Good Morning…or is it???

While it is true that life is unfolding, it also responds to our reactions.

Are you struggling in the mornings to find balance and momentum to carry you through your day? Are your morning choices preparing you to live optimally each day?

Maybe you are waking up already feeling the stress and overwhelm of life's events or the pressure of what is on your docket that day. Upon waking, your immediate focus might be on how your chronic physical or emotional symptoms may be expressing in your body.

More often than not we find ourselves reacting to the events of the morning, rather than intentionally responding with the control in your hands.

Maybe it is your habit to turn to your phone or computer first thing checking emails, texts, news, or social media. Before you know it, you are sucked into a negative, frazzled spin, with your body screaming symptoms while trying to get yourself, and perhaps kiddos or the dog ready too. We are all so busy these days, but it is clear how this type of morning pattern gets the adrenaline and cortisol pumping and our nervous system in an unbalanced state of fight, flight or freeze (Sympathetic response)!!!

Oh, I know. I have experienced my own version of this picture.

I can recall very clearly the time in my life when I realized something had to change in the ways I was approaching each day. My husband and I were facing one of the biggest, scariest of all life challenges...he had just been diagnosed with cancer, at 49 years old, with a young family of 3 boys. I had to figure out how to best support him through major surgery, 6 months of aggressive chemo, while helping our 3 little boys not only understand what was happening, but instilling in us all the confidence that everything was going to be ok. I wanted to maintain as much normalcy for everyone as was possible. My physical and mental health were at risk as I could feel the tissues and cells absorbing the higher demand and the emotional strain was mounting.

I knew I had to protect myself and ensure that I was starting each and every day with essential tools of wellness. Movement and supportive nutrition, coping (using breathwork and trusting in my faith), and mental strength-building(mindset and meditation) became critical, life-saving practices. My awareness of what I chose to put into my body first thing became vital as I really needed energy and balance to be efficient and effective. I also knew I had to eliminate starting my day with certain stress-inducing things like news and social media.

And so my Morning Practice was born.

Taking ownership for how you feel, how you choose to begin each day, and how you react and therefore how your body responds is truly transformative. These practices and tools will nurture your body holistically at a cellular level, build resiliency in your nervous system and truly open the pathways of innate healing within.

These five steps are actually the foundational categories of my Morning Practice. I created a Guide, customizable with various elements under each category, allowing for what fits you best.

Let’s explore the five categories and how they can absolutely transform your daily life and overall well-being.

1. Breathwork: After we have been sleeping for hours, the breath is usually more shallow. So to get the body ready to rise and get going, it helps to practice expanding the breath before feet hit the ground. Intentional breathwork also keeps your nervous system balanced at the start of the day.
2. Gratitude: Starting with a gratitude, actually feeling it, sets us up for a higher vibrational state, paving the way for a positive tone to start the day. This practice also ensures a resilient nervous system as every thought has a direct physiological response from the brain and autonomic nervous system.
3. Movement: When your feet hit the ground, stand for a moment, feeling yourself taller. This is a great chance to prepare the body for the day with a couple of elongating and rotational stretches while breathing deeply. As you move through this early morning time, be aware How you are moving, bending, and carrying yourself (think tall, open heart, shoulders dropped).
4. Hydrate: After a night’s sleep and no fluids going in, your cells and systems need hydration! A big glass of water(8-12 oz minimum) and an elixir of warm water, lemon, apple cider vinegar and ginger helps your body recover from the sleep dehydration, kick-start your toxin removal system(Lymphatic System), boost metabolism and the immune system, and helps to regulate blood glucose levels.
5. Daily Reading: Starting your morning with an uplifting, supportive, inspirational message or affirmation will lay the foundation for a positive mindset and connection with that pure, truest part of ourselves. This practice is grounding and calming, gives us clarity and hope, and heightens our awareness. So resist jumping on to social media, turning on or reading the news, checking emails and instead reach for your daily reading of choice as this can quickly drive your nervous system into a sympathetic response (fight, flight or flee).
6. Shine. Now you are ready to move into your day with calm, more balanced alignment and in control of your reactions.

I have worked for years on refining and honing my morning practice to be the very FOUNDATION of daily well-being for what you need from the moment you are aware you are awake, and into those first pivotal moments at the very start of your day. All by just embedding a few simple practices into this critical part of the day. 15-20 minutes. Woven into your routine.

Imagine intentionally choosing the first thoughts, setting the tone for the entire day, and prompting your internal pharmacy.

Use your breath to send the prompt to your nervous system to regulate appropriately.

Gently ease your body into the movement it needs.

Hydrate your dehydrated brain, systems and tissues after a period of sleep and set the stage for equilibrium.

And feed your brain with uplifting expectations of what IS.

These steps were and continue to be my lifesavers and I maintain my practice even when I am out of my environment and away from home!

Whether you have a morning routine and want to revamp it or if you have never really had a morning practice, I have created a guide that will be an absolute game-changer. This guide allows you to build a morning practice that is meaningful and tailored to your needs.

You can find my Guide on creating your very own powerful Morning Practice in the link below

https://tr.ee/U_r6EGPOrQ

Leap into your life,

Xo Lisa