Six Reasons to Do Yoga Every Morning.

I have recently started to get back into yoga and it feels soooo… good! Here are 6 reasons for you to start, too.

Waking up energetic and ready for the day is not most people’s reality but it can be. If we want to be in a better mood and more productive throughout the day, we can use yoga to set the day on track. The benefits of yoga are well established but let’s look at why we should consider doing it in the morning.

1. Yoga helps regulate the body’s internal clock

Our brains and bodies were designed to wake at sunrise and sleep at sunset. Stress can take a toll on our sleep quality and in turn our overall energy level. To regulate our sleep schedule, getting up closer to sunrise and working through a gentle asana series will help reduce the accumulated stress of living our modern lives and will translate into better more consistent energy throughout the day and a higher quality of sleep at night.

2. It produces greater mental focus and awareness

When we sleep, our bodies are working to help cells recover and regenerate. When we wake up, the first hour of our day is an opportunity to discover how well our minds and bodies restored themselves from the sleep they were given. Doing yoga in the morning, gives us a chance to do a scan of our bodies and minds to see how they are functioning. It takes mindfulness and presence to practice yoga and having a morning yoga routine can help focus the mind and prevent mental fatigue throughout the day.

3. Yoga wards off sickness

In addition to greater focus and presence, a morning yoga routine can assist in improving the immune system. White blood cells, the cells that fight disease, perform best when blood is pumping, and the lymphatic system has sufficient circulation. Since yoga is a full-body movement system, it enhances circulation thus boosting the immune system. Doing yoga in the morning versus the evening, gives the body a nourishing start to the day to help it guard itself from potential illness.

4. The practice improves your breathing

Yogic, or pranayamic breathing, has been shown to increase lung capacity. Greater oxygen intake improves both physiological and mental function which leads to an overall improvement in our health.  Starting out our day with conscious deep breathing gives the body what it needs to feel and perform better.

5. It allows you to take time for yourself

Taking time for ourselves is essential for mental and physical well-being. The average adult with a full-time job, a family and a household to run, may find it difficult to get any quiet time for one’s self. Early mornings are great for a self-care routine because it’s typically distraction-free. Fewer distractions and disruptions allow for the focus and contemplation necessary to benefit from an early morning yoga routine.

6. Provides a path for meaning and intention

Yoga is a pathway to discovering purpose, as it can provide guidance at a very deep, intuitive level to help us discover answers to the questions that plague our lives. Plus, a morning yoga practice can help us set positive intentions for the day ahead.

The beauty of a morning yoga practice is that it can support whatever our goals are whether it’s better physical health, more mental clarity or a closer connection with our purpose. When we start our day with yoga, we are preparing ourselves to enjoy the wins and face the challenges that come up during a day with more focus, clarity and calm.

Erika Long loves corgis, curry and comedy. Always searching for the next great snuggle, flavor or laugh, she inspires people to live their best life now. When not writing, Erika can be found at her local brewery dominating Harry Potter trivia night.

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