I’ve heard from many of you about how much you enjoy my morning inspirational quotes so I thought I would take this opportunity to share how my mornings start.  

I’ve “trained” my brain to realize the beauty of now. Each day when I wake (between 5:30 - 6) my first thought is “how fortunate and blessed I am to to wake to another day”.   Next, I slowly crawl out of bed (careful to not wake my sweetheart), grab my water and head downstairs, boil the kettle, make a cup of tea and head upstairs for slow movements to wake up my body.  

Each day differs, depending on what is happening with my body.  I always start by sitting quietly for a couple minutes, focusing on the breath.  I breathe in positive warm energy and exhale anything that feels bad or negative.  I take time to examine my body, what’s ailing it today? What feels good? I analyze each part of my body from my feet to the crown of my head.  Then I stand on my yoga mat and do the same thing, but this time adding movement to the practice.  

What I have come to know is that the body is connected. There is no separation.  If you have neck or back pain, it's probably from somewhere far away from where you’re actually experiencing the pain.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought the problem was in one area only to find it stems from somewhere different.   It feels like a light turning on when you locate the actual problem spot and realize how it’s connected. Once you  are able to unwrap the mystery of where the problems arise, you start feeling better.  This is where I spend  most of my time working out different kinks in my body and massaging or stretching them out.

Some pointers?  

1. I highly recommend pinching muscles on your body.  This will definitely help you pinpoint where the problem is ;). 
2. If you dislike stretching or being quiet, I recommend grabbing your phone and  search (on Youtube) for Happiness,  Reiki, or a Healing frequency.  I’ve found them to be helpful in focusing in and calming my brain. It’s easier to let go of thought when you have a little background noise to begin with.  Perhaps you’ll use the frequency for a little bit and then be urged to quiet it.  Again just listen to yourself, listen to how you’re feeling.  Listen. Listen. Listen :)

After some slow movements and all parts of my body are engaged, I start stretching.  Some yoga poses, some old soccer poses, some made up poses, basically whatever feels right and true to how my body is feeling.  I am cautious to never strain or over exert muscles.  If you’re aware of what your body is telling you, then you will know when to call it quits. Once I feel fully warmed up I might do a 10 minute core workout (youtube is a beautiful thing). I’ll mainly do this if I’ve been naughty the day before and had junk food or my guilty pleasure - ice cream!

Keep in mind,  all of this is done by being aware of your body first.  

• Some mornings I just lay on the mat for 10 minutes. 
• Some mornings I only have 10 minutes.  
• Some mornings I don’t have to rush and will then spend up to 2 hours working out kinks
• Some mornings are just stretching
• Some mornings are just breathing

 The key is to feel each part of your body and understand what might be affecting what.  I am by no means an expert nor will I ever be. It has taken me at least 7 years of practice like this to get to where I am now.  I am continuously learning and evolving, for this is the path of life.  Each day I feel lucky to be alive, and to have the time to listen to my body.  To have time to sit quietly and reflect on how beautiful this world is.   

This is exactly where my daily quotes come from.  From making the time to be quiet and wake up slowly.  While stretching and breathing, the words flow from my mouth.  One second I’ll be inhaling and the next I am exhaling the words you see written on Instagram or facebook.  They flow out naturally without any force. Like trees dancing in the wind.  There is no prior thought, just pure reaction to what I am feeling in the moment.  

Be present in the moment and feel what your body is telling you :) 

I'm curious if you would ever want to hear more or perhaps set up a practice together?  Send me a message if that is something that interests you :). Obviously I love interaction with you lovelies :)