of wrists, shoulders with breath awareness. Then follow with neck stretching and followed by kriyas which open up the leg joints. Take some rest in Shavasana.

2. Try some stretching asanas in the beginning like Tadasana. Try out some new asanas which is easy for you but keep changing this every few days. For example you can try out asanas which strenghten the arms and upper body for few days, then go for spinal twists or back bends etc.

3. Practice 7 to eight rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutaions). This will set the blood flowing quickly in the body, remove lethargy and increase the alertness.

4. Follow with 5-10 minutes of Shavasana.

5. Practice Kapalbhati pranayama for 10 minutes and Nadi Shodhana pranayama for 10 minutes followed by 3 to 5 rounds of Bharamri pranayama.

Practicing yoga in the morning sets your day in the right direction with right mindset and healthy body. Within few days you will see the difference this practice make in your day and you will looking forward to the next morning eagerly.