Meditating first thing in the morning is probably the best time to practice. The mind is clear when you wake, even if a bit groggy. It’s not yet been clouded with emails and all the to-do’s of the day. Nor has it been influenced by the moods and words of others. Your morning meditation is sacred to you and sets the tone for the rest of your day. (Learn more in A Morning Routine for Conscious Living.)
In fact, the groggy morning mind is a good thing because your thoughts are calmer and there’s generally less thinking going on compared to other times of the day. Getting off to a positive start is much easier when you start the day with meditation and you’ll be more apt to go about your day in a relaxed and balanced way.
The morning vibe of the earth and its inhabitants are much more peaceful in the wee hours of the morning, too, so there’s less noise to contend with and less distractions from the surrounding environment. Committing to a morning practice makes it much more certain that you’ll actually meditate – before the day gets going and you simply feel as if you have too much to do and no time left for meditation. (Learn how to Wake Up and Salute the Sun.)
The reality is we all have time to meditate, and we’re all going to be much more likely to do it before we start tending to our daily activities and routines. The ancient yogis believed dawn to be a most auspicious time for meditation, one in which your ability to manifest is much greater. Doesn’t that sound like a good enough reason in itself?
So, do yourself a great favor and carve out a time to meditate right after you wake. Do it every day and you’ll realize, with time, your life is all the better for it. (Read on in Morning Rituals for Yogis.)