Mindful morning start #1
When you first awaken in the morning, start with gentle mindful movements like a cat or dog stretches when they get up. Learn to listen to your body. Begin to recognize its changes. Try the suggestions that will appear over the course of the coming days, to renew or build your connection with your body’s alignment starting with a morning regimen, one exercise at a time, as you attentively experience each one and then finally put them all together in a series of gentle exercises you can use every morning to get your day going.
#1. Begin with body rolling. It’s a soothing way to get the blood flowing as you roll from side to side with your arms and bent knees folding and unfolding as you roll back and forth. Begin lying on your right side in the fetal position. As you begin to roll on your back, let your left arm float open as it crosses your body and your back flattens on to the bed. Your left knee mirrors the movement of your arm as the hips. Complete the motion by bringing your right arm and leg over to meet their left side’s counterparts in the fetal position. Do this rolling back and forth 4-6 times. Sometimes this is all you may want to do for 2-5 minutes. It feels great on the back. Then go for a jog, have some fun on the SANDDUNE, no traffic, no stop lights and no changing! Give your knees and feet a gentle start in the morning. You will still get a work out!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
AS THE NEW YEAR DAWNS
THE ORIGINAL SANDDUNE™ WISHES YOU A
BALANCED, HAPPY, HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS
NEW YEAR IN 2014!
Happy Thanksgiving
The staff of the
Original SANDDUNE™
wish you a
plentiful and joy filled
Thanksgiving Day.
“The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see.”
— Dr. Robert Holden
Mindful Morning Start #5
Since you are on your knees from the cow/cat stretch, you can flow into light stretches for the chest, and shoulders. These will help increase your range of motion giving you more mobility and freedom of movement as your day begins. It creates a feeling of refreshment and invigoration.
Sit back on your calves with your feet flat on the bed. Your hands are in the same position from the cow/cat stretch – under the shoulders. As you sit back on your calves without moving your hands, slowly and mindfully drop your head between your outstretched arms as though you are bowing or doing a courtesy. If you can rest your forehead on the bed, great. If not, remember that has your flexibility increases, your forehead will come closer to bed. Try this stretch twice, holding from 10 to 30 seconds. If you did yoga years ago, this is a variation of child’s pose. For those not yet ready to place their arms and hands in front of them to begin this stretch, bring your arms in next to your body and place your hands next to your feet in another variation of child’s pose. Gently tuck your head as close to your knees as your flexibility permits. Breathe deeply for 10 – 30 seconds, expanding your back muscles as you inhale. Do this twice. Relax between each stretch.
Now come back up to your knees and gently lower your body to the bed, stretching out to your full length. You are now going to stretch your abdominal muscles. Your knees should be slightly apart although some may choose a wider distance depending on flexibility. Bend your elbows bringing them close to your torso. Your hands should be parallel to your chin and nose with finger tips facing forward. As you begin to press your hands into the bed, slide your shoulder blades down your back and inhale. Do not over arch your back as your upper body comes off the bed. Allow your stomach muscles to remain hollow in this natural motion that occurs as you slowly and gently press your body upward. Do not arch your neck back, but keep it going forward in a straight line, as an extension of the spine being pulled by a string attached to wall. Release to the bed gently if you feel pinching or strain. Do this stretch twice, holding for 10 to 30 seconds. Relax between each stretch. These are gentle morning stretches!
Mindful Morning Start #4
Now that you have rocked, rolled and become still, it is now time to step up activating your body. Roll up to your hands and knees to begin a lower back stretch is in order. Make sure your fingers are facing forward and your toes/feet are flat on the bed or floor in the event the dog or cat or whomever, will not move over and give you your needed space! Hands should be under your shoulders or a couple of inches in front of the point on the shoulder and in line with your hips.
Begin with a flat back then drop your head downward, exhaling your breath, as you push the center of your back up opening the shoulder blades, widening your back and ending with the tucking of your tailbone. (cat stretch)
Now reverse the motion, inhaling your breath, as you begin to arch your back, press your tail bone upward and drop your belly. 
Your head should be last to come up. As you return to the upper arch stretch of your back, make sure your head is last to drop into its position. Your head should always be the final body part to complete the stretching movement. You are creating a wave with your body, a fluid soothing motion to the spine. (cow stretch). If you are not used to this, begin with 5 stretches each and work up to as many as is comfortable for you. When you have finished your last stretch, become still with a flat back. Begin to feel your body awaken. Listen to your body.
Mindful Morning start #3
Once your rocking is complete become still.
- Begin to visualize your head and neck in line with your spine by imagining someone is running a string from the center of your head to the tip of your tailbone as the spine aligns itself.
- Place your arms a few inches from your side with your palms down and legs straight, your feet and knees in line with your hips. Wiggle your body around a bit, settle in and relax for a minute or two in a brief mindful meditation.
- Next, press the heel of one leg into the bed, keeping it straight. Feel your leg become tense and hold for 4 counts with the first press being light and subsequent presses done with quick release of the heel into the bed.
- Repeat this 4-6 times. Repeat with the other leg holding for a count of 4 and repeating this 4-6 times. As your body gets used to this, you might try increasing to 8-10 times…then 12-16 times. This increases circulation. Don’t push too hard in the beginning, as you may get a leg cramp!
Once finished, prepare to stand.
Mindful Morning start #2
Now that you have finished your initial body rolling, gently draw your knees to your chest, holding them together or slightly apart, whichever is comfortable, as best you can. Hold for a count of 30. Now, gently rock back and forth on your back. Do not roll over to your side like you did in the first warm up exercise. This movement is done on a flat back. Do this 6-10 times, more if you like. In a second variation, hold your knees and mimic a walking motion while you are doing the gentle rock described above with your head slightly elevated or flat. Your knees can be slightly apart or wide as is comfortable for you. You’ll feel this massage in your upper and middle back as well as the lower back while warming up the hip flexors.
