Rise and Shine! It’s Yoga Time!

We have all heard “endorphins make you happy”. And yes, exercising ultimately causes feelings of happiness because of the endorphins released from our bodies during movement. Moving around in the morning provides the opportunity to begin the day with an emotional response of happiness.

Here are a few morning yoga poses to help rev your metabolism and wake you up:

1. Cat/Cow Pose: Cat-Cow stretches your back, torso, and neck. Think of it as a gentle massage for your spine. (Just the yoga pose you need for the morning after what can sometimes be a stiff night’s sleep.)

   a.       Start on all fours with hands under shoulders and knees under hips.

   b.      Inhale and look up with an arched spine, rolling shoulders away from ears for cow.

   c.       As you exhale, press the floor away with hands and knees, and round spine like an angry cat.

   d.      Repeat 5 breath cycles.

   2. Camel Pose: Camel pose is a heart opener, increasing lung capacity, allowing you to breathe a little deeper and start the day on a calmer note.

   a.       Begin in a high kneeling position with hips over knees so your weight is supported by your shins and the tops of your feet.

   b.      Tuck your toes ad place your palms on your sacrum.

   c.       Draw your elbows into one another.

   d.      Keep your thighs rotating inward and pull your shoulder blades toward one another.

   e.       Look upward as you lift your chest upward.

   f.        Release your hands to your heels and arch your spine.

   g.      Tip your head back to keep the whole spine in extension.

   h.      Hold for 5 deep breaths.

    3. Bridge Pose: Camel pose is a gentle inversion that is perfect for morning yoga because it works with gravity to open your entire chest and shoulder area.

   a.       Lie on your back with knees bent and feet hip distance apart flat on the floor.

   b.      Reach down with your fingertips to gently feel the heels.

   c.       Press weight into feet to lift hips upward.

   d.      Keep your thighs parallel.

   e.       Bring arms underneath you and clasp hands together.

   f.        Roll shoulder blades toward each other.

   g.      Hold for 8 breaths.

   h.      Release and roll slowly back to the floor.

   4. Spinal Twist: Easy Spinal Twist is a great pose to help stimulate your digestive system, which can help you get going in the mornings.

   a.       Lie on your back bringing knees in toward chest.

   b.      Holding left knee into chest, let the right leg straighten onto the floor.

   c.       Bring left knee across the body, keeping shoulder blades on the floor, and turning your gaze to look over the left shoulder.

   d.      Hold here for 10 breaths.

   e.       Then repeat on other side.