What stage of change is the client likely in if they are planning a morning yoga routine?

The stage of change that best describes a client who is planning a morning yoga routine is the Preparation stage. In this stage, individuals are ready to take action and have decided to make a change, indicated by their planning and intention to start a new behavior.

In the context of behavior change models, those in the Preparation stage typically begin to formulate concrete plans for the changes they want to implement. They may start gathering resources, such as setting a schedule for their yoga routine, and organizing their environment to support this new habit. This readiness often involves a commitment to taking specific steps toward achieving their goals, which is precisely what the client is doing by planning to adopt a morning yoga practice.

This contrasts with other stages. In Precontemplation, individuals are often unaware of any need for change or may not yet be considering taking action. In the Contemplation stage, clients are starting to think about the possibility of change but may be ambivalent about it. Finally, the Maintenance stage occurs after a client has successfully made a change and is focused on maintaining the new behavior over the long term. The client's current proactive planning aligns closely with the characteristics of the Preparation stage.