Stretch, breathe, smile: 5 ways morning yoga uplifts mood
What's the story
Waking up to a morning yoga routine can drastically improve your mood and set a positive tone for the rest of the day.
Yoga is a holistic practice that focuses on physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to enhance mental well-being.
By incorporating specific practices into your morning routine, you can boost your energy levels, decrease stress, and improve your focus.
Here are five ways to uplift your mood with morning yoga.
Breathing focus
Practice deep breathing techniques
Deep breathing exercises, which are fundamental to yoga, have the power to soothe the mind and alleviate anxiety.
Practicing in the morning supplies the brain with a fresh dose of oxygen, promoting relaxation and mental clarity.
Simply inhale deeply through your nose, hold your breath for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly through your mouth.
Incorporating this simple practice into your morning routine can significantly boost your mood.
Energizing sequence
Engage in sun salutations
Sun salutations are a sequence of poses that warm up the body and increase flexibility.
This practice energizes the body, enhances circulation, and activates various muscle groups.
Doing sun salutations in the morning can help wake up your body and mind, setting a positive tone for your day.
Mental clarity
Incorporate mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation is all about paying attention to the here and now, without judging it.
Incorporating mindfulness into your yoga practice not only boosts self-awareness but also significantly lowers stress levels.
By dedicating a mere five minutes to meditation following the completion of yoga postures, you can effectively declutter your mind, fostering better emotional equilibrium throughout the day.
Emotional release
Focus on heart-opening poses
Heart-opening poses like the cobra or camel pose stimulate emotional release by stretching chest muscles and opening up heart space.
These poses foster a sense of openness, while alleviating tension harbored within the shoulders or upper back—ultimately contributing to improved emotional well-being when incorporated into your regular morning routine.
Restorative finish
End with relaxation pose (savasana)
Ending each session with savasana provides a period of rest following the physical exertion of the preceding exercises—facilitating the assimilation of benefits derived from the practice into everyday life.
Laying flat on your back and concentrating solely on your breath allows you to fully relax before facing the hectic day ahead—a surefire way to ensure a more peaceful state of mind.