- photo source: emrank, Flickr, Creative Commons
What would it be like to take a little time for your body and yourself, before you jump into the hustle and bustle of your day?
This week was the beginning of the Early Bird Yoga challenge. A group of 6 daring students have committed to practicing Yoga 4 mornings a week, from 7am-8am, for the next 4 weeks. It's been amazing to see all the benefits that Yoga has to offer, already shining through in the first week.
I thought I'd share with you some really simple Yoga exercises that you can practice at home. Commit to your own personal Early Bird Yoga challenge!
#1.One of my all-time favourite morning Yoga sequences is the 6 movements of the spine. It helps to slowly wake-up and warm-up your body, as well to calm your whole nervous system. Bonus: In Yoga it is said that "your youth resides in your spine". No botox required! What have you got to lose, really?
Here's how to practice this the 6 movements of the spine.
#2. Another really great practice for the morning is the breath of joy. How can you go wrong, with a name like that!? The breath of joy brings heat to the body and increases circulation. Letting out a really loud HA! breath is a great way to release any emotional stress that might be showing up as well. Here is how to practice.
#3. Although swinging twist is borrowed from Qigong, I love it! It reminds me of waking up in my old neighbourhood in East Van and seeing all the little ladies in the park practicing this exercise together every morning. So awesome! It's an amazing way to wake up the spine and release tension in your neck and shoulders. I know this comes as a huge surprise to everyone, but we hold a lot of tension there. It's also known as a kidney exercise as it helps stimulate the kidney area. This makes it a very energizing practice. No coffee needed! Well maybe just one cup... Here's how to explore!
Try them out! See what might happen if you gave yourself a little time to connect with your body in the morning. Have fun!
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