We all want to start the morning right, but not all of us have time to do a full hour-long yoga practice. Luckily, there are other simple and mindful ways we can incorporate yoga into our morning.
1 – Give yourself time. This is a difficult one. Most of us know what it’s like to hit the snooze button more than a couple of times. And no matter now many times a wake up is delayed, there never seems to be time for enough sleep. As tempting as the snooze button may be, try waking up with 30 minutes of extra free time before getting ready or before leaving the house. Take this 30 minutes to go outside for some fresh air, or journal about your dreams. Take time to sit, or stretch, or even dance, to honour the start of your day.
2 – Have a ritual. Do one thing every day that makes you look forward to getting out of bed. It can be making your favourite drink, going for a run or a walk, or journaling about what you are grateful for and how you want to create your day. Whatever it is, let it be something that excites you when you rise out of bed.
3 – Ground yourself. After you’ve gotten ready, done your ritual, and have had a moment to sit and enjoy your morning, take a moment to ground. Grounding yourself before heading out the door can be very beneficial for thinking clearly and sustaining mindfulness throughout your day. You know that feeling when your thoughts and to-do lists get a little out of control? That’s because your energy can be too “up-in-the-air”. When you intentionally ground yourself, you can manage this much better. Ground yourself by standing in front of your door (just before leaving the house), close your eyes, feel your feet on the floor, and take three slow, deep breaths. After three breaths, open your eyes and go out to meet the day.
We’d love to hear your feedback! Try out these tips, or let us know what ways you mindfully start your day.
