Stretching before Yoga

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Yes I know a little redundant.

Anyhow, I try to do my yoga in the morning, granted I’ve only been practiccing for a year now. But I wake up feeling pretty tight, so I usually do some light stretching then go do my daily routine and then do my yoga routine at night after work.

But I think doing my yoga in the morning would be more benificial to me n general, kind of center myself before walking into the madness of my day.

So I’m starting to make a habit of getting up 30 minutes earlier so I can do stretches before I do my yoga and I’m wondering, am I the only one who has to do this in the morning, I don’t need to stretch at night before yoga only in the morning? and if not does anyone have any good stretching routines that are quicker than my 30 minute one?

Thx Much =]

#2

Yes, I also feel stiff in the morning. I usually prefer doung asanas in the late afternoon or dusk, but when I want to do asanas in the morning it usually helps if I take a really hot shower before. Hot (as hot as you can stand, but don’t overdo) water relaxes muscles and makes practising easier. Also it’s helpful if you go to sleep with empty stomach. Actually it is generally advised, not only for better practising, but to maintain good health. Also it’s helpful for waking up easier. Good thing also is doing hatha yoga kriyas (Shatkarmas) regularily, which removes toxins from the body and makes it more elastic. For stretching I usually do Sarva Hita asanas (Bihar School of Yoga calls it Pawanmuktasan), Khatu Pranam or Surya Namaskar.

#3

A warm shower loosens me up as well. I usually feel very relaxed, and no aches or pains. Flexible too. I stretch with a partner as well, to get that little bit of added reach as they help.

#4

in taoism it would be recomended to do your tai chi form right when you wake up (and i find qigong works wonders for tightness right wheni wake up too) to get movement in all the joints to release synovial fluid.

my dad says that every joint you rotate and move around is a precious opertunity to release more helpful synovial fluid…so do the full motion of every joint you can in a relaxed manner right when you wake up.

a hot shower is a fantastic idea too.

and also never practise in a cold room. <<<<iyengar

i live in san antonio texas where the weather is usually in the high 90s, i prefer to keep it as hot as possible when doing yoga so i sweat a lot (rememebr to drink about 10 cups of water a day if youre sweating a lot, 8 cups a day minimal)

#5

"my dad says that every joint you rotate and move around is a precious opertunity to release more helpful synovial fluid…so do the full motion of every joint you can in a relaxed manner right when you wake up."Could someone comment on why releasing synovial fluid is beneficial?

Namaste

#6

In the morning the body is stiff, the mind alert. In the evening the mind is mushy but the body warmed. Thus the practice differs with this in mind (for some it does not but I am not their spokesperson thank goodness).

During the sleep phase we drop into the back body which represents our past. When we awaken we are moving forward out of the past into our present. The fascia in the back body, of which I believe there are two layers, run from the occipital ridge (back of the skull) all the way down to the toes. And you feel stiff int he morning. Go figure.

Just as breakfast breaks the digestive fast, so too must morning practice break the waking fast. A practice in the morning which opens the back body gently is very conderful to “get going”.

At night the practice is different. So alas you Sultan are oh so normal. One day I hope for so much more for you:-)