When you do stretching exercises in the morning, your muscles have a chance to wake up and get ready.
Waking up your muscles results in loosening your body and increasing the blood flow to your muscles. Stretching is the perfect way to start each day, and you can make it a habit by implementing it into your morning routine.
As you wake up in the morning, you likely experience the urge to get back into bed or slowly get ready. You might not be excited to start the day, or it might be that you lack the motivation to get going. With morning stretching exercises, you will be more joyful as you begin the day and knock out your tasks more effectively.
If you drink coffee in the morning, it is a great way to take in caffeine and give you a jumpstart to your day. It won’t last, though, and you’ll soon feel groggy again while also experiencing brain fog. With stretching, that doesn’t happen because there isn’t an external stimulus that you depend on.
The positive effects of stretching exercises will stay with you throughout the day, helping you feel happier and more energetic. This addition to your morning routine is one that you will never regret, as the benefits are helpful and obvious. You will be happier because of the new routine, and it will quickly become something you look forward to.
The Best Types of Stretches for Morning
Dynamic stretches are the best type of morning stretch because they don’t require as much flexibility. This type of stretch offers gentle and repetitive motion that helps transport blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your muscles. Dynamic stretches often require movement, but you won’t have to hold each position as long.
With dynamic stretches, you get your mind and body moving naturally and evenly. The movement required in these stretching exercises is more beneficial because it quickly awakens the targeted muscle groups.
Static stretches, however, are best for later in the day when you have already been moving around. While this type of stretch is often stationary, it requires that you hold the position for an extended period. When your muscles haven’t received blood and oxygen yet, they won’t be as flexible when holding these poses.
Stretching Exercises to Help You Wake Up Happier
Try these moves to get the blood flowing when you awaken in the morning.
1. Palm Stretch
This stretch will help you balance your mind and body while also improving your strength and flexibility. Plus, it improves your overall well-being and allows you to live a happier, more joyful life. It will also promote relaxation when you are feeling anxious or tense.
The palm stretch works for your arms, chest, abdominal muscles, spine, and legs, making it a well-rounded option. This stretch is perfect for beginners, those that are more advanced, and pregnant women. Some of the other benefits of the palm stretch include:
- increased blood circulation
- better mobility of your shoulders
- positive digestive function
- body detoxification
- stimulation of the nervous system
- clearer breathing
- elongates the spine, relieving pressure on the spinal nerves
2. Waist Rotation
The waist rotation helps stabilize the spine and promotes movement as it coordinates the pelvic muscles. Your pelvic muscles flex, extend, rotate, and bend in unison but can get misaligned from one another.
With this stretch, you will have an easier time flexing or extending your muscles and bending your body. Pressure on your spine will ease, too, allowing for more comfort. In addition to the increased mobility and strengthened muscles, this stretch promotes happiness and well-being.
3. Butterfly Stretch
This stretch will help you start your day on a positive note as it promotes happiness and relaxation. It also improves the flexibility of your inner thigh muscles. The butterfly stretch also helps maintain stability and balance, encouraging good feelings throughout the day.
4. Head Rotations
Head rotations are a type of upper back release and help relieve any tension and stress in your neck, upper back, and shoulders. They also increase overall flexibility while reducing joint stiffness. This stretch also improves blood circulation throughout your body.
Head rotations also correct your posture and prevent slouching. The best part of this stretch is that it brings you feelings of peace, calm, and relaxation throughout the day.
5. The Tiger Pose
This yoga pose will help you wake up happier for a variety of reasons. First, it promotes spinal flexibility as it requires you to move in a wave-like way. It loosens the joins and helps lubricate them with spinal fluid.
The tiger pose can also tone and soothe sciatic and spinal nerve pain. Additionally, it activates the sacral chakra, promoting proper food digestion, pleasure, movement, and creativity. The up and down head movement of this stretch also helps you feel relaxed and calm.
In women, this stretch strengthens the reproductive system. It helps tone and strengthens the muscles in the reproductive area. Plus, it can improve the reproductive health of women.
The benefits don’t end there, though, as the tiger pose stimulates blood circulation in your abdomen. It also can help burn fat around the hips, thighs, belly, and waist, promoting happiness with your physical appearance.
6. Lateral Arc Stretch
This stretch bends your spine, helping to keep it flexible and healthy. It also relaxes the sides of your body as it stretches, which is part of the body that often gets ignored during stretching.
This stretching exercise also helps tone the muscles in and around your abdomen, hips, and waistline. It also reduces excess fat in your abdominal area. The lateral arc stretch improves liver function while also lengthening the hips, abdominal muscles, and thigh muscles.
7. The Cobra Pose
As you do the cobra pose, you will notice that you quickly begin to feel happier. This stretch promotes the circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. It also helps you feel energized but relaxed if you do it at the start of your day.
The cobra pose can open and heal the heart chakra, allowing you to release grief and explore self-love. It also improves flexibility in your spine and releases stored energy in that area. This stretch improves posture, allowing less tension and tightness into your muscles.
Additionally, the cobra pose strengthens the muscles in your arms, shoulders, back, legs, and abdomen. It improves digestion, respiratory and cardiovascular health, and the health of your liver, kidney, and reproductive organs.
The best part of this stretch is that it brings a sense of optimism to your life. You will feel more positive and confident throughout the day.
Benefits of Stretching
If you still aren’t convinced that stretching exercises will help you wake up happier, there are even more benefits. Implementing stretching into your morning routine will improve mobility and help you prevent injuries, such as carpal tunnel and herniated disks. It eases muscle tension, reduces pain, and noticeably boosts your mood.
If you work at a desk, a morning stretching routine can help counter the uncomfortable effects. When you are hunched over a keyboard all day, tension, pain, and tightness build up. Staying happy is impossible when you are always tense and in pain, but stretching exercises can help.
Additionally, you will notice improved flexibility and respiratory function. Regular stretching can also help you heal faster and maintain a healthier lifestyle. You will quickly recognize an improvement in your overall well-being, and you will be happier because of it.
Plus, you will experience less stress and anxiety, and you will be more alert throughout the day. You will be more resilient when unexpected situations occur, and you will make better last-minute decisions.
Stretching in the morning can also help you get better sleep during the night. You will fall asleep easier and get higher quality sleep, helping you feel more rested and refreshed the next day.
Final Thoughts on Stretching Exercises to Help You Wake Up Happier
Implementing stretching exercises into your morning routine can help you wake up happier each day. You will experience less stress and anxiety, and you will be more resilient to unexpected changes. Making decisions will come easy for you, and you won’t question yourself as much because your confidence improves.
Alternate your morning stretches by trying some of these exercises when you wake up. You will quickly notice the benefits as you align your muscles and improve your well-being. These stretches can easily be adapted to fit your lifestyle, and you can do them anywhere.
The goal with these stretching exercises is to get your body moving first thing, without fast or jerky motions. As you implement stretching into your morning routine, keep all of the benefits in mind. If you think about the happiness your new routine will bring, you will notice the positive effects even more.
