When do you think is the best time of day to practice Qi Gong?
The short answer is that it’s always a great time to practice. But if you don’t have time to practice multiple times during the day, you may find yourself trying to decide whether or not you should practice in the morning, afternoon, or evening.
Because each person is different, the answer to this question depends on your individual needs. Therefore, we decided to write a blog that explores the unique benefits of practicing in the morning versus the evening. This will help you make an intentional decision about when to practice and what practices to focus on at different times of the day.
Just as each season has unique qualities and gifts, the different parts of the day, too, have their benefits. You can have a completely different experience practicing Qi Gong in the morning versus the evening.
The first step in deciding when to practice depends on your needs. Do you want to feel more energized, alive, and focused? Or do you want to experience deeper relaxation or better sleep? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you may consider practicing in the morning and evening.
Spend some time thinking about what you want to cultivate within yourself. Then, try to identify whether each quality is Yin or Yang. For example, Yin qualities include relaxation, reflectiveness, listening to others, and intuition. Yang qualities include taking action, speaking or asserting yourself, and engaging in vigorous activity. It may be helpful to make a list of Yin and Yang qualities you want to cultivate.
The morning is full of Yang energy. The sun rises, the temperature becomes warmer, and most animals start going about their day. Even flowers embrace the Yang energy by opening up their colorful petals to welcome the nourishing rays of sunshine.
Because of the abundance of Yang energy in the early hours of the day, morning is the perfect time to focus on cultivating the Yang qualities you wish to experience. For example, if you want more energy, focus, and a feeling of vitality, then morning is a great time to practice Qi Gong.
Start your morning routine with activating exercises to awaken your life-force energy. Knocking on the Door of Life and Qi Massage are two great examples of practices that enliven your life-force energy and cultivate Yang. Certain standing postures and flowing exercises are also great for Yang cultivation.
Yang energy peaks at noon and then starts to transition into Yin. Although noon can be a nice time to practice if you’re Yang deficient, it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. Lee recommends practicing either in the morning or evening for a greater balance of Yin and Yang energy.
Just as the morning is a great time to cultivate Yang, the evening is the perfect time to boost your Yin energy.
Try focusing on more Yin intentions during your evening routine. For example, focus on cultivating relaxation, restfulness, or intuition and receptivity. Not only will most of these qualities serve you in all aspects of your life, but they’ll also help you fall asleep easier when it’s time to go to bed.
In general, flowing movements are a great way to cultivate Yin energy. Opening the Flow and Moon Over the Lake are wonderful exercises that invigorate your body with nourishing Yin energy.
Just as Yang energy peaks at noon, Yin energy is strongest at midnight. If you’re Yin deficient and can’t sleep, doing some late-night Yin exercises can help rebalance your energy system and help you enter a relaxed state. However, it’s important to note that it’s generally not a wise idea to sacrifice sleep to practice late at night. Lee suggests doing midnight routines only as a remedy if you’re already awake and struggling to fall asleep.
But in order to choose the right practices based on the time of day, you need to know different exercises first. If you’re interested in enhancing your Qi Gong practice, be sure to check out our free Two-Week Qi Gong Trial.
When you sign up for our free Two-Week Qi Gong Trial, you’ll learn a variety of Qi Gong exercises that can help you cultivate the specific energy you need at just the right time of the day. Even after just a few sessions, you’ll intuitively know which practices you should choose based on your needs and the times of the day.
The lessons are all taught by master Qi Gong teacher Lee Holden and are available for you to enjoy from the comfort of your home. Click on the banner below to discover how Qi Gong can help you experience more energy and less stress every day.
