The Number One Reason You Should Practice Yin Yoga in the Morning
Yin Yoga is very different than what many of us think about when we hear the word yoga. In today's world yoga is often seen as fast paced and acrobatic movements that require a great deal of strength, coordination and flexibility. Yoga has been looped into the same category as a workout and so classes have morphed into this style of offering more often than not.
Yoga is not a Workout
Before diving into why Yin Yoga is best practiced in the morning we have to understand that yoga is not meant to be a workout. Whether it’s a power class or a yin class, yoga as a workout is incomplete. There are certain ranges of motion and areas of strength that we need in order to age gracefully that yoga cannot give us. As someone who loves to workout I share with all students that lifting weights alongside a yoga practice is a very healthy thing to do AND you can totally bring the yoga mindset into your other workout routines. Think of yoga as a tool to help you be better focused and more present. It’s more of a maintenance program than a workout. The physical poses are used intentionally as a way to expand awareness and settle your mind. You may get stronger along the way or more flexible, but you’ll also be a more gentle, calm and patient human.
How Do I Know What Type of Practice is Best for Me?
Deciding whether you need one style or the other is totally a matter of life circumstance. If you’re sitting at your desk all day for work a yin class is likely going to drive you nuts. Your body is likely in need of some movement before settling into some of the softer shapes. A power vinyasa or slow flow + yin class would be a great fit. However, if you’re working in a labour intensive environment or you’re on your feet a lot, then a yin practice is probably the best route so that you can have the energy to get back at it each and every day. Each day will be different and just like yoga teaches us, over time you will have a more intuitive understanding of what your mind and your body need on a daily basis.
Tell Me More About Yin Yoga!
The best way to describe yin yoga is this - sometimes, the most powerful health benefits come from activities that burn the least calories. We are so obsessed with workout culture, getting steps, burning calories and we forget about the softer side of health - rest and recovery. These must be given equal energy in my opinion and that is exactly what Yin Yoga teaches us. It helps us slow down and pay attention. It helps create a necessary balance in our lives to help reduce a little stress and anxiety.
From a physical standpoint, Yin Yoga also works a different part of the body when compared to the more vigorous forms of yoga. It gently targets the deeper connective tissues that help connect muscle and bone. This targeting helps to increase flexibility and improve range of motion. Over time the practice starts to feel like a form of meditation and each pose is like a new technique with different areas to focus on and different sensations to work through. It’s simple and effective. But it’s not easy. Slowing down and being still is very difficult for a lot of us. This practice takes a deep devotion and commitment.
When to practice - morning or evening?
To maximize the benefits of Yin Yoga and increase your flexibility, it is best to practice when your muscles are cold i.e. in the morning when you first wake up. If your muscles are already warmed up and loose they will take the tension of the stretch away from those deeper connective tissues. It might seem counterintuitive at first because your body is so stiff in the mornings but that is actually the best time to have the greatest impact on the stretch moving into the deeper layers of your body.
That's not to say that practicing yin yoga at night is a bad thing either. It just has different benefits. I love to teach and practice warm or hot Yin Yoga because of its calming and soothing nature especially at night before bed. It can be so soothing for your nervous system and help promote a better nights sleep. There's no right or wrong here. If your goal is physiological more than mental, then a morning practice is perfect for you. To learn more about cold vs warm muscles check out this article from my Yin Yoga teacher Bernie Clarke.
My biggest disclaimer if you choose to practice yin yoga in the mornings is to keep the rest of the day workout free. Chill. Relax. Long, static stretches need time to heal and jumping into another workout or going for a run can lead to injury. If you plan for a morning yin class do it on a rest day and take it easy. Let the benefits marinate for at least 24 hours.
I hope you found this article helpful. I have several yin yoga classes in my on demand library that you can access for just $11/month. My favourite style to teach is a Slow Flow + Yin combo and there’s plenty of those too. Check em out and let me know what you think!
Namaste 🙏🏽