“Each morning, we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” —Buddha
Morning rituals set the tone for the rest of the day. How do you begin yours? Do you bury your head under your pillow and hit the snooze button a few times? Automatically pick up your phone and start scrolling? Or do you have a morning routine designed to help you feel your best?
Practicing yoga in the morning is one of the greatest ways––yes, we’re biased––to start the day how you intend to live the day. No matter what happens after you’ve stepped off your mat, you’ve done something positive for your well-being.
Here are three of our favorite reasons to practice first thing in the morning:
1. Create a Clear Calm Mood:
Instead of diving straight into your busy day, set the tone from the inside out. No matter what style of yoga you choose, you’ll quiet your brain with mindful breathing and stimulate and soothe your nervous system. Before dealing with external events, create a positive mindset because all we can do is control our reaction to events. Yoga helps to create space in your reaction time so you can handle whatever the world offers up in a more graceful, balanced way.
2. Enhance Your Flexibility, Strength, and Balance:
Have you ever gotten out of bed and felt like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz? You’re not alone. One thing about yoga and any type of physical movement is that it requires consistency. To become or remain supple and strong, you must move on a regular basis. And to can guarantee you fit in your practice, do it first thing in the morning. Even a quick session will keep your muscles supple and your body strong and balanced.
3. Stoke your Digestive Fire:
One of the most powerful benefits of yoga is how it increases your digestive fire. Over 70% of our immune system is in our gut so it’s vital to maintain healthy digestion and elimination. Twists and forward folds massage and compress the internal organs and keep your system moving along at a regular pace. Let go of sluggishness and heaviness at the beginning of your day and see how energized you feel.
Whether you’re a morning person or not, practicing first thing will help you feel energized, clear, and calm. Check out this week’s classes and have a fantastic day!
Morning Movement - Kylie Larson
Morning Yoga Fix - Jackie Casal Mahrou
Morning Yoga Ritual - Elise Fabricant
Wake Up Slowly - Keith Allen