Ever wake up feeling stiff, sluggish, or like you just need a little extra push to get going? Yup – me too.
That’s why in this blog we’re focusing on one of the most “feel good” ways to supercharge your mornings – Waking Up Your Muscles with a few minutes of gentle stretching followed by some free-form dance movement.
This kind of early morning movement can do wonders to wake up your body, boost circulation, rev your metabolism for fat burning and set an energetic tone for the day. Plus, it just feels so good!
Just like all my other morning energy hacks, pairing this with music accelerates it to a whole new level! If you have subscribed to my newsletter, you can grab your Waking Up Your Muscles Morning Boogie Playlist from there. You can also create your own personal “Waking Up Your Muscles” playlist and just have fun with it. There are a ton of fun and energizing songs about dancing! So grab your Morning Boogie Playlist and your yoga mat and let’s get our bodies moving!
Here’s how to turn this simple, fun, health-promoting act into an energizing ritual:
THE METHOD:
- Stretch It Out: Grab your playlist, lay out your yoga mat and spend Track 1 doing simple sitting/standing stretches, like reaching overhead, rolling your shoulders, touching your toes, or doing a gentle spinal twist. I often start my mornings with the Daily Move on the Calm App – highly recommend.
- Move Freely: Spend Track 2 letting your body move however it wants! Sway, shake, bounce – no rules, just fun (dance like nobody’s watching) movement.
- Shake It Off: Shake your arms (one at a time), your legs and then your whole body to Track 3 to release muscular tension, pent-up energy, calm your nervous system and start your day off feeling more grounded. This is also a great exercise to do at the end of your day as well.
- Feel The Energy: Notice how your body wakes up, your mood lifts, and your energy starts flowing.
WHY IT WORKS: Morning movement, especially when combined with music, helps:
- Increases Circulation: Loosens stiff muscles from sleep and gets your blood flowing, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and brain.
- Boosts Your Energy & Mood: triggers endorphins (your “feel-good” hormones) to start your day on a high note.
- Revs Up Your Energy: increases your heart rate, shaking off sluggishness and fueling your morning, setting a positive tone for your day.
WELLNESS NOTE: To maximize your morning energy, try this ritual before breakfast. The combination of movement and music primes your digestive system and metabolism for the day ahead. Stay hydrated by having a glass of water with lemon ready for after your dance session.
PRO TIPS FOR BUILDING THE HABIT:
- Pair It With Your Morning Ritual: Habit stacking is the best way to create a new habit and make it stick. For example, you could stretch while waiting for your morning coffee or tea to brew like I do.
- Let Music Be Your Cue: Have your Morning Boogie Playlist locked and loaded and press play as soon as you wake up. The music will do the rest!
- Keep It Fun: Free-form movement means anything goes – no right or wrong way to do it. It other words – dance like nobody’s watching!
- Experiment: Play with new and fun ways to get morning movement, as well as, new songs for your playlist to keep things fresh.
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