Our Super Hacks are easy ways to add a moment of positivity into your day and maintain healthy habits. This hack is brought to you by Yoga & Pilates Specialist and Holistic Health Coach Claire Grieve who completes this routine every morning to keep her feeling grounded and calm.
Behind The Hack
Claire didn’t always practice yoga - in fact, she first stepped on the mat when she was 25. She says, “The day I found my mat, I truly found myself. I have found such growth, transformation, and healing from this practice. It has taught me to love and trust both my body and my mind.”
Adding yoga into your daily self-care routine can transform your life. Setting aside time to connect with and nurture yourself can truly make an impact on your well-being.
Yoga allows us to be completely present in our own body and reconnect with our self worth, giving ourselves that important moment of self love and care.
And the great thing about yoga is: it’s not just one thing. It’s not just the sweaty 90-minute classes in a 104 degree room, or the headstands and crazy arm balances. Anybody can practice yoga, anytime, anywhere, because it’s about connecting with the body and breath. Even just adding this quick morning flow to your routine will give you all the benefits - it’s a wonderful self-care practice!
Try it Yourself
Claire’s grounding morning yoga routine:
- When I wake up, I do three sets of 4, 7, 8 breaths: Inhale for 4 counts, hold the breath for 7 counts, and exhale for 8 counts. This breathing exercise energizes my mind and body.
- Afterwards, I do a few gentle twists, hamstring stretches, and happy baby poses to gently awaken my muscles and internal organs.
- I perform a few repetitions of the 8-pose sun salutation sequence. Moving first thing in the morning gets my blood flowing and awakens my body and mind. You might be surprised by how energized you feel after just five sun salutations.
- Bonus: I perform this sequence outside if I can. Practicing yoga on the bare earth helps me feel grounded and more calm, allowing me to take on the day from a place of mental and physical strength.
"My morning routine allows me to feel grounded in my own purpose, which helps me take on whatever the day throws at me with more focus and grace."
Yoga Tips for Beginners
Want to try yoga but unsure of where to start? Claire was there once too! Here she shares some helpful advice for new yogis:
- Explore all of the different classes and teachers available to you, online and in person. Find a class and style that resonates with you.
- Your breath is the most important aspect of yoga. Always come back to it. If some things are hard, reconnect, slow down and breathe.
- Avoid comparing yourself with the person next to you. It is your practice, your body, your mat, your experience. We are all different. Every day is different. Be present and enjoy today.
- Yoga is not about standing on your head and being a pretzel, it is about creating an internal union of body, mind and breath. We do this through physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques all combined together.
- There is a lot of emotional energy stored in the body, especially in hip opening and heart opening poses. Sometimes you may feel like crying, screaming or laughing in class. Don’t hold your feelings in. Allow them to come and go and release.
- Always stay for savasana and meditation. Most people run out of class - I was one of these people in the beginning until I saw the light. This is the most important part where your physical body and nervous system get to relax and rejuvenate. This is the ultimate yoga pose and self care moment in your practice.
Take your Self-Care Even Further: Try a Sound Bath
Ever heard of a sound bath? Claire is a huge advocate - they add another level of healing to your self-care!
Sound healing is a powerful modality based on ancient healing techniques. The vibrations of sound work at a cellular level to recalibrate and heal on a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual level. By listening to certain sound frequencies, our bodies respond by letting go of old emotions and creating a relaxed and peaceful state of being.
"I use sound bath journeys as a tool to relax and take some essential self care time for me. I use them to cleanse my energy and absorb the healing frequencies when I’m feeling tired, rundown, stressed or when I need a little extra dose of positive energy!"
The alchemy crystal bowls are also powerful tools in my work. Each individual will benefit in their own way from the sounds depending on what is going on in their own mind, body and external environment at that particular time. Every day, every experience is different. Both with yoga and meditative healing.
You will come out of a sound bath experience feeling well balanced and relaxed with a sense of calm and inner peace.
Want to try a sound bath healing for yourself? Head over to our Instagram where Claire shared a beautifully healing sound bath with us!
Feeling grounded and calm after your morning yoga? Power up for the rest of your day with Claire’s favorite coffee picks!
