Start With A Simple Stretch

Every morning, my pup Zoe, besides taking a nice sunbath, stretches. She stretches her front legs, effectively doing a downward-facing dog—the original down dog. Then, she stretches her back legs, an upward-facing dog. I'm pretty sure that’s where the pose names in yoga came from.

With just those two simple movements, she is ready to tackle the day. She can sprint at full speed without getting injured when attempting to catch squirrels.

I don’t know about you, but every day after waking up, my neck, upper back, hamstrings, and lower back feel tight. It’s something that has come to my attention as my body grows older; I am 35 years old now, not in the pinnacle of youth anymore. So just like Zoe, my body needs a proper, simple stretch to kick off the day and relieve the tension.

The first stretch I do is that glorious one done while still in bed—you know, the one that’s accompanied by a big sigh and a yawn. Oh yeah, it feels so good. Then I just try doing some really simple movements, either from memory of stretches learned when I did my yoga teacher training or from other yoga classes.

If you want your muscles to be ready for the daily movements ahead, make a positive change in your morning ritual. Start with a simple stretch routine, just like Zoe and I do. Take a moment to address those tight muscles, whether it's the glorious stretch in bed or a quick sequence like this one.

Give your body the right start each day. Invest a few minutes in it. These small stretches can make a big difference. They feel really good, and your body will thank you.

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