How Much Yoga Is Too Much Yoga?

Is there anything more satisfying than a muscle-massaging yoga flow that leaves your hips feeling like jelly and gives those tight shoulders the ability to flip into a backbend at any given moment? When you pair that feeling with the joy of walking down the street sipping on a delicious green smoothie, the answer to that question is probably no.

While having a regular yoga practice is one of the most grounding and important things you can do for yourself, there is such a thing as overdoing it. "Yoga, as a physical practice, can ideally be performed four to five times per week," says Miami-based yoga instructor Sara Quiriconi. "But do it less if it's complementing another form of activity or exercise like boxing or running. I personally practice daily, but most of those days my time on the mat spans anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes per day."

Yesterday your wrists were a little achy during downward-facing dog, and now they just flat-out hurt. If you're experiencing new pain in your joints and bones, it may be time to take a few days off. "Physical signs of distress or fatigue, like a strain in a muscle, new pain between joints, bones, or tendons are all signs that you're doing too much," says Sara.

While we certainly understand the obsession with yoga, it becomes unhealthy once you start missing out on important activities. Think dates with your partner, happy hour with friends, or even work responsibilities.

If your hamstrings are a little sore after an afternoon of forward folds and downward dog splits, that's normal—just check in and make sure your muscle soreness isn't lasting for days at a time.

If you've ever begrudgingly gone to yoga for the sixth day in a row because you told yourself you would only to find yourself feeling mentally and physically drained all class long, that's definitely a sign that you're doing too much yoga.

"While sometimes pushing through the tiredness and fatigue actually can make you feel awake and alive again, other times the body requires a slower paced practice, longer holds, and more floor work. If you're in a group class, this can mean modifying some of the postures, skipping the push-ups (I do this all the time, by the way), or taking child's pose anytime you feel like it."

Don't ignore the signs. When your body tells you it's time to take a rest day or two (or three or four), listen.