Habits are the key to making healthier choices, and sometimes you have to start small. From breath work to a Vinyasa flow, all you need is this 10-minute morning routine to make a change for the better
Kickstart your morning with Swedish workout aficionado and health coach Ida B Olsson and enjoy a revitalising 10-minute stress-reducing stretch and breathwork flow. Blending lymphatic massage, mindful breathing, and fluid vinyasa movements, this routine lowers cortisol and boosts healthy circulation, making it ideal for busy mornings or a midday refresher.
Try Ida B Olsson's 10-minute morning stretch routine to reduce stress:
Breathwