Fitting Five Minutes of Yoga into Your Day

People often think yoga demands an hour of absolute calm. That is true for a full class, but it is not necessary to feel the benefits day to day. Short moments, repeated, have a very real effect.

Mini-practices to try

The idea is to slip a small ritual into your day, at a moment when you are already there: on waking, late in the afternoon, before bed.

• On waking: a few gentle stretches, arms raised, before reaching for the phone.
• During a break: shoulder and neck rolls, seated on your chair.
• At the end of the day: a few minutes lying down, legs raised against the wall.
• Any time: three long, slow breaths, counting to four.

Be regular rather than ambitious. Five minutes a day beats one long occasional session that you end up postponing. And if you skip a day, it does not matter: simply start again the next day.

These practices are invitations to slow down, not treatments. Coming to class remains the best way to go deeper, with tailored advice and the company of a kind group.