A simple morning routine

It can be a struggle to get going in the morning for many of us. The lure of bed can be strong especially in the darker months of winter!

If you feel sluggish and weary in the morning, a simple routine of practicing 10 sun salutations can be really rejuvenating for the body. It won’t take you longer than 15 minutes and it’s so worth trying instead of reaching for the snooze button!

Sun saluates are a combination of yoga poses that are linked together with the breath. They serve to warm up the entire body (legs, core, spine, hips, upper back and arms) and the flow of moving from one pose to the next without rest boosts the heart rate.

Practicing these by yourself becomes a moving meditation as you focus on what pose comes next and the linking of your breath. This can be a powerful boost to concentration first thing in the morning.

I started this practice during the miserable times of lockdown as I struggled to work from home. It helps me start my day feeling refreshed, focused and calm.

Here are the poses that make up the most basic of sun salutations:

• Tadasana - Mountain Pose

• Forward Fold

• Half Way Lift

• Plank

• Knees, chest, chin to lower you (face) down to the mat - pictured

• Cobra - small backbend

• Downward Facing Dog