This morning, start your day with great stretches: from cobra to cat cow

Mornings mean a fresh start. We wash away yesterday’s stress and tensions and start the day afresh every morning when we wake up. An ideal morning includes waking up right after sunrise, going to the gym or doing a mindful practice outdoors, having a healthy nutritious breakfast full of protein and fiber while chatting with your loved ones at the breakfast table, and getting ready to go to work. Planning the day properly keeps us way ahead of schedule and eliminates unhealthy rushing from our lives. But there is nothing better than waking up after a good night’s sleep and doing soothing stretches to recharge the body for the day ahead.

Also read: 10 great benefits for your body and mind by stretching every day

Child Pose:

A relaxation pose in which we sit on our ankles with our knees bent, and then press our arms on the mat and touch our forehead to the mat, giving a good stretch to the upper body and spine.

Also Read: 10 stretches and exercises to avoid discomfort and pain while sitting in a chair

Cat Cow:

In Cat Cow, we stand on all fours, our hands are on the shoulders and knees are on the waist. Then while breathing in, we push the upper part of the body upwards and then while breathing out, we pull the upper part of the body downwards while keeping our face upwards.

Also read: These are the reasons to include ballistic stretching in your fitness routine

Neck stretches:

To stretch the neck, sit or stand with the spine straight and then tilt the head to one side while relaxing the opposite shoulder. Repeat on both sides. This also helps in rotating the neck.

Knee to Chest Stretch:

This is another relaxing stretch that helps to stretch the lower body. Lie down on the mat and bend your knees. Then bring the knees close to the chest and hug them with both hands. This morning stretch gives the body a hug-like feeling before starting the day.

Cobra:

This stretch involves lying on the stomach with the legs relaxed, then placing the hands on the mat, slowly raise the upper part of the body and look upwards.

Also read: Stretch yourself a little! Rujuta Diwekar answers 10 questions related to stretching