Thanks Three-Minute Energy-Boosting Body Stretch
Marta Cordell here to share with you my favorite 3-minute body stretch that you can do as soon as you wake up in the morning!
But first, why am I talking about a body stretch first thing in the morning?
Everyone wants to start their day on a good note, waking up in a good mood, calm and centered and energized for the day, but that isn’t always the case, right?
Stretching first thing in the morning starts those endorphins flowing, works out the kinks you might have developed sleeping, and starts the breathing out in a way that will get you there quickly, even if you don’t start out that way!
So what are the steps to this 3-minute energy-boosting body stretch?
STEP 1: Set a happy alarm 5 minutes earlier than usual Your body responds to messages you give it, so give it a happy ring to wake up to!
Download your favorite tune or nature sound and use that as your happy alarm sound. Set it for 5 minutes earlier than usual
Your body will thank you, and your mind will respond much better than awaking to a jarring, screeching alarm!
STEP 2: Start your body stretch as soon as you open your eyes often when we over-plan to stretch our bodies and take too long to pick out just the right exercise leggings or the right room to stretch in,
by the time we are ready to start stretching we are demotivated or distracted or derailed….
So, carpe diem, seize the day by starting your stretch even before you get out of bed! While lying down, start with 3 or 4 deep breaths into your diaphragm.
Then, simply stretch your legs out, then point your toes, and rotate your ankles.
Don’t forget to continue breathing deep, slow breaths! Put the bottoms of your feet together, and allow your knees to fall open releasing tension in the hips.
Straighten your legs back out, and reach your arms overhead, or sit up in bed and do the same, stretching your arms up to the ceiling.
Rotate at the waist, stretching the right arm across and to the left, then the left arm across and to the right.
Drop your arms, and rotate your head – forward, left, back, right, and back to forward, and then the other direction.
STEP 3: Finish your body stretch right next to your bed Stretch your arms overhead, reaching up as high as you can, then fold forward, and bend to touch your toes.
If you can, place your hands flat on the floor. (If you can’t, don’t push it! This is just a happy stretch – not a competition!) Roll up slowly, then roll both shoulders forward 2-3 times, and then back 2-3 times.
Drop the left foot back, so that the right shin is perpendicular to the floor, and feel the stretch through the legs, hips and lower abdominals. Come back to standing, and then drop the right foot back to stretch the other side.
Are you still breathing deeply? Great! Keep that up! Clasp your hands together behind your back, and straighten the elbows as much as you can, opening up the chest.
Again, don’t force the body into more of a stretch than feels comfortable – it just woke up, and may not be quite as limber!
Bend forward at the waist, allowing the clasped hands to point skyward, and then to fall forward above the head, feeling the stretch in the shoulders and back.
Return to standing, unclasp the hands, and shake the body all over, releasing any lingering tension. You’re all done!
The KEY here is to honor these 3 minutes you have set aside to stretch your body, and to begin feeding oxygen to the brain.
How will this 3-minute body stretch boost my energy?
Stretching your muscles, while breathing deeply starts the process of circulating oxygen through the body, which has been still and sleeping for several hours.
It gets the blood flowing, the lymph started moving, and the lungs working. It also oxygenates the brain, which elevates your mood, and gets your frontal cortex working (you know, the part where we make great decisions!).
Here’s to Taking Back Your Health! Marta CordellHolistic Health Practitioner Not only will you start the day happier, and with more energy, but you may even find it easier to make good breakfast choices and deal with any morning challenges!
Here’s to Taking Back Your Health!
Holistic Health Practitioner