Yoga For Every Schedule

Finding the right time for your practice

Hey! It’s Jenny, your favorite Alaskan yoga teacher.

Welcome to my weekly newsletter where I share stories about my life, insights from my personal yoga practice and the best online resources, handpicked just for you.

Welcome to week six of our summer series: Personalizing Your Practice.

Last week’s issue was all about practicing yoga in the morning. This week, we're exploring the benefits of practicing at other times of day. Our ultimate goal is to discover the time that fits your lifestyle and supports a consistent routine.

You can access the first five issues of the summer series, and the entire Root&Rise library, in the Archive located on our homepage.

What if I can’t practice in the morning?

I love practicing yoga in the morning because it adds a little extra zhoosh to my day and helps me stay consistent. It works well for me.

But that doesn’t mean morning practice is right for everyone.

We all have wildly different lifestyles, schedules, wants and needs. What works for me may not work for you at all. That’s the beauty of personalizing your yoga practice, you get to choose the details that fit into your life.

You can practice right before bed, during your lunch hour, or when your baby naps.

The key is to find a time that aligns with your daily rhythm and responsibilities. If you have a small child that wakes before the crack of dawn, you probably won’t practice first thing in the morning. If you’re an over-scheduled working parent, you might only have time on the weekends.

Parents don’t have a monopoly on busyness either. There are demanding jobs and inconsistent hours to navigate. Many people are caring for aging parents and we are all splitting our time, energy and attention between a multitude of things.

We have to figure out what works on an individual level, and that’s going to be different for everyone.

But that’s okay! Just as there are benefits to practicing yoga in the morning, there are unique advantages to afternoon and evening sessions as well. Let's explore how incorporating yoga later in the day can be every bit as meaningful as sunrise sessions.

Afternoon Practice

Practicing yoga in the afternoon comes with many perks. For one, I always feel more energetic later in the day and enjoy exploring upbeat classes that I’m not quite ready for in the morning.

I also feel less rushed in the afternoon. First thing in the morning, my coffee pot and long list of ToDos are calling, and I have to contend with my family’s schedule. We live in a tiny cabin, so it’s imperative that I finish my practice before everyone else is out of bed.

Currently, I can practice uninterrupted until 8:30 am, when my son gets up for work. Depending on when I wake up, this gives me anywhere from two hours to just fifteen minutes for my morning practice. Not the most consistent schedule!

Lately, i’ve been carving out time in the afternoon to test out new classes (to share with all of you) and it’s been refreshing. I’ve rediscovered the joy of indulging in a long asana sequence with simple savasana. It's a nice change from my morning routine: 10-20 minutes of asana and a 15-50 minute Yoga Nidra.

Evening Practice

Evening classes are positively medicinal. They soothe so many different end-of-day woes.

Need to decompress frazzled nerves after a long, hard day? Yoga.

Filled with anxiety and staring down the barrel of a sleepless, mind spinning night? Yoga.

Stiff after a sedentary day sitting at a desk or (no judgment) lying on the couch? Yoga.

Just done with life but not quite ready for bed? Yoga.

You really can’t go wrong with evening yoga. I use it to shake off my day, creating a beautiful bridge between hectic daytime responsibilities and relaxation before bed.

Day 15 - Reset | Move - A 30 Day Yoga Journey | Yoga With Adriene

As a general rule, I steer clear of yoga classes that start with standing poses because I need a bit of a warm-up first. This class is the exception and it has become my go-to for an afternoon pick-me-up. It truly is the perfect reset.

Yoga For Not Giving A F**CK | Black Yogi Nico Marie

13 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

It’s so easy to get wound up in our daily lives. We are all busy busy bees and things don’t always go as planned.

Even with the best of intentions and a meaningful morning practice under my belt, I sometimes reach the end of my rope before I’m halfway through my day. If you’re having one of those days, reach for this class. You will get the time out you need and return to your day with no F@%ks left to give! :)

15 Minute Yoga For Flexibility - Day #16 (Evening Yoga Class) | Yoga with Kassandra

16 Minutes | All Levels | Beginner Friendly

I cannot sit around all day without feeling mildly unwell. My muscles stiffen up and my joints ache. My mind races and my emotions dip. Unfortunately, sometimes it just can’t be helped. We all have days when we’d love to be active but can’t. If you travel a lot or work at a desk, you know what I’m talking about.

This full body stretch from Kassandra is an excellent antidote for those sedentary days. It’s intense enough to move stagnant energy but mellow enough to be done in the evening.

BONUS: If you like this and want more, or you’re looking for something a bit more mellow, check out Kassandra’s full Evening Yoga Challenge for free on Youtube!

I hope that the past two weeks have helped you find space in your life for your yoga practice. If not, that’s okay! Just keep exploring, experimenting and showing up whenever you can. This is a long game, one you cannot lose. So, be kind to yourself and know that you are doing great. Your practice is exactly what it needs to be.

Have a wonderful week and I’ll see you next Sunday!