We are currently in a polar vortex. I live in the midwest where it rarely gets in the single digits and never below zero. Unless there is a polar vortex. So we are stuck in the house for several days at least (maybe longer). We have been limited in our activities anyway thanks to the pandemic, but now we are literally not leaving the house to even go into the backyard and get fresh air, or run to the grocery store. I still do my morning workouts, of course, and since I telework, M-F I take fitness breaks during my work day and also do another short workout at the end of my work day (I call it “doubles”) so that I am moving frequently throughout the day. But this weekend is a 3 day weekend for me and my husband. It’s freezing and we are not getting out of the house. I have found myself sometimes feeling kind of blah during the day (cuddled up under a blanket, reading, wearing flannels and cabin socks). Today I decided to do SaraBethYoga‘s 10 Minute Morning Yoga Stretch to Wake Up to see if it would perk me up. And surprise! It did! It is a gentle standing yoga flow and in 10 minutes it got my blood flowing again. I didn’t sweat or anything but it made me feel more alert and refreshed. I wish I had started using it sooner this long weekend. But I will definitely continue using it in the future when I am feeling sluggish on the weekends. In fact, I will probably do this short practice again later today. I occasionally have workdays where I am not motivated to take a fitness break. I never skip my morning workout but I may skip my doubles workout at the end of the day because I’m feeling blah. In the future when I am feeling that way, I will insert this little practice into my day to perk myself up.
10 Minute Morning Yoga Stretch to Wake Up is 11:04 minutes. This practice is only 10 minutes. The last minute is Sara suggesting another practice.
- Child’s pose
- Downward facing dog
- Walk feet into hands so you are in forward fold
- Raise torso so that you are still hinged at hips but back is flat
- Return to forward fold then roll spine up to standing with hands in prayer
- Stand with hands in prayer and eyes closed taking deep breaths
- Extend arms overhead then pull elbows down while arching spine
- Reach arms overhead and forward fold; place one hand on floor and extend other arm to ceiling
- Raise torso so that you are still hinged at hips but back is flat
- Return to forward fold
- Repeat 7-10 four more times
- From forward fold roll spine up to standing with hands in prayer
- Stand with hands in prayer and eyes closed taking deep breaths while Sara talks
For more info on SaraBethYoga and other (free) streaming workouts I’ve sampled and reviewed, check out my Streaming page.
