Wake Me Up: Morning Positivity - Wake Up & Stretch - Create a Great Day

Episode Date: August 1, 2022

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If you'd like to enjoy Wake Me Up completely ad-free and get access to exclusive bonus content, check out the link in the show notes for the Wake Me Up Premium Feed. Hey there, good morning and welcome to Wake Me Up. This is a wake-up and stretch episode where we'll get out of bed and prepare the mind and body for a great day. And in each episode this week, we'll be focused on creating a great day. Although we don't control everything that happens, we do control. how we set ourselves up for the day and how we react

to what happens. And through that, we can all but ensure a positive day. Now let's get started. I recommend you start this one from bed, but if you're already up and about, that's fine. Wherever you are,

just pause for a moment. Appreciate this new chance with life and take a few deep breaths. Inhaling, filling all the way up, holding it at the top and then release once more inhale filling all the way into your belly hold and release now consider what you can control that would make this a great day maybe there's just one or two things which you can do that will ensure you have a positive productive day overall

What might those things be? Take a moment and focus on this question. How can you ensure those things happen today? Maybe you can knock it out first thing before the rest of the day starts to happen and things get out of your hands. Or maybe you can specifically set aside some time for it. Prioritizing is one of life's most valuable skills.

It's not always easy, but it always pays off. our time is limited and it's our most valuable resource. So prioritizing our goals, our efforts, and our relationships is crucial to ensure happiness and success in any endeavor. So why not set that as your intention for today? To prioritize those things that will create a great day for you. Take a big inhale and collect that intention. And then exhale, release. Once more, inhaling and focusing on that intention, and then exhale, release.

Now there's another beautiful day lying ahead. Let's not waste another minute. So if you're in bed, roll over, make your way to standing up, and we'll start to get our minds and bodies ready for the day. Okay, friends, now that we're all up, it's time for some stretches. And as always, just a quick word, don't do any stretch if it doesn't feel right to you, or if you're not able, feel free to do something else. My stretches are just suggestions.

If you have questions about any stretch, we'd like to see a visual. You can find a link for that in the show notes. Today, we'll do some simple stretches with more focus on breathing to make sure the body is nice and awake. So we'll start standing up straight, your feet flat on the floor,

arms down by your sides. inhale and reach your hands forward and up to the sky all the way up above your head and then exhale and slowly release your arms back down by your sides we're going to do some rhythmic breathing with that same movement a couple times so inhale reaching your arms forward and up and exhale release your arms down this time add a little back bend at the top so So inhale, reach your arms forward and all the way up, a little back bend, and then exhale, release your arms forward, and back down by your sides. Once more, inhale, reaching up, a little back bend at the top, and exhale, arms forward

and down. Now we'll do that sequence again, but this time bring your arms out to the side on the way up. So inhale, raising your arms out and all the way up, opening through your chest and shoulders as you do. And then exhale, arms out on the way down. A few more times, inhale, arms out wide, opening through the chest on the way up, and then exhale, release your arms back down. Let's add in that backbend now too. So inhale, arms out wide on the way up, a little back bend. bend at the top, and then exhale, release your arms back down. Once more, inhale, arms out and up, a little back bend at the top, and then exhale, release.

All right, now let's complete our shoulder and chest opening with some arm circles. And we'll start with the right arm. So begin to draw big circles with that right arm, just like it's a windmill, all the way around your range of motion. and maybe try to align your breath with the rhythm of these circles. Inhaling up and exhaling down. Once you do a few in one direction, pause, and do a few circles in the other direction too. All right, relax your right arm back down. And let's switch to the left side, drawing those same big circles, nice and slow,

all the way around your range of motion. And maybe aligning your breath with that movement. to. Now pause and do a few of those circles in the opposite direction. All right. Relax your left arm back down. And we're going to do our last stretch now, a good old forward fold. So inhale, reach your arms all the way up to the sky. Reach as far as you can. And then exhale, fold forward at your waist. And just let everything fall towards the ground. Relax your neck. Relax your face. Relax your arms. Maybe you want to have a little bend in the knee.

Maybe you want to sway side to side. Whatever feels good to you. Let's do a couple of deep breaths while we're here. So inhale, filling up as deeply as you can, and then exhale, just let it all go. Once more, inhale, release. Now on your next breath, slowly roll all the way back up to standing. And when you get there, do one final roll of your shoulders up, back, and down. All right, fantastic.

Well, that's all for this episode today. I hope your mind and body are nice and warm and ready to create a great day. Remember the intention you set to prioritize the things that will create a great day for you. You may not be able to control everything that happens today. But if you ensure those one or two important priorities, then you're sure to make the most of the day. I'll see you back here tomorrow for our meditation. Until then, go out and have a fantastic day.