5 Tips for Winterizing Your Yoga Practice

1. Yoga between 6am and 10am and practice in a warming fashion: Exert early. This doesn’t necessarily mean HIIT - though it could, in conjunction with an engaged practice. Doing it during this time, takes advantage of the times of day the body is in “build” mode. Daniel Pink in his acclaimed book When: the scientific secrets of perfect timing acknowledges that timing can make all the difference. Use it to your advantage.

2. Wake before or with the sun: This will help you reset your rhythm so it’s natural to be asleep at 10pm. Aligning your habits with circadian rhythms helps the immune system function properly and be ready to clear out the trash (non-functioning cells) at the time of night your organs are ready for the work. Creating rituals helps your habits stick.

3. If you can’t yoga early, make it half and half: You need to exert during these months more than ever, your body needs this to keep muscles balanced, to keep fascia mobile and bones strong. But if you’re yogaing after 4-5 in the evening, make the first half the warming, even sweaty part. In the second half, scale it down, moving toward yin or restorative, adding in cooling breaths, longer savanna and meditation. Your sleep with thank you.