A gentle morning stretch and a couple of deep inhales and exhales can get your day started in a positive way. Who knows, maybe you will be able to skip the caffeine! Include the Bible verse to your stretches and you can’t help but leave the house with a smile on your face and joy in your heart!

…”This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

 

1.) STANDING FORWARD BEND

Stand tall. Inhale deeply, lifting your arms up from your sides. Look up. Exhale and swan dive into a forward bend. Repeat 3-10 times while breathing deeply.

2.) ARM STRETCH

Stand with your feet hip width. Inhale, stretching your right arm behind your neck. Exhale, gently pulling it to the side. It should feel like a nice stretch.

3.) SHOULDER CIRCLES

Stand tall. Make fists with your hands and extend your arms to the sides. Inhale deeply as you raise your arms up. Exhale deeply, circling and lowering your arms backwards. Repeat the process 3-10 times with breathing.

4.) STANDING SIDE CRUNCHES

Stand tall with your feet hip width. Hands are behind your head. Inhale deeply, bending your knees and lowering down. Come up fast and as you do lift your left leg and bend or, “crunch” to the side. Try to touch your elbow to your knee. Exhale as you do. Repeat on your other side. Inhale as you lower in the middle and exhale as you crunch to the sides.

5.) ALTERNATING LEG LIFTS

Stand tall. Feet are hip width. Raise your left leg while trying to touch your right fingers to your left toes. Alternate arms and legs. Inhale quickly as you lower and exhale quickly as your fingers and toes try to meet for 10-25 repetitions on each leg.

6.) PRAYING WARRIOR

Stand tall. Bend your left knee to the left side. The toes of your forward leg should face the left side. The toes of your back leg may be slightly turned in. Place your hands in a prayer pose. Breath deeply for 3-10 long breaths. Repeat on your other side after you do number seven below.

7.) TWISTING SIDE LUNGE

From Praying Warrior, simply bend your back leg. Place your forward hand on your mat for support. Raise your other arm, stretch it and try to look up.

8.) EXTENDED ARM AND LEG STRETCH

From Twisting Side Lunge, come to a table top position or get on all fours. Extend your left leg to the side. Lean your torso and stretch your right arm overhead to the left. Breathe deeply. Alternate sides for 3-5 repetitions on each side.

9.) PRAYING LUNGE EXTENSION

With your left leg extended out to the side, try to raise your knee from the floor. Place your hands on the mat in front of you. If you are comfortable, try to place your hands in prayer pose. Hold the pose, breathing deeply for 1-5 deep breaths. Repeat on your other leg.

10.) CHAIR POSE

From standing position, lean back as if you were going to sit in a chair. Raise your arms. Breath deeply for 3-5 times.

Have a blessed day and yoga on!

HALLELUYAH!