When must I practice yoga?

Often our clients ask us “Do I need to practice my yoga early in the morning? Is it okay if I do it in the evening?”

Our short answer is – practicing when you have the time is the most beneficial. Let the time of practice not add to your stress!

The choice of time also depends on the goals of our practice. Broadly speaking – morning works well to activate and energize us for the day, while an evening practice can be restorative and help us unwind. 

Recently we came across a scientific study of the benefits of each, which gives some nuanced findings. We have summarized the findings below as a table. (Dark tick indicates greater impact, lighter tick indicates lesser impact)

In summary, practicing from 6-7 AM or PM had very similar benefits in terms of sleep, emotional health and energy levels. Morning practitioners had slightly better outcomes of mental clarity, reduced sleep disturbance, screen time and junk food (even without specific lifestyle advice). Evening practitioners experienced reduced subjective feelings of sadness indicating that evening is a good time for an emotionally restorative and calming practice.

Time of practice is but one of several considerations in yoga. The place you live, weather, your lifestyle, unique wellness goals, all inform the customisation of postures, sequences and breath aspects of a practice. And to arrive at this, nothing can replace the guidance of a teacher whom you trust.