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  • Home
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Gentle Morning Yoga 10 Minutes Class

June 5, 2020 //  by Di Hickman//  16 Comments

Rise and shine Yoga lovers. One way to get your yoga done for the day is to do it first thing in the morning before the the daily grind. This 10 minute gentle morning yoga class is easy to fit into your routine. Whether you’re headed out to work, or leading the school run.

Arise and awaken morning yoga

You can follow along with me in the yoga video below. Just hit play, and away you go. If you want to bookmark the video or add it to a playlist you can view it on YouTube. Don’t forget to like, SUBSCRIBE, and share!

Honestly, even though I labeled this gentle morning yoga, it’s a great beginners class anytime of the day. It’s perfect for morning, lunchtime, or an energizing way to beat the afternoon slump. Frankly, it’s also a great 10 minute warm-up for any self-led flow practice. Sometimes we all need a little more warm-up. Especially those of us mid-life and beyond.

Gentle Morning Yoga 10 minute class – exercises

For those that just want the exercises rather than a follow along video here’s the breakdown of the exercises and poses in this class. Above all, remember to listen to your own body and modify where needed.

Seated Cat/Cow

This variation of cat and cow is a great way to mobilize the spine, shoulders and hips. It’s a 3 for 1 exercise. Sit with knees bent, feet on the floor hip distance apart. Hands are behind the thighs.

yoga teacher in seated cow pose

Inhale as you lift the torso, rising through the crown of the head. Sternum lifts, as the spin extends. Exhale rolling the spine, tucking the tailbone and chin. Repeat for 8-10 reps or 45 seconds.

Windshield Wipers

Reach the arms back and place the hands on the floor behind you. Find a comfortable position for the hands. Let the legs sway to the right, then up and over to the left. Similarly, in the same vein as seated cat cow, this is again warming up the hips. Repeat for 30-45s.

Seated Barrel Roll

Staying seated place the hands on the knees and feel the connection of hte sit bones to the floor. Roll the torso around in a circular motion. Experience the movement from the head, through to the pelvis. Rotate a few times in one direction, then repeat in the opposite direction.

Side Stretches

From the same cross legged seated position, arms down by the sides, hands on the floor. Lengthen through the crown of the head. Reach the right arm up, bend the left elbow and reach the right arm up and over towards the left side. Subsequently, repeat to the other side.

Yoga teacher in seated side bend with arm raised overhead

There is also the option here to stay over to the side. Experiencing that lateral flexion. Perhaps, taking an inhale into the side body, allowing the sides of the rib cage to expand. Repeat 3-5 times each side.

Cat Cow

After a few shoulder rolls, transition onto all fours coming into cat cow. Inhale as the belly descends, exhale as the lower back rises. Perform 8-12 repetitions or 45 seconds.

yoga teacher performing cat cow pose on all fours

Again, this is a great exercise for so many joints in the body! Spine, hips, and shoulders. In addition, you get a great little vinyasa started. Movement and breath.

yoga teacher in extended childs pose

Expanding on the cat cow vinyasa, when you come into cat lean back into childs pose. Repeat this three times: cow, cat, childs pose. Eventually tucking the toes and rising into down dog.

yoga teacher in downward facing dog pose

Pedal the dog for a little while. Saying “good morning” to the calves and hamstrings! Breathe. Then, step in and unfold into standing. Hands rest at the heart center.

3 energizing breaths

End the practice in standing with 3 energizing breaths. Reach the arms out and up on the inhale. Then, exhaling hands to heart. Gathering the energy for the day. After that, take a moment to envision the productive, healthy and happy day ahead!

yoga teacher standing in tadasana, mountain pose

Please, try this Gentle Morning Yoga Class. It’s just 10 minutes. Also, like I said, can fit into your day anywhere! Not just the morning. Personally, I’m trying to do this before my virtual yoga classes. In short, 10 minutes a day is a great way to build a yoga practice. Just start.

Questions

  • Do you make time for yoga?
  • Are you a morning person?
  • What’s one habit you do every morning?
Previous Post: « How to do Boat Pose – Navasana
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristine Nicole Alessandra

    June 7, 2020 at 4:59 am

    These look really easy. I am going to try these exercises tomorrow morning. Hopefully my body won’t sound like a box of cereals (snap, crackle, pop). I love these stretching exercises. Sure looks like it will provide a good mood for me.

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:43 am

      Hahaha my body snaps crackles and pops too! This is a slow gentle way to awaken the energy needed for the day!

      Reply
  2. bethan taylor-swaine

    June 7, 2020 at 4:53 am

    This looks like such a lovely morning flow, a great way to work up the energy to take on the day at a nice gentle pace (i.e. the perfect morning!) x

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:43 am

      Yes! That’s my whole premise behind the class! Calm and yet productive day!

      Reply
  3. Lyosha

    June 6, 2020 at 11:31 pm

    Nice idea. Great for busy or morning busy people to boost the energy and start day with self love (yoga is about self love to me)

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:42 am

      Absolutely agree! yoga is self love!

      Reply
  4. blair villanueva

    June 6, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    I hope I could do yoga, and be flexible enough to do many yoga positions. It is very helpful to ease stress, and good for our health.

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:29 am

      You don’t need to be flexible to do yoga. You just need an open heart and a willingness to try.

      Reply
  5. Laurence

    June 6, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    I hope I can do yoga, cause I’m not that flexible. But my friend does this and she said it really helps her a lot. And her sister actually have a baby now because of yoga. so Amazing

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:28 am

      We can all do yoga. Just find the yoga that works for you. This 10 minute class is perfect for beginners. Give it a try!

      Reply
  6. Morgan @ Baby Got Balance

    June 6, 2020 at 9:28 am

    I’m definitely going to give this routine a try! I’ve been wanting to get back into my practice but I feel like some days if I don’t do it first thing in the morning it won’t happen that day. This looks refreshing, especially with my favorite Cat Cow in there!

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:27 am

      Cat cow is essential for my spine. It’s in 99.9% of my classes lol!

      Reply
  7. Kiara

    June 6, 2020 at 7:12 am

    This is perfect for my mornings. It’s something I can do as soon as I get out of bed before I start my day.

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:27 am

      Yep! From the bed to the yoga mat!

      Reply
  8. Charlotte Petit Noble

    June 5, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    Hop, bookmarked for my morning routine tomorrow. I will let you know what I think. I am excited to do it. I am sure it will give me energy and let me start my day like a champ [much needed when you have a tiny human to take care of.

    Reply
    • Di Hickman

      June 9, 2020 at 10:27 am

      Awesome! How you enjoyed it!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Di. A yoga teacher with over 20 years experience in the health and wellness industry. My mission is to give you information so you can be fitter, healthier, stress-free and happier (no, seriously).

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