As far as exercise goes, it’s fairly easy to categorise different forms of movement into levels of intensity. Long distance running is up there in the high intensity category, whereas a brisk walk is better placed in the lower intensity category for most of us. HIIT workouts are intense, a session with free weights, less so.

So, where do you place yoga? Most of us would say most definitely in the low intensity category of exercise. Yoga is indeed a fairly gentle form of exercise, but that’s not to say it doesn’t cause our heart rate and breathing to increase nor that it doesn’t cause us to sweat, because it does! 

Some yoga classes can be really invigorating in fact, and are a fantastic way to start the day, wake ourselves up and face all the tasks that we have on our to-do lists. 

One of the most important aspects of yoga, is committing to regular practice. Like all exercise, the more you practice, the more you’ll reap the benefits of yoga. Yoga is great for improving flexibility and balance as well as strength and tone, and it helps us connect to our breath and body, which is very beneficial for our mental health and easing anxiety. 

So finding your time for regular practice, even if you’re a beginner to yoga, is important. And we think that time is early in the morning! 

In fact, there are even some yoga inspired breathing techniques and moves that you can do before you’ve even got out of bed. Take a few moments each morning as you wake to breathe deeply through your nose and out through your mouth. Do this laying on your back with one hand on your abdomen, the other on your chest and feel the rises and falls. This kind of mindful breathing can help you focus for the day ahead so that you start on the right foot. 

Then, still laying on your back, pull your knees up towards your chest, with your bottom rooted to the mattress. With your knees up, put your hands down between your legs towards your feet, grab the outside of each foot with your hands and gently push your knees outwards towards the mattress using your elbows. This is called the happy baby pose. 

Practising yoga in the morning (once you’ve got out of bed!) such as the yoga classes we have here at OYG (that cater for all levels and go into great detail on getting the basics, such as a downward dog, right), is fantastic for energising your body. Studies show that it can help to reduce anxiety, which helps to make us more positive and productive throughout the day ahead. 

A noisy, cluttered mind can also be made more still with a morning yoga practice, which again helps to set us up for a good day with a clearer mind and more positivity. 

So place your yoga mat by your bed, alongside a pair of leggings and a loose top. That way, you’ll gently ease your way into the day with some mind awakening yoga flows, ready to face whatever the day brings. You’ve got this!