5 morning stretches with a gratitude twist
What's the story
Starting the day with gratitude stretching can make your mornings a little happier.
The practice marries movement with mindfulness, paving a way for an attitude of gratitude for the day to come.
By doing simple stretches and focusing on gratitude, you can improve your mental and physical well-being.
Here are five ways to add gratitude stretching to your morning routine, making every day a refreshing start.
Drive 1
Begin with deep breathing
Start by taking deep breaths while standing or sitting comfortably.
Focus on inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling slowly through the mouth.
As you breathe, think about something for which you are grateful.
This practice helps calm the mind and prepares it for a more focused stretching session.
Drive 2
Incorporate gentle neck stretches
Start your day by gently tilting your head from side to side, feeling the stretch in your neck muscles.
While you're at it, think about moments or people who add joy in your life.
These neck stretches not only release tension built up while sleeping, but also promote relaxation.
Combining these movements with thoughts of gratitude enhances their effect, making you feel more relaxed and thankful.
Drive 3
Perform shoulder rolls
Start your day by rolling your shoulders forward and backward in deliberate, slow circles.
Continue to breathe evenly and steadily during this exercise.
With each rotation, imagine you are releasing the stress you've hoarded and welcoming positive energy into your body.
Simultaneously, think about recent successes or moments of joy, acknowledging them with gratitude.
This practice not only releases physical tension but also cultivates a positive mindset for the day ahead.
Drive 4
Engage in forward bends
Stand tall and slowly bend forward from the hips reaching towards the ground or as far as you're comfortable (without any strain).
As you hold this position, take a moment to reflect on the things in life that often go unnoticed but actually deserve your appreciation.
The blessing of good health, the value of having supportive friends around you etc. These things enrich our lives in subtle yet profound ways.
Drive 5
Finish with seated twists
Sit cross-legged on the floor/chair.
Gently twist from one side to another while maintaining an upright posture throughout each twist cycle (left then right).
During these twists, focus attention inwardly, acknowledging personal strengths which have helped overcome challenges faced previously.
Thus, fostering self-gratitude alongside external appreciations mentioned earlier within other exercises mentioned here today!