Mindful morning start #1
When you first awaken in the morning, start with gentle mindful movements like a cat or dog stretches when they get up. Learn to listen to your body. Begin to recognize its changes. Try the suggestions that will appear over the course of the coming days, to renew or build your connection with your body’s alignment starting with a morning regimen, one exercise at a time, as you attentively experience each one and then finally put them all together in a series of gentle exercises you can use every morning to get your day going.
#1. Begin with body rolling. It’s a soothing way to get the blood flowing as you roll from side to side with your arms and bent knees folding and unfolding as you roll back and forth. Begin lying on your right side in the fetal position. As you begin to roll on your back, let your left arm float open as it crosses your body and your back flattens on to the bed. Your left knee mirrors the movement of your arm as the hips. Complete the motion by bringing your right arm and leg over to meet their left side’s counterparts in the fetal position. Do this rolling back and forth 4-6 times. Sometimes this is all I do for 2-5 minutes. It feels great on my back.
Start to Improve Lower Body Strength, Stability and Joint Mobility when you first rise
Start to Improve Lower Body Strength, Stability and Joint Mobility when you first rise, stand and walk in the morning. Think of how a cat or dog stretches when they get up. Learn to listen to your body and begin to recognize its changes. We are not taught to do this. Most of us just get up and hit the ground running without a thought of the body’s readiness to move or even the newness of the day. Try these suggestions to reconnect or begin to care for your body’s alignment starting with a morning regiment.
First begin with body rolling. It’s a soothing way to get the blood flowing as you roll from side to side with your arms and bent knees folding and unfolding as you roll back and forth. Begin lying on your right side in the fetal position. As you begin to roll on your back, let your left arm float open as it crosses your body and your back flattens on to the bed. Your left knee mirrors the movement of your arm as the hips. Complete the motion by bringing your right arm and leg over to meet their left side’s counterparts in the fetal position. Do this rolling back and forth 4-6 times.
When you finish rolling, gently draw your knees to your chest, either together or slightly apart, whatever is comfortable as best you can and hold for a count of 30. Then gently rock back and forth on back. Don’t roll over to your side like you in the first warm up. Do this 4-6 times.
Once your rocking is complete, become still and begin to visualize your head and neck in line with your spine, imagining someone is running a string from the center of your head to the tip of your tailbone as the spine aligns itself. Place your arms a few inches from your side with your palms down and legs straight, your feet and knees in line with your hips. Wiggle your body around a bit, settle in and relax for a minute or two in a brief mindful meditation.
Next, press the heel of one leg into the bed, keeping it straight. Feel your leg become tense and hold for 4 counts with the first press being light and subsequent presses done with quick release of the heel into the bed. Repeat this 4-6 times. Repeat with the other leg holding for a count of 4 and repeating this 4-6 times. As your body gets used to this, you might try increasing to 8-10 times…then 12-16 times. This increases circulation. Don’t push too hard in the beginning, as you may get a leg cramp! Once finished, prepare to stand.
As you come to your feet, remember to take your time and go slowly. Come to your feet (or sitting if you choose), begin to do foot circles by rolling the whole edge of your foot on the floor or the SANDDUNE™, to stretch and strengthen ankle flexion. Be sure your feet are in line with your hips as you stabilize yourself with a barre, chair, or sturdy counter. Be sure the knee of your standing leg is soft and your core is intact and active. Try this beginning with 5-10 circles clockwise and counter-clockwise with both feet working up to 15-20 circles. This movement will create an awareness of how the edge of the foot feels. This is something many people NEVER think about unless they are an athlete, especially a dancer, gymnast or athlete participating in any discipline involving continuous running, making rapid changes in many directions.
Now focus on your knees. I hear more people complain about their knees than their feet. When doing standing foot circles it is natural that knee circles follow. As you circle your foot, notice how the knee hinge is now drawing its own circle. This a natural integration of movement required for walking. Allow your foot to balance on the ball of the foot and concentrate on the circle you are now drawing with your knee. You can see the same movement with the knee if you are sitting, but not as pronounced. Watch it, become aware of the movement and how it feels. Repeating knee circles with the foot off the ground works the Psoas muscle in your back heightening your awareness of its connection with the hip joint socket. You can do this on the floor or the SANDDUNE™.
Because the feet and knees are now engaged, it is natural that the hips begin creating their own circles. Both standing/anchor leg and pushing leg are now engaged and the hip joints have begun to swivel, drawing their own circles. Hip swivels will create greater strength and mobility as the body naturally “oils the hip joints.” Go clockwise and counter-clockwise. This exercise can be done on the SANDDUNE™ as well with sturdy support or with a companion to spot you. Have one hand on your hip the other on bar or support. If your balance is good, hands on both hips. Start with 4-6 swivels in each direction working up to 12-16 times. If standing is not an option, do this on your knees and as strength and flexibility increase, you can work your way to standing.
Finally, keeping your standing/anchor leg’s knee soft, slightly bend your other knee and allow the ball of the foot to push into the ground as the heel remains raised, off the floor. This action lifts the “hip chamber” up and when you drop the hip back down it relaxes the muscles and joint. Do this 4-6 times on each leg working up to 8-10 times. The pushing action into the hip chamber strengthens the lower back muscles as well as the leg. Now you’re ready to get your day rolling and body is too.
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