All of my college roommates were morning people. One would get up and munch crunchy granola as I tried to sleep with the pillow over my head. Another would sing not-quite-under-her-breath enough. The third would get up early and leave the room to go running; although she tried to be quiet, I could feel her energy invading my lovely warm bed and pulling me up and out. They were all lovely, lovely women and I am still friends with all of them. However, I’ve always felt there is something just the tiniest bit annoying about morning people.
I must be a night owl, then, you assume? Nope. My husband is a true night owl, who left to his own devices would sleep from 2 am to 10 am. Unfortunately the business world doesn’t accommodate his preferences. I am neither an early bird or a night owl. I am at my best from about 10 am to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 8 pm. Is there a name for that? Before 10 am, I am still trying to get into the swing of things; between 2 pm and 4 pm I am battling the strong desire for a nap.
My new teaching schedule means that I am going to have to take advantage of the early morning hours if I want to have any chance of maintaining a regular yoga practice. The ideal plan would be to get up at 5 and hit the mat. I didn’t accomplish that this week, although I was up at 5:45 twice this week and did manage two short practices. I figure, baby steps. At least I managed two early days (the other two days I don’t work, so I didn’t get up as early but did do short practices). Next week, maybe I’ll hit three days, then four, then five. Then I can slowly start rolling back the clock until I’m up at 5:00 and doing a more complete practice.
The thing is, early morning practices are lovely. It’s so quiet, and the sun is just coming up. I found myself more drawn to meditation and quiet seated poses than to vigorous vinyasa this week, so I tried to honor my body’s energy by practicing in that way. I imagine that over time, my energy will be greater in the morning and I will find myself doing more and more. Or not. As Donutszenmom said, it’s not WHAT you practice, it’s THAT you practice.
September 5, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I am the exact same way, and I always wondered if there was a name for people like us. Midday mavericks?
September 5, 2008 at 5:45 pm
morning practice is so good…but so is my big down bed…so i opt to practice at around 10:30.You are correct in saying “as long as we practice”…that makes me feel better anyway ;0)
xxoo
September 5, 2008 at 6:53 pm
5am, omg! I am more like your DH (and because *my* DH usually handles the morning routine, and because I work from home on a flexible schedule, I come pretty close to actually keeping his ideal hours) so the idea of purposely waking up at 5am to do yoga or *anything else* seems absolutely insane to me. But… more power to you! I actually read a website once about training yourself to be a morning person, but I never actually tried it.
Good luck with the new routine!
September 7, 2008 at 6:42 am
I bet your plan will work. It seems impossible at first — I remember feeling horribly stiff trying to practice in the morning — but then your body (and mind) gets used to it and you’re all set. I suspect you’ll grow to love mornings. Best time to be contemplative — before all of the busy-ness of the day fills your mind.
September 7, 2008 at 3:00 pm
“Is there a name for that?” I always thought that name was ’supermum’, actually. I’m a morning person who pre-children operated between 7am and 1am. I’ve since learned to appreciate her perspective on things sleep related!
September 8, 2008 at 4:22 pm
The name for midday maverickism is “pitta”, according to Ayurveda (yes, I know it’s goofy). 10am-to-2pm and 10pm-to-2am are the pitta times — i.e., the times for getting things done. 6pm-to-10 and 6am-to-10am are the kapha times — i.e., the chillout times. I don’t know why you’d be on top of your game from 5pm to 8pm — maybe you’re super vata or pitta or something. Here is a brief sumary of the goofiness.