If you’ve been to any of my classes lately, I’ve been quoting Dr. OZ on the Joy Behar show. He says there are three things you can do to start your day off right:
1. Eat breakfast
2. Stretch
3. Be on time – if you’re not 5 minutes early, than you’re already late!
I thought to myself, “Absolutely Brilliant!” I love when things are put in a way that seems so simple. Piece of cake right?! Well….maybe. Just like anything else it’s the application that poses the biggest challenge.
We read in magazine articles, newspapers, and hear on TV how you should not skip breakfast-the all important meal of the day. Our kids take standardized achievement tests and the notes that go home stress that our kids should not leave home without a good breakfast before testing. I’m a breakfast eater so this isn’t a hard one for me; though I do find myself eating breakfast on the run some mornings. Lately, my breakfast of choice has been a protein shake but if I can’t sit down to enjoy a bowl of oatmeal, cereal, some fruit or a hardboiled egg, I grab a protein or breakfast bar and munch on that as I head out the door.
Maybe not all of us can get to the studio for a morning yoga class, but we can all take a conscious minute or two to breathe and stretch in the morning. Here are a few easy stretches you can incorporate into your morning routine.
-Before getting out of bed hug one knee at a time into your chest, lengthening your low back muscles.
-Once out of bed take 3 to 5 breaths in child’s pose. (Start kneeling on the floor, separate your knees and keep your feet together behind you. Extend your arms out in front of you resting your forehead on the floor as the hips move back towards your feet).
-Standing, raise your arms over your head and bend your spine to the right for 3 to 5 breaths and then to the left side for another 3 to 5 breaths.
Great! You’ve started your day with 3 simple stretches, and breathing slowly and deeply in each of those stretches will help to awaken the body and mind.
In the morning it’s so easy to push the clock 2 or 5 minutes behind how far you know you need before running late, but make the time to be on time! Eliminate that area of stress early in your day. Your body will thank you for it. Now don’t be late!
Claudine
I love these simple ideas, I will put them to practice. Please know I already have #3 down (type a personality!) great tips especially the stretching for a few moments before starting the day and using the time to set the intention!
xo, elaine