I love to use the word “jump-start” to define the energizing impact of yoga. We usually jump-start the engine of a motor vehicle using a temporary connection to supply power from another vehicle or another current. Figuratively, the process shows how we can provide a speedy start of an activity using the assistance of some external impetus or source of energy. Well, in Yoga this external flow that pervades all living beings is called “prana” or life force. Prana is strongest early morning and late afternoon, and when you choose to time your practice then, you are hooking your vehicle directly to the universal fuel.

At that time in my life the main reason for waking up earlier was focused toward getting caught up on work related projects, on my long to-do list. Until one morning I decided to change my early morning routine to focus on myself, my health and wellbeing. I started with you 30 minute yoga routine, followed by a grounding meditation. Then I would end the practice with a different affirmation or prayer for the day, and open the book for a fresh start. This seemingly simple change had the most profound effect on my body, mind, spirit- and life in general! It was unbelievable how much more I was able to achieve and accomplish throughout the rest of the day. How I was more in control of my emotional reactions, how my body felt alive with vibrant energy running through it all while feeling grounded, secure and more sure of myself. The changes were visible quickly and this encouraged me to continue to wake up and greet the day with my yoga practice at dawn. Bowing my head to the sun through my practice of Surya Namaskar was now my new way of waking up and greeting the day, honoring my life, my practice, and setting intentions for my day ahead. Setting this personal time out for myself and my morning Sadhana, (conscious spiritual practice), was starting to change my life for the better. But the most profound shift was actually mental and it had to do with my notion of time. Prior to changing my morning routine I was always racing against time, never making it on time for work, always complaining that a 24/7 format doesn’t work for me. Trying to fit in all the things in one day and failing to do so.

But once I opened space for that morning practice I noticed that I had more time during the day. I felt time was a malleable substance, very much like our personal radiance that could stretch and shrink. It was like a mold for the movement of consciousness. And while I did the morning practice time was non-existent. It felt like I was sailing along the “eternal now”, un-preoccupied, stress free and overflowing with new ideas and new fun ways to approach my life. As I persisted with the morning practice I found many reasons why it benefited me so much.

Once you make practicing yoga in the morning a habit your body gets accustomed to getting up at the same time each day. This regulates your sleep rhythm and balances your hormones. You wake up naturally – no alarms…It will begin to get you ready to wake up on time, which means you will awake feeling more energized and alert- enhancing this feeling the more that you do it.

While practicing yoga, the attention to breathing, meditation and asana has a positive effect on the endocrine system, which is responsible for long-term body maintenance using glands and hormones, and helps keep you balanced. Certain yoga poses stimulate the pineal gland that excretes the melatonin hormone that regulates sleep patterns as well. As you regulate your circadian sleep cycles, the feeling of confusion upon awakening from sleep due to widely changing sleep times start to disappear. Also, you start to build a healthy and consistent routine. Once you establish a rhythm and cultivate self-discipline. This brings increased mental strength into other areas of your life as well. You are more focused at work, your attention span stretches wider and longer. You tolerate others compassionately and eradicate anger or anxiety. You are much peaceful, grounded and composed. This tunes you to your inner guide and helps you make the right decisions that will benefit all aspects of your life. The importance of being calm and grounded before heading out into the chaos of daily life should not be underestimated. That traffic jam, rude person, negative co-worker – that’s not a problem for you as you remember to connect with your breath, and to accept all that is happening with you and around you.

The mind is the navigator of the body, but the breath is the navigator of the mind. During your early morning yoga practice you will set an intention to practice love, and heart felt compassion to all sentient beings- this will carry with you throughout your day long after leaving your yoga mat. Your vibratory frequency starts to increase and others can feel that, the world will start to reflect this peace back to you as well. Love is a higher vibration, or frequency, and a consistent yoga practice will help you attune yourself to this frequency and consciously raise your vibration. I have found that early morning yoga helps me to be more peaceful, calm and grounded throughout the day.

You should not underestimate the fact that early morning yoga increases metabolism and allows you to enjoy food mindfully during the day. A jump-start routine in the morning helps to speed up your metabolic rate, which means that you can eat more and burn calories quicker. I will also improve your digestion and help more nutrients move through your body. Once the body has a sufficient amount of nutrients moving through, it will begin to metabolize fats and carbs faster, which allows you to eat more. Choosing healthy, organic brands and natural organic options are always recommended. Always be conscious of the first Yama of your yoga practice, which is Ahimsa, (non-harm to all sentient beings, non-violence) when making your food choices. As your yoga practice starts to evolve, this limb of your yoga practice will branch out to include not only your actions, but your thoughts as well.

And remember, early morning yoga is the best caffeine alternative. The specific type of breathing done during your early morning yoga practice stimulates your entire body and mind. All of that fresh oxygen helps wake up the brain and it can feel like a jolt of caffeine, yet unlike coffee or tea, the energy boost you feel from deep pranayama breathing lasts all day long! Early morning yoga helps you to feel more energized, yet grounded at the same time, thus helping you to accomplish more and be more productive during the day. You start to feel alive, with clarity and purpose, and you go about your day with absolutely no caffeine required!

Keep in mind that your practice will always vary. One day you will feel more supple, the next more alert, the third more integrated. Honor every day for the magic it brings. If for some valid reason you cannot practice in the morning, don’t get discouraged. You can always do this jump-start routine even in the late afternoon and reap the benefits of a potent “pranic” boost. Are you ready to Jump? Start now…