Is it okay to do yoga late at night?

You can practise yoga at any time of the day. No wonder, you can reap the maximum benefits in early morning but yoga at night will not create any problem for you.

The idea that yoga at night keeps you awake is actually a myth. In fact, exercise, no matter what time it is performed, helps to promote a good night’s sleep. The fact that you are exercising or practicing yoga is what is important, not the time of day.

It is really important to understand what yoga actually does to your body. Yoga only helps you relax your mind and body. No strenuous work out that has you sweating and leaves you tired; yoga is just the opposite; it will help you calm down and relax, thus you get better sleep. The breathing exercises or any other asanas that you practice will only help the tension in your body ease out.

If you are working in a corporate MNC, practising yoga late at night could be the only option you have. However, according to yoga experts you need to abide by a few guidelines before practising yoga late at night.

You should not perform yoga asanas at least 2-3 hours after a meal. If your stomach is full, you will not be able to practice yoga with ease and hence it will bear no results.

It can be a good idea to perform a few restorative yoga asanas at night. Certain poses are calming and invigorating and are in fact best done in the evening or night. Try forward bends like paschimottanasana or seated forward bending pose and uttanasana intense forward bending pose to soothe your spine. Twisting asana such as the seated spinal twist will help you de-stress and detoxify.

You also need to make sure that you end your yoga practice with yoga nidra. Yoga nidra will help create a peaceful transition between your practice and your day. You can also practice yoga nidra at office before heading home to relieve your work stress.

After you are done with your yoga session, you need to wait an hour before you hit the sack.

Do not practice yoga late night if you are in the first two days of your menstrual cycle. Also, late night yoga may not be a good idea

if you are pregnant. Before going to bed applying some pressure with your fingers under your right armpits will help you get a sound sleep.