7 Practices to Feel more Present in the Morning
Jul 27, 2021Have you ever wondered why Ashtanga yoga is traditionally practiced first thing in the morning?
Brahmamurtha is one and a half hours before sunrise. This literally means "The Creator's time". It is considered an auspicious time for all practices of yoga and meditation. Spiritual activities performed early in the morning have a greater effect than in any other part of the day.
Maybe you haven't heard the term Brahma muhūrt before, but my guess is that if you have been practicing Ashtanga for a while you already have an appreciation for the morning and perhaps inherently knew this.
I understand that mornings for most of us (myself included) normally consist of checking notifications on our phones, checking email and rushing out the door or onto the mat. Immediately, the stresses of the day hit us and all of our attention becomes absorbed in the rigid to-do-lists.
The truth is what we do and how we feel in the morning can have a significant impact on the rest of our day. If we don't practice our ability to consciously choose what we want our day to look like, then we're basically setting ourselves up for the emotional roller coaster of the day.
- Your day starts the night before. Make sure you get enough sleep by going to bed early. Do a few things to make your morning easier. Pack your bag, make your lunch, and/or set the coffee timer.
- Set your phone on airplane mode before bed leave it that for the first 30 minutes of your day. This helps you start your morning from a place of intention and not reaction.
- Read something inspirational instead of reading your phone. Right now I am reading Trusting the Gold by Tara Brach. I just read a small section of it every morning.
- Create your day. Write out your day as if it has already happened. Do this for any goal you want to accomplish. All you do is visualize your day like it has already happened. This helps get you focused and excited about your day.
- Get outside. Being in direct sunlight in the morning will regulate your hormones and help you sleep better.
- Meditate. The morning is a great time to meditate because the mind is inherently more still in the morning. We wake up with our minds relatively clear and there are fewer distractions in the morning. This enables one to achieve a deeper meditative state.
- Move and connect with your body. Appreciate the amazing vessel that you get to live in every single day! Movement helps you get energized, relieve tension, and grounds you for your day.
When your body and mind are at ease, you're able to work more efficiently throughout the day. Remember, it’s not about nailing each of these habits everyday. Pick one and grow from there!
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