A) 6am? YUCK. - this can fork into several issues - either not wanting to get up that early because they are not obligated to be up early in general, or not wanting to get up even earlier than they already have to for work.
B) 6am? HAH! - this usually develops into "Do you know how insane it is to get (insert number of kids) out the door in the morning??"
I thought many of you might be able to connect with this:
"Recently, I recommitted to practicing each morning. With four kids, this is not always easy. It's always not easy, but it really is worth it. I quickly found that I feel better physically and I deal better with the morning nightmare. Getting four kids out the door with everything they need is stressful and starting off relaxed has made a huge difference."
-Pattie Hughes, blog writer for families.com
http://www.families.com/pattiewrites/#
We know about the excuses, but do we know about the benefits?
Getting It Over With
Now that's not a very yoga-friendly way to phrase it. Yoga's not about "getting it over with", but there are only so many hours in the day. As the day progresses, we are met with challenge upon challenge, usually unexpectedly. We pile on task after task all day long, we finally plop down at the end of the day and suddenly that intention of exercising has gone out the window. Set aside time right at the beginning of your day for you. If you don't, the chances of taking that time after you've taken care of everyone else are slim.
Calm Before The Storm
If you're reading this and have never experienced the awesomeness that is shavasana, you're missing out. It's the few minutes we take at the end of class to regroup the mind and the body. I generally take yoga in the evenings, and very much enjoy how I feel at the end of class. The idea of having that feeling right at the beginning of the day is enticing to me. Can you imagine approaching your morning with a fresh mind instead of the stress that most of us wake up with and input into our day?
Physiological Benefits...
...improved muscle and joint flexibility, better circulation and better body awareness, to name a few. You'll experience better posture throughout the day, you'll feel good, and you might even feel better about yourself knowing that you took that time just for YOU. If you suffer from poor circulation, you'll appreciate the feeling of better blood flow. (Many women unknowingly deal with Raynaud's syndrome - in which fingers and toes go cold or numb in response to stress or quick changes in temperature).
Look, some folks just aren't into the whole early morning thing, I get that. But for those of you who could make it work and could truly benefit, why not try it on for size?
