4 Ways Yoga Can Help You Start Your Day Right
February 20, 2023
One of the best ways to start your day is to roll out your yoga mat and embrace the practice.
Seated Meditation
An important part of the yoga practice, meditation is a great way to ground yourself and gather your thoughts. Taking just 5-10 minutes in the morning to sit still and connect with your breath can help you maintain better focus throughout the day.
Sun Salutations
Sun Salutations, also known as Surya Namaskar, were specifically crafted to awaken the body and prepare it for the day. Every Ashtanga practice starts with Sun Salutations, because it gets the blood pumping and warms up the body for the rest of the practice.
The nature of this yoga sequence is reflected in its name. You greet the sun through a series of movements, affecting every part of the body. The best part about Sun Salutations is that they can be modified to suit your levels of experience, flexibility, and strength.
In traditional Ashtanga practice, Surya Namaskar A and B are repeated five times. However, you can do as few or as many as it takes you to warm up.
Yogic Twists
Whether you perform a supine belly twist (Supta Matsyendrasana), Half Lord of Fishes (Ardha Matsyendrasana) or Thread the Needle Pose (Sucirandhrasana), you should always include a twist in your morning yoga routine.Twist asanas can help you stimulate digestion, improve your posture, and calm the nervous system.
Backbends and Heart-Openers
Even if you did a few rounds of Sun Salutation, it wouldn’t hurt to include another backbend in your morning sequence. In yoga, backbends are considered energizing and revitalizing.
To make backbends and heart-openers more gentle on the body, try adding props. For example, you may rest your elbows on yoga blocks in Melting Heart Pose (Anahatasana) or lean back onto a bolster in Fish Pose (Matsyasana).
