Tips for starting morning yoga

Making time for a morning yoga practise can have a tremendously positive effect on one's day. Here are five suggestions for getting out of bed and onto your yoga mat.

5 Tips for starting morning yoga

Getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult enough, let alone getting up earlier to practise yoga. However, even 20 minutes of practise will have a positive effect on your mood for the remainder of the day. Here are our top five Tips for starting morning yoga.

1. Be prepared

Even though time is always the same duration, it often seems shorter in the morning, particularly when an active day lies ahead. However, a brief practise first thing in the morning can make the remainder of the day significantly more manageable.

Try spreading out your mat the night before; it will at least serve as a visual reminder of your intention! If you are taking an online course and wish to reduce decision-making time, add the course to your toolbar and simply select to begin.

2. Keep it simple – RPP

When you consider the number of things that many of us do in the morning – brushing our teeth, taking a shower, applying makeup, deciding what clothes to wear, preparing and consuming breakfast, checking our emails / social media / the news, etc. – it's a marvel that we have the energy to get through the remainder of the day. If you have children, this is only the top of the iceberg! Reduce the number of tasks you do before practising to just three: get up; use the loo; and practise – or, for those who prefer acronyms, RPP:

Rise

Pee

Practice

3. Get cosy

Ensure you are comfortable, or rising on a chilly winter morning will be even more difficult. As long as you can move, it doesn't matter if you're wearing flannelette pyjamas and your partner's woollen sweater while doing yoga at home.

Make the space or room in which you practise inviting, or the allure of an extra 20 minutes in bed will always trump doing yoga.

4. Think of the greater benefit

When you've hit the snooze button three times and are attempting to determine whether to get up or have a few extra minutes in bed, you should ask yourself: What will benefit me the most?

If you are completely fatigued, more sleep is likely precisely what you need; therefore, feel free to press the snooze button. On the other hand, waking up and practising yoga may be the most beneficial way to begin the day. In addition, the effects of calm, receptivity, and equilibrium may last much longer than a few extra minutes in bed. 

Also read: Yoga for better sleep

5. Lead with your body, not the mind

If your mind is active as soon as you wake up, it is a waste of time to reflect on yesterday's events or today's obligations. You could instead choose to lead with your physique. 

Therefore, once you've decided to get up, count to five and then proceed!