Feeling Tired After Yoga? Here Are 6 Reasons Why (and Tips)

We so often hear about how exercise and yoga can leave you feeling energized and ready to take on the day. So why are you feeling tired after yoga?

Are You Feeling Tired After Yoga?

Perhaps you think that it is because you rest at the end in Savasana, but, the truth is that yoga should not leave you feeling tired. So what is it that is leaving you feeling tired and unenergized? 

When we think of yoga, most of us think of it as being a restorative practice that will clear our mind, cleanse our body, and bring us joy and energy. However, sometimes that isn’t the case, and if it’s not, you should take a look at why it isn’t. This article is going to look at some reasons why you may feel sleepy after yoga, as well as some tips to improve your yoga practice and to end it feeling re-energized and awake. 

Whether you are new to yoga or have been practicing for years, being tired after yoga may be something that comes up often for you. So continue reading this article to get to the root of it and figure out why it is happening and how you can fix it. Let’s get started.

Reasons You May Feel Sleepy After Yoga

Below we have listed some of the various reasons why you may be feeling tired after a nice yoga practice. Of course, everyone is different, and every practice is different. So make sure that you look at your specific circumstances, as they may change. 

• You aren’t getting enough sleep. While this may seem like an obvious reason, you’d be surprised to know how many people do not get enough sleep on average. According to the CDC, adults aged 18-60 years old need 7+ hours of sleep a night. Many times we will feel like 5 hours is good enough until we hit the yoga mat. That is when it will catch up to us, as we are really tuning into our body and breath. 
• You aren’t tuning into your breath. Connecting your breath to your movements and thoughts is important in practicing yoga, and in everyday life. Your breath is your lifeline and can help to release any negative emotions you have trapped in your body, which may cause symptoms such as sleepiness. The Yoga Journal states that mindful breathing can help release these emotions and allow them to move through your body and be released. Focusing on our breath also allows us to tune in 100% to our bodies, which can tell us when to rest.

• You are not used to the stretches. In yoga, your body is often being stretched and being put into certain poses that your body may not be used to. This can be a bit tiring at first. Especially if you sit at a desk all day long. However, if you keep up your practice, your body will eventually get used to it and rather than feeling exhausting, your yoga practice will feel relaxing, yet invigorating.
• You aren’t doing the yoga poses correctly. If you are new to yoga, then you may want to think about going to a few classes to ensure that an instructor can help you with hands-on or verbal corrections when doing your asanas. If you are doing certain poses wrong, it can be tiring for your body. 
• It isn’t the right level or type of yoga for you. If you constantly feel tired after yoga, then you may want to reconsider the type of yoga you are doing or the level you are practicing at. If you are doing yoga that is too difficult, your body will feel exhausted after practice rather than energized. Try different styles of yoga, as well as different levels and see what feels best.
• Hatha or Yin yoga are suitable for beginners with gentle slow moves and longer hold between them.  
• Vinyasa or Ashtanga are more advanced with more difficult poses and the flow is more active. 
• Releasing tension and emotions can be tiring. Because the poses and breathwork in yoga can release tons of built-up tension in the body, as well as negative emotions, sometimes you will be left feeling a bit drained. However, if you continue with your practice regularly, this shouldn’t always be the case. After a while, once your body and mind are a bit more accustomed to your practice, it should not be as tiring as before.

Is It Good Or Bad To Feel Tired After Yoga?

This depends on the type of tired you are feeling. If you feel tired like you would after a good workout, where your muscles are a bit tired, but you feel energized, then this is a great thing! However, if your mind and body are both exhausted, then you may want to reevaluate your practice. 

Tips To Improve Energy After Yoga

While sometimes it can’t be helped that you are feeling tired after yoga practice, there are some things that you can do to try and improve your energy after yoga. Let’s take a look at some tips:

• Consider the time of day you are practicing. For some people, working out in the morning is best because that is when they have the most energy. For others, they are opposite and have more energy in the afternoons or evenings. Really take note of when you feel most energized and try to base your yoga practice around that time. This can help with your energy after yoga.
• Get more sleep. This simple tip is one that so many people avoid. Because of our busy lifestyles, many of us do not get the recommended amount of sleep, and our body will be tired after exerting itself on any level (as in yoga). So try and get more sleep. Go to bed earlier so that you can start your day refreshed and don’t have to worry about being tired after yoga.
• Consider the type of yoga you are doing. If you are feeling very tired after yoga, you may want to check the type of yoga you are doing and make sure it is right for you. Making sure the type of yoga you are doing is a good fit for you is important because it can mean the difference between feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after a session and feeling tired and groggy.
• Consult a yoga instructor. Try to go to a yoga class or hire a personal instructor so that you can ensure that you are doing all of the poses correctly. This could help to alleviate some of the sleepiness you feel after yoga.
• Check in with your body during class. Take some time to see how you are feeling during yoga class. If you aren’t feeling well, or are feeling extremely tired, then you may want to try a different style of yoga. Or perhaps begin doing modified versions of certain poses that are extra tiring.

If you feel tired after yoga, then take a look at your practice and your lifestyle and make the necessary changes to make your practice energizing and restorative. 

Read more : Yoga Before Or After Workout? 

Video credit : Youtube