Introducing just a 10-minute morning regime can bring life-changing benefits for your mind and body.
Willpower is like a muscle, the more we use self-control, the more it depletes over the course of the day. So introducing a morning ritual as soon as you wake up is likely going to be easier to stick with and become a part of your everyday life, setting you up for a great day ahead. Whatever life throws at you and knocks you off kilter with your good intentions later in the day, at least you have done something already to serve your health and it’s in the bag before the day’s events get hold.
Good morning loosy-goosy. Relax into the day ahead.
Breathe
Before getting out of bed, lay on your back and take five deep breaths. Breathing through the nose and out through mouth.
Be thankful
Mentally list three things you are grateful for, even it if it’s just being thankful for waking up for another day on planet earth or noting how lucky you are to have a bed to wake up in. Practising gratitude can decrease anxiety and lifts our mood naturally.
Hydrate
Starting the day off with a refreshing drink of water will alleviate de-hydration and the effects it has on your body. Being hydrated sharpens the mind by fuelling the brain and is also great for skin health.
Stretch
Stretching first thing can relieve tension, getting the blood flowing to our muscles, mobilising our joints, and waking up the nervous system.
Add these simple stretches to your new morning routine
Cat/cow. Gets your spine moving, increasing flexibility in the neck, shoulders, and backbone. Start on all-fours. Make sure your hands are shoulder-width apart and knees are directly under your hips. Inhale deeply while tilting your pelvis up and lifting your head like a cow mooing. Exhale and slowly draw your navel towards your spine, drawing your pelvis down and lift and arch your back like a cat. Repeat several times. Always move gracefully with no jerky movements.
Child’s pose. A lovely stretch for the lower back. Kneel and sit back on your legs. Relax your body forward and rest your forehead on the ground. Extend your arms forward, keeping your hands on the floor palms face down. Stay in the position for 10 or more big breaths, before gently releasing from the posture.
Shoulder stretch. After a long stint laying on your shoulders this will alleviate tension that has built up overnight. Sit on the edge of your bed. Relax your shoulders down, take one arm across the front of your body and use the other arm to gently apply some pressure to deepen the stretch. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.
