There are loads of reasons why practicing yoga in the morning is the best for your mind, body and soul. Here are five reasons why I start my day with some mindful yoga poses.

1. You have an empty Stomach

Yoga is best for the body while you have an empty stomach. That’s why first practicing first thing in the morning is the perfect time to get on your mat. It will help you concentrate throughout the practice and also help to eliminate food from yesterday.

2. The Precious Early Hours

The traditional yogic texts state that the best time for your yoga and meditation practice is between 4am and 6am. This is because most of the world is still asleep so there is a lot of stillness in the air. I’d like to consider myself a morning person, but those hours seem a little ungodly. So first thing when you wake up is a good guide to go by.

BIKINI > Heidi Klein

3. Boost your Metabolism

Like any form of exercise, moving the body will help to boost your metabolism. Twisting, bending, stretching in yoga are all great ways to boost your digestive fire and set you up for a productive day.

4. Set your mood for the day

Setting your mood or intention in the morning can set your attitude for the whole day. Having that time and space to yourself before the rush of the day begins is priceless. I feel like connecting with my own body/breath/mind/soul in the early hours of the morning sets my day on a very special note.

5. Helps with 3pm energy Slump

Getting your body moving in the morning not only wakes your mind and body up, but it helps to continue giving you energy throughout the day. I know when I miss my morning session my afternoon energy slump hits me hard.

BIKINI > Heidi Klein

So whether you have 10 minutes or 1 hour, you will feel so much better with starting your day with a few yoga poses. It will be hard at first if you are not a morning person, but after a week your body should get use to the earlier wake ups.

You can practice at a studio on a mat or on holidays on the ground. It doesn’t matter where you are or how much space you have. I’m often in different hotel rooms or on a boat so I make do with the surroundings I have. What you do on the mat doesn’t need to look pretty or be any type of set routine. It just needs to feel good.

So…do you think you are willing to give a morning practice a go?

X

Phoebe