Say Good Morning with Yoga

I don’t know about you, but I am  not a person who wakes up clear-headed and ready to take on the day first thing in the morning. Interestingly, I have found that some days I need structure to find my focus (like this lovely, circular mandala flow), while on other days I need to just listen to my body and go where it takes me.

For a more in-depth look at flowing freestyle, check out Hannah’s post from earlier this year. Here, I’ll offer suggestions to get you started and inspire you—the rest is up to you!

• Get your mind right.  Before fully opening your eyes, remain in bed in a comfortable resting pose and either meditate on a personal affirmation or give thanks for the first thing that comes to mind you’re grateful for. Take several deep breaths as you start your day on a positive note.
  
• Release the hips and glutes. Lying on your back in bed, draw both knees into the chest and breathe. Extend one leg while continuing to pull the opposite knee toward the chest, switching sides whenever it feels right.
• Wring out the night kinks. Draw one knee up until it is pointing toward the ceiling (thigh straight up and down), then gently twist the lower back, letting the knee cross the body and sink down. Take some deep breaths and change sides.
• Cat stretch! Creating as much space as you can between the tips of your fingers and your toes, stretch the entire body, reaching overhead.
• A little floor flow. This is where you really get to let the body lead. A simple set of sun salutations might spark your interest, or maybe some cat/cow followed by some warrior poses or lunges.

I prefer to spend 20-30 minutes blissfully starting my day, but find that even 10 minutes of breath work and movement sets the right tone and makes a huge difference in my attitude. Which I’m sure the people around me appreciate.

By Heidi Drake; All Rights Reserved @2021

By Heidi Drake; All Rights Reserved @2021