Morning yoga to relieve stress in the entire body

Morning yoga can usually cure any ailment you have, especially if muscle tightness is the problem. Slow yoga meets you in the morning to relieve stress wherever you are, with a gentle swing and easy movement that feels good. It’s just enough movement to wake up the body and invite life back into your body without demanding too much from you first thing in the morning.

9 minutes of morning yoga to relieve stress

You don’t need any props to practice yoga this morning, just yourself and the desire to be free. However, having some blocks nearby can help with access and support in some positions.

Cow pose

Start in tabletop position. With the next inhalation, lower your belly, lift your chin and chest, and arch your back inward Cow pose.

Cat pose

Exhale as you round your back and tuck your chin in Cat pose.

Repeat these poses 3 times, moving with the pace of your breath.

Tilt cat cow

Next time you approach Cat, pause here as you tuck your toes and send your sit bones toward your heels, maintaining the same rounding in your spine.

As you inhale, step forward again into cow pose, keeping your toes tucked. Repeat this movement pattern 3 times, moving with the pace of your breath.

Downward facing dog

On your next exhale, press your hips up and back in Downward facing dog. Switch your feet, sway your hips, or take something Intuitive movement you need. Stay here for 3 cycles of breathing.

Scorpio dog

Point your right toes as they move toward the sky, pausing in Three-Legged Dog before bending your knee and stacking your right hip on top of your left in Scorpion Dog. Start making 3 large, slow circles with your right knee.

Rush of hostility

Draw your right knee toward your chest and place your right foot between your hands. Keep your back knee off the ground in the Runner’s Lunge exercise. Gently rock back and forth here.

Low impulsion

Lower your left knee to the mat, open your toes, and extend your arms toward the sky Low impulsion.

On your next exhale, draw your arms in with the cactus and arch your back slightly here. Re-extend your arms and grab your left wrist with your right hand, pointing your left wrist up and toward the right for a side bend.

Stand wide-legged forward

Return to center before landing your hands on the inside of your right foot. Tuck your left toes in and rotate to face the long edge of your mat Stand wide-legged forward.

Point your toes slightly inward and grab your elbows, hang, and gently sway here for two breathing cycles.

Squat or hoop position

Place your hands back on the floor and heels of your feet until they are slightly wider than hip-width distance with your toes out, and your heels in as you sit low in a squat or Garland pose (Malasana). Place your hands on the heart center and stay here for 3 cycles of breathing.

When you’re ready, clasp your hands and raise your hips level Standing forward bend. Rotate to face the back edge of your rug Downward facing dogRepeat the following positions on the other side:

• Scorpio dog
• Rush of hostility
• Low impulsion
• Stand wide-legged forward
• Squat or hoop position

Downward facing dog

Again, lift your hips to cross the Standing Forward Bend as you rotate toward the front of the mat in Downward-Facing Dog.

Plank position

With your next inhale, round through your back and move forward Plank position.

Knees-chest-chin

From the knees or toes, down in one straight line.

Snake pose

Place your hands under the shoulders and press down through the palms and the tops of the feet to rise Snake pose. Stay here for 3 cycles of breathing, either still or gently twisting from side to side.

Child’s position

Release back to the floor. Come in Child’s positionshift your hips back towards your heels and separate your bent knees about hip-width apart.

Stay here for 1-5 minutes or as long as your morning schedule allows.

closing

When you’re ready, come to a comfortable seat. Bring your hands together at the heart center, bow your head, and thank yourself for making it to your mat today.