5 Stretching Exercises to Boost Energy in the Morning

If you suffer a lot before getting out of bed in the morning, you feel sleepy and unable to start a new day no matter what, you are not alone. Waking up early in the morning is a big challenge, especially if you don't get enough sleep during the night or if you have a heavy sleep.

You can use some ways to help you boost your energy in the morning, whether by drinking cold water, coffee or eating a balanced breakfast. However, you might be missing one thing which can provide you with energy as well: exercise.

We don’t mean doing cardio exercises in the morning, while your sleepy, but some stretching exercises such as yoga are easy in the morning; they stimulate blood circulation, move muscles and thus boost metabolism and energy.

These following stretching morning exercises will take about 5 minutes of your time only and you can do them in your pajamas.

1- Standing forward-fold

• Stand and release your upper body forwards over your legs,
• Let your hands float gently to the floor.
• Keep a gentle bend in the knees to avoid over-stretching your hamstrings.
• Nod and shake your head to release tension.

2- Seated forward fold

• It is the same as above but in seating position.
• Sit down on the floor with your legs out in front of you.
•  Keep a relaxed bend in the knees and gently fold your upper body forwards over the top of the legs
• Stretch forward as far as is comfortable.

3- Cobra

• Lay on the floor on your belly.
• Lift up your upper back into a gentle backbend.
• You can use your forearms as support.
• Keep your head and neck up with a gaze directly ahead of you.

4- Downward-facing dog

• Take the dog position, on your hands and knees.
• Push your knees away from the floor, as if you are standing up, with keeping the knees slightly bent and the back as straight as possible facing downwards.
• Keep your head and neck relaxed and breathe deeply.

5- Seated twist

• Sit on the floor with both legs in front of you.
• Bend the left knee then slide the left foot underneath the right buttock.
• Put the right foot over the top of the left leg, with the right knee pointing directly upwards.
• Take the right arm behind you and look directly behind you.
• Breathe deeply.