how do you start your morning Let’s take a quick guess! Maybe with a glass of lemon water, meditation or a look at your cell phone. What if we shared an even better way to start your morning with a boost of positive energy? Do you try to stretch in the morning? First, it’s a great way to break free from morning laziness. Second, some form of exercise first thing in the morning will help you achieve the most important goal of the day very quickly and give you energy for the day ahead. Finally, morning stretches have many other health benefits.
HealthShots caught up with Shynee Narang, a certified yoga teacher, to learn some of the benefits of morning stretches.
Why stretch in the morning?
“During sleep, long hours of inactivity lower body temperature, which shortens and tightens muscles. So stretching in the morning is a must.”
1. Reduces the risk of inflammation and injury
Narang says, “Morning stretches reduce inflammation and lubricate joints, reducing joint and muscle pain.” Plus, injuries can happen at any time, even if you’re someone who doesn’t do extensive exercise. You might bend your body in a strange movement or twist while walking, no one is immune!
Therefore, morning stretches strengthen and lengthen muscles and reduce the risk of injury. This makes morning stretches an effective way to prepare your body for the day by reducing the risk of injury. That way you’ll have better movement and more flexibility when morning stretching is a daily ritual.
2. Activates the parasympathetic nervous system
Do you wake up sluggish and tired every day? Do you also struggle to keep up with good energy throughout the day? If that’s the case for you, morning stretching is a must for you. It’s a gentle way to shake your body and an effective way to get a sudden boost of energy in the morning.
“It activates the parasympathetic nervous system and increases blood flow throughout the body. In addition, stretching strengthens the day,” says the expert.
Also read: It’s time to loosen up with these 10 stretches that promise flexibility
3. An open body equals an open mind
“An open body leads to an open mind and thus brings forth fresh/new thoughts. Then start the day with a new perspective,” says the proven expert. Any form of morning exercise will open up the stiff muscles in your body. As soon as your body relaxes, it gets new space for new energies. People who exercise in the morning tend to have a broader perspective on life, as exercise helps them invite new perspectives and switch easily.
4. Helps relieve stress
Even something as brief as 10 minutes of stretching in the morning can help lower your stress levels and anxiety. Basking in the knowledge that you’re taking time out for yourself and your body helps, too! If you want to make your morning stretch session calming, you can play relaxing or calming music to get you in the mood. Or you can try certain sounds like Tibetan bowls if you are struggling with anxiety issues.
Finally, when the day starts off with such a serene mood, you would surely sleep better with a relaxed and strong mind and body.
