Yoga is fantastic for helping you to unwind, but there are a few things you can do before and after your practice to make it even more relaxing. When you have a spare evening, give this routine a go and you will feel more relaxed than ever before!
Cook a Delicious Meal
After you have finished whatever you needed to do for the day, the first thing you should do is to cook yourself a delicious and nutritious meal. Get all your favourite ingredients and create something yummy and healthy to give your body the fuel it needs for a great yoga practice.
My ideal combination is crispy tofu with sweet chilli noodles and mixed vegetables. It’s so simple to make and tastes amazing every time. Plus, you won’t take up too much time out of your nice relaxing evening! I also always make sure that I take a vitamin D3 supplement at some point during the day as I think it helps me to maintain my focus, which is always useful in yoga.
Go For A Walk
After eating, go out into the fresh air and enjoy a nice evening walk. This will help your food to go down but will also help you to clear your mind for the rest of the night. If you can, get out into the countryside, otherwise go and explore a new place you haven’t been before.
This doesn’t have to be a long walk, but a change of scenery before your practice will help you to feel much more relaxed. Put your headphones in and escape into the scenery around you. Before you head out for your walk, change into your yoga clothes so that when you get back, the transition into your practice is seamless. Setting up your mat before you go is also a good idea!
Complete Your Practice
When you return from your walk, you can slowly begin your practice. I don’t believe that your practice starts as soon as you step on your mat, so just start getting yourself into a positive and relaxed mindset and make your way to the mat when you are ready.
You might be really experienced and feel confident practicing on your own, or perhaps you feel more comfortable following a guided video in order to fully relax. Go with whatever feels best and enjoy the practice. Don’t go in with any expectations, simply enjoy the practice and use each breath as an opportunity to arrive in the experience.
Have A Warm Bath
After your practice, you are likely to feel relaxed and energised. So, perhaps you will treat yourself to a nice warm bath. Light a few candles and put your favourite bath salts into the tub.
If you have a more challenging session, having a bath soon afterwards is a fantastic opportunity to help your muscles relax as well as your mind. Either have your bath in silence, listen to calming music or take the opportunity to read your favourite book if that helps you to relax.
Final Thoughts
By this point, you should feel fully relaxed and ready to sleep. If you would like to, meditating before you sleep would be a fantastic way to complete the evening.
Try to have an evening like this at least once every couple of weeks to give yourself some well deserved rest and rejuvenation. If you manage to do it more often, even better! Yoga is fantastic for the mind, body and soul, so give it a try if you haven’t before.
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