When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thought that comes to your head? Is it how you’ll get through the day or is it how happy you are to have woken up tp a beautiful day? To change your mindset to positive thinking, doing yoga first thing in the morning increases energy and focus throughout the day. A few easy Yoga Poses in the early morning can help you get into a positive frame of mind for the day ahead.
From decreasing anxiety and depression to improving heart health and feelings of social connection, morning yoga has long term health benefits along with making you feel calmer. Take a moment tp relax before you go in to the yoga flow by starting with Pranayama to invigorate the body & mind with a little stretching. Focus on your breath while you perform the following Yoga Poses. With practice, you’ll gain a better awareness of where the breath is.
Cat-Cow Pose: Set up that you mat, get onto your hands and knees on your yoga mat, with hands shoulder width apart and knees hip-width apart. Inhale into cow, with an arched back and head looking upwards, then exhale as you move into cat, rounding your spine and pulling your head down facing the floor. Continue for four breaths, moving with each inhale and exhale.
Chair Pose: Stand up, raise your hands above your head and sit back, bending your knees as if you’re sitting in a chair. In the chair pose, breath through a few counts and then return to standing.
Child’s Pose: Get into a kneeling position and then bring your chest toward your thighs, resting your forehead on the mat. Stretch your arms past your head. Stay for four breaths.
Downward Dog: Lean onto your hands, which should be spread wide on your mat, head down, and pelvis lifted up into the air. Allow your head to hang relaxed, rolling your shoulders away from your ears to release tension. Stay in the position for four breaths.
Bow Pose: Lie on your stomach with your feet apart, in line with your hips, and your arms by the side of your body. Fold your knees, take your hands backward, and hold your ankles. Breathe in, and lift your chest off the ground and pull your legs up and towards the back. Look straight ahead, and keep the pose stable which focusing on your breath. After 15 -20 seconds, as you exhale, gently bring your legs and chest to the ground. Release the ankles and relax.
Wheel Pose: For Chakrasana, lie down on your back. Prop up your knees and keep the flats of your feet planted on the ground, closer to your bottom. Place your hands behind your shoulders, near your ears and make sure your fingers are splayed out. Prop your lower body up by using your legs to support your weight. Press your feet and palms and raise your body upwards doing your best to arch it. Allow your head to hang gently. Stay in that position while concentrating on your breathing. Gently lower your back to the ground while focusing on breathing evenly.
Crescent Pose: Flow back into a plank position, then downward dog, which can take you into crescent pose. Step the right foot out first and bend the knee to 90 degrees while sweeping your arms up. Stay for a few breaths then switch to the other side from downward dog.
You can use these morning yoga poses to set an intention for the day. While focusing on the breath, you can ask yourself “What do I want to focus on today?”. Also, instead of feeling stiff throughout the day, you will feel more relaxed and you’ll have a better reason to wake up: you have a practice that makes you feel good. For complete Yoga Tutorial, Click Here.
