Planting Zen

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

The first moments of your day can set the tone for the rest.

Here is a short yoga practice I have found helpful to do in those first few minutes —

Upon opening your eyes allow yourself to pause, taking in your surroundings and begin noticing yourself as you are. Try to do so without judgement or expectations.

Notice your physical body, and how it feels. Notice your breath, and the way it naturally ebbs and flows in and out of your body. Notice how the breath moves your belly and chest. Notice if you’re taking full or shallow breaths, how long your inhale is versus your exhale, and where you feel it inside of your body.

After at least ten rounds of breathing, Invite movement to your body. Allow yourself to move slowly, and really really notice how this movement and your breath are connected.

Feel the rhythm within.

Tap into your intuition and see what parts of you need to be moved. Perhaps you begin to move the fingers and toes. Or bring your arms overhead for a full body stretch? Eventually coming into a happy baby pose (bending the knees, bringing your hands up to either grab behind the knes, along the calves, or on the feet/around the toes.)

Closing your eyes, visualize the day before inside of your mind. Any worries, stress, or whatever you want to leave behind as you face this new day, picture it inside. As you draw the air in through your nose imagine pulling these things in, feeling them swirl around your lungs. Pause. Then exhale through your mouth with a cleansing and loud sigh while imagining releasing these things out into the universe and out of your heart and mind. Visualize the release. Allow yourself to let it all go. Take as many rounds of this cleansing breath as you need.

Eventually, allowing your breath to return to normal, & your legs to come back down onto your sleeping surface. Notice how you feel now in your body, your breath, and your mind. Slowly flutter your eyes open, and begin your day in your usual way.

I hope this helps 🙂 -Kristen