A Playlist for more Inspired Mornings

Are you a morning person? I am. I did not used to identify as one but my husband would definitely disagree. Just this morning he pleaded with me to “sing and dance a little less in the morning” until he is more fully awake. (Insert all the laughing face emojis). I mean, what can I say? I wake up happy. I know it can be irritating.
 
I will say that it’s not entirely my own doing. You see we did not use alarms to wake up in my house growing up. My mom shot straight out of bed before 5am and would wake us kids up for school by blasting into our rooms, turning on the lights, and singing one of her “Good Morning” or “Rise and Shine” songs. It was often accompanied by her signature dancing too. We would groan and beg her to stop but it is actually one of my favorite memories of her and apparently it really rubbed off on me.
 
According to Ayurveda, the early morning is the vata time of day and a crucial time to get up, expand our awareness and create meaningful connection. I know that not everyone has an easy relationship with mornings so I wanted to share a few key things that I do which I believe help me greet the day with energy and enthusiasm.
 
First, begin with gratitude. As soon as my alarm goes off, I say “Thank you.” I have cultivated a habit of starting each morning with an utterance of gratitude for anything that comes to mind. “Thank you for this day. Thank you for my breath. Thank you for this warm bed. Thank you for my dogs cuddling with me now. Thank you for the students I will see today” etc. etc. It is a way of consciously opening my heart and mind first thing rather than getting sucked into my phone and any awaiting messages or alerts that will pull my expanded mind into a contracted state of worry.
 
Next, awaken your body with breath. Spend at least a few minutes (I suggest 10-20 minutes but any breathwork is better than none!) breathing deeply and consciously. If you know some pranayama practices, the morning is a perfect time for them! Try awakening pranayamas like kapalabhatti, surya bhedana, or strong ujjayi breathing. If you aren’t familiar with these, just spend a couple minutes focusing on big expansive inhalations and clear the breath out through your mouth. We want to bring more prana (life force energy) in to awaken our bodies and minds first thing in the morning. Couple this with some gentle stretches and you’re off to a great start.
 
Lastly, use music to uplift your spirits. I love to listen to music in the morning that makes me feel connected, joyful and inspired. Of course, music is very personal and subjective, but I have created a Glorious Morning Playlist to share some of my favorites with you. It starts off with a mantra or two and moves into more upbeat songs as you start to wake up!
 
Wishing you happy mornings and a beautiful week!