If you’re anything like us, the first thing on your mind when you wake up is probably caffeine. But what if we told you to pause before stumbling toward the scent of coffee and unroll your yoga mat instead?
While many of us associate yoga with chilling out rather than revving up, there are actually a number of poses that can provide an instant boost for the mind and body. But to find out which move tops the rest for a much-needed morning jolt, we defaulted to Rachel Brathen, the Insta-yogi you might know better as Yoga Girl.
“Purvottanasana, or upward plank, is just as energizing as a cup of coffee,” Brathen said.
But forget the caffeine pangs — what your body is really craving is this head-to-toe, heart-opening stretch, which immediately irons out the kinks from a night’s rest. In addition to recalibrating your musculoskeletal system and giving your mood and energy a lift, it also strengthens the legs, core, and shoulders.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Come to a seated position with your legs extended in front of you. Place your hands a few inches behind your hips with your fingers pointing forward toward your toes.
2. Exhale and ground the soles of your feet down to the earth as you press your hands down against the floor, and start lifting your hips. Press your shoulder blades against your back torso to support the lift of your chest. Engage the back of your legs and keep pressing the inner feet down onto the ground. If possible, ground your toes as well.
3. Gently drop your head back if it feels good — your call.
4. Hold for a few breaths and then sit back down with an exhale.
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