If I don’t do this special thing every day something bad will happen.
Or, more accurately, when I do this, I’m more likely to have a good day, maybe even some delightful synchronicities.
I’m talking about my morning yoga practice.
That sounds a little superstitious, right?
It’s been my personal experiment over the course of about 15+ years . . . if I don’t do some kind of morning practice, I’m likely to feel out of sorts for the day. A real cranky pants.
Every morning is a chemistry experiment – my practice moves blood and oxygen around, opens up stagnant corners in my body, clears my mind and fluffs up my energy leaving me sparkly and excited about the day.
Are you working on a regular practice? I encourage all my students to create one. When they do, they come to class saying things like:
My feet are more flexible.
I’m having fewer migraines.
My back pain is gone.
I’m standing up straighter without effort.
That breathing technique is helping me fall asleep!
If you’d like a little help with a consistent practice, here’s a pro tip: two simple, all-purpose poses are cat/cow and child’s pose. Make these the centerpiece of your practice. Go down to the floor, do the cat/cow and child’s pose. Then as you come up, perhaps you pass through a brief downward dog. Then walk your hands to your feet to a standing forward bend (bend your knees!) and then roll up through the spine (roll through the spine with head dropped, abs engaged). Et Voila, you’re back to standing and ready for the day!
Remember to always listen to your body and never do anything that doesn’t feel right!
Give it a try! I love my practice — even a short one can set me up for the day, establishing a pleasant mood and creating a small buffer between me and the chaos of the world. Let me know how it goes!
Michelle Stortz 