Try These 5 Morning Exercises

Exercise is a great way to boost endorphins, which are known as the body’s feel-good chemicals. Physical activity can be beneficial at any time. However, moving in the morning may help set the tone for a positive day.

“Exercise helps build your endurance and ability to handle stress … the less stress you have, the more energy you have to use for your day,” celebrity fitness expert Ridge Davis tells HuffPost. Experts also associate being active with less tension, greater mental clarity, and improved confidence.

If you want to maintain a consistent morning routine, it’s best to work out by doing something that brings you joy. Discover simple exercises you can do to maximize the benefits of fitness in the early hours.

Warm Up Your Body
Before beginning your morning workout, try some quick full-body movements, certified personal trainer Lisa Mateo tells HuffPost. Loosen up by stretching your legs, hips, shoulders, and arms. Afterward, add a brief cardio exercise, such as jumping jacks or high knees. 

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Wake Up With a Downward-Facing Dog
Begin on your hands and knees. Tuck your toes and lift your hips toward the ceiling. Gradually lengthen your legs while pressing firmly through your hands.  

The move is similar to the way “a dog wakes up from a nap … and stretches their entire body with a nice arch,” says Peloton yoga and meditation instructor Kristin McGee. The pose stretches and strengthens the whole body while helping get blood flowing to the brain, she adds. 

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Do the Dead Bug
Try the dead bug to strengthen your core and help protect your lower back. Lie on a padded mat with your knees bent, feet flat, and arms beside your torso.

Lift your hands above your shoulders. Exhale and bring your knees over your hips. Keeping your lower back pressed against the mat, extend one arm and the opposite leg toward the floor. Return to the starting point and switch sides.

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Get Your Squat On
Squats support everyday movements such as standing up and lifting heavy objects, Health reports. They engage the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps and may raise your heart rate when performed at a faster pace. 

To do a squat, stand tall with your feet a little wider than your hips. Keeping your chest lifted, send your hips backward. Bend your knees and pause at the lowest comfortable point. Then press through your feet to stand again.

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Try a Plank Walk-Out
The plank walk-out warms up the whole body while stretching the hamstrings and lower back. To perform the plank walk-out, begin standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, then bend forward and soften your knees enough to place your hands on the floor. Move your hands away from your feet until your body reaches a strong plank. Pause, reverse the movement, and return to standing.

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