Make Stretching Exercises Part of Your Morning Routine

There are some of us that hop out of bed in the mornings ready to take on the world. And then there are the normal people. I don’t know about you, but the only hopping going on in my house is the dog anxiously awaiting his morning potty break. When morning workouts just aren’t your thing, consider some gentle stretching exercises to start your day on the right track.

Most of us stretch a little every morning without even realizing it. We might reach up in to the air when we get out of bed, working out the kinks and slowly waking our bodies. Stretching exercises feel good in the morning and they really are good for you.

Stretching is a good way to start your day by focusing on your body. If you honor your body first thing, you may be more likely to continue that trend throughout the day.

Take your morning reach a step further tomorrow and come down and touch your toes. Don’t push it, just hang there and let your vertebrae release any tension they may be holding. As you come back up, reach again for the sky, stretching everything from your fingertips to your toes.

It’s easy to sink into stretches in the morning because our bodies are naturally relaxed. This means you may be more flexible in the morning than you are after a long, tense day. Compare the form of your stretching exercises at these two times of day and see what I mean.

While you are waiting for the hot water in the shower, take some time to stretch your neck, rolling your head to one side and then the other. Let your shoulders fall and relax. Stretch each arm across your chest, first one and then the other to get a good stretch along the top of your back.

Stretching exercises can be as relaxing or demanding as you want. If you feel particularly energetic, try a yoga session. If mornings are slower for you, take it easy and use stretching to slowly wake your body out of its slumber.