Feeling Good Is Contagious: Practicing Peace of Mind

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/droz/feeling-good-contagious-practicing-peace-mind

Want to make sure you don’t want to wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Try sun salutations first thing in the morning. It’s what I do, religiously. Every morning, I wake up, brush my teeth, give my face a splash of cold water, and I begin my 7-minute yoga-flow workout.

Even if you don’t get to it in the a.m., yoga is a perfect way to reboot or unwind, depending on what you want it to do for you.

Yoga: It's Cheaper and Easier Than You Think

Yoga, sounds pricey? Not true; the true nature of yoga is to be at one with your body, to be without — not garbed in — expensive workout attire. Some might think yoga is a little too new age or trendy, but the truth is, it’s rooted in centuries of tried and true practice. You don’t have to be exceptionally spiritual or follow a macrobiotic diet. Yoga, independent of such factors, does a body good. What I’m trying to say is, it’s not that complicated. (Sorry, no excuses here.)

The best part about yoga, or a yoga-inspired work out? It’s a full-body conditioning exercise, without the intimidating weights or the even more intimidating trainer. You’re using your own body weight to get lean and improve your balance, both of which I speak about, repeatedly, on the show and in my life. The fat-burning value of lean muscle and the importance of balance is something to treasure as you age. Some yoga poses are even detoxifying. Think you can’t do pushups? You’ll think otherwise when you’ve begun to master the plank pose. While its methods may seem covert, the benefits of yoga are quite evident.

Bonus: Exercising before eating breakfast actually burns more calories, as you’ll go into your body’s own reserve instead of the meal you just ate. Additionally, you’ll probably want to choose smarter fuel when you do decide on what to eat for your first meal of the day. Mystery-meat sausage might start to look a lot less appetizing, or at least I’d hope so.

Peace of Mind Is the Goal

Overall, the entire experience can bring you a whole lot of peace of mind. I guarantee that if you try it, you’ll know what I’m talking about. That’s why I prefer to do yoga in the morning. It helps you reel it all back in, especially if you’re faced with a massive to-do list that you’ll have to dash through over the course of the day. The postures are intended to “open your heart,” as in stretch your rib cage, expand your lung capacity, and improve the quality of your breathing. If my experience is a testament to the power of yoga, I do believe it actually opens you up to making the most out of your day.

This is why I’m such an advocate. Yoga helps me put my head on straight. Yoga helps me put things in perspective. How many people do you know that could stand to benefit from these rewards? I bet your coworker could; your neighbor, your spouse and your friends wouldn’t mind either. Everyone I know that has picked it up is better for it. Create a routine your mind and body can look forward to. As with anything that you commit to, this practice truly does pay off. Make the payoff even greater by sharing it.