Good Morning Starshine...

The Earth says hello.

 Starting off a morning right can seem out of reach. But what's better? Taking some time for yourself to make sure you've solidified a sunny beginning to your day or rolling out of bed with questionable hygiene? A little preparation with a mind and body connection in your first waking moments for just five minutes can allow your morning's happy release trickle into the rest of your day and evening.

How to start...

1. A glass of water or two. Your body has been dormant for a solid amount of time. Like a plant, our muscles and system need the most basic necessities upon waking. Pouring yourself a cold glass will wake it up and hydrate all those parched internal 'roots' .  Be aware of the feeling, as practicing mindful food and drink consumption can go a long way throughout your day.

2. Open up the curtains. Natural light is our best coffee. Checking out the scene outside gets me excited for a world beyond my room. If you need coffee, start off with a cup that has purpose (if you want to really get at it). Equal Exchange not only tastes rich and smooth, but it helps small farmer co-ops all over the world, in places where the infrastructure needs our help most. But let's be real, sometimes, the only coffee I can grab is on the go, and at the mercy of one of these lovely peeps.  Dammit.




3. A soundtrack and your mat. Gather up some tunes that allow you to slowly sink in to your day and breathe deeply. This morning I started off with Bodies of Water, RZA ("Grits"), Lady of the Sunshine, and Bonobo. I grab my foam roller and sometimes a tennis ball --  rolling my back, my illotibial band (the tendon that extends from the side of your knee to your hip), my quads, and underneath my shoulders. When you reach a spot that feels tight stop and roll very slightly. Deep breaths when stretching and practicing self massage allow our red-blood cells and oxygen to fill and feed the space that need it most, so focus on the audibility of your breath (from your belly up).


4. Create a stretching 'playlist'. Have some favorite stretches? Go through a song who's inherent musical cues, cue you to stretch and play with what you're hearing. It's a great sense- meets- body practice and will leave you feeling limber for your day. Some examples are a downward dog, a split (at your own level), some lunge/ warrior ones (what would Mick Jagger do?), child's pose, and shoulder stretching (again, at your own level).


5.  The day's at your feet. Grab some breakfast and perhaps read up on what's going on in the world beyond you.

Your body is a metaphorical plant, so drink up!

Have an awesome one and I'll see you out there!