The Gift of a Morning Practice

Imagine waking up every morning with a sense of excitement and a smile on your face.  Imagine waking up before your alarm goes off and jumping out of bed because you just can’t wait to get your day started!  Okay, okay, I know this can seem a little far-fetched, like what dream world is Sheetal living in?  But, stick with me here.  A morning practice is anything that you do in the morning to uplift and inspire you for the rest of the day.  It could be as simple as expressing gratitude for the day, setting an intention, breathing with awareness, going for a walk, sipping on tea, reading a book, or listening to the birds chirping outside.  Having a morning practice gives you time just for yourself to do something that you enjoy before jumping into the demands of your day.  
Here are my top 3 reasons for starting a morning practice:

1. It sets the tone for the rest of your day. 
Have you ever noticed that when you wake up feeling stressed, rushed, or sluggish, the rest of the day seems to follow the same pattern?  Alternatively, days that you wake up in a good mood seem to flow much smoother?  I have certainly noticed this in my own life.  Much of what we experience each day is really just a reflection of our own perception of the events going on around us.  So, if we can intercept the state of our perception from the start of the day, meaning if we can get ourselves in a super positive mood, then we see things a little bit differently.  Dr. Wayne Dyer said it perfectly, “When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.”  So, by having a morning practice, you are making the conscious decision to start your day in a way that is positive and uplifting, regardless of what the rest of the day brings.

2. It creates space in your life. 
Early mornings may be the only time you get to yourself, to do anything that you want, without disruption of cell phone notifications, kids, significant others, or co-workers.  It is time set aside just for you and you get to choose what you do in that time.  According to Ayurveda, 4-6am is Vata time, with qualities of air and space.  This is the time of day that our mind tends to be the most clear that it will be all day.  The Vata qualities of air and space naturally gives rise to mental clarity and spaciousness.  So, when we wake up before 6am, we allow our mind to more naturally slip into a calm, peaceful, and spacious place.  

3. You get to do something really fun right when you wake up! 
​Seriously, you get to choose your morning practice.  The only requirements are that it is positive, uplifting, and inspiring.  You want to dance in the morning – do it!  You like to paint – do it!  You like to read – go for it!  You love nature walks – go out for a walk!  It makes it so much easier to move through the rest of your day when you start off by doing something that you truly enjoy!  

What are your thoughts on a morning practice?  Do you already have an uplifting morning routine?  If so, what is it?  

In the next few weeks, I will share with you the evolution of my morning routine and simple tips on how you can get yours started too!