The morning dew is still on the trees, the sun is rising and the birds chirping. It is the perfect time to place your mat in your backyard and practice a morning stretch and meditate. Yoga is a great way to relax, unwind and stay fit. It helps to focus your mind and put away all of the stress of work, family and life.
During your morning stretch, you can include a period of reflection or cloud watching and enjoy the beauty of nature that we often take for granted.
If you don't have a backyard like some city dwellers, a local park or the beach are great places to get the same atmosphere. You might even find some people practicing tai chi in your local park early in the morning. Pilates is also a great way to stretch, tone and revitalize your body.
For those who have never practiced yoga, pilates or tai chi before, it is helpful to do at least one class at a local gym to understand the practice. However you can also learn on Youtube.
This video Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies, is a great start. You might have to fast forward the beginning, it can be slow moving, but it outlines a good routine to do in the mornings with correct breathing and poses.
This routine (the daily dozen) is a great way to start your morning routines: 1. Cat Pose 2. Mountain Pose
3. Standing Forward Bend 4. Lunge
5. Tree
6. Standing Side Stretch Pose
7. Downward Facing Dog
8. Cobra
9. Child's Pose
10. Seated Spinal Twist
11. Seated Forward Bend
12. Final Relaxation Pose.
Once you are more advanced, you can do headstands like this;
However this is ONLY for advanced people and best attempted with an instructor. Nevertheless, it shows what amazing results you can achieve by practicing yoga.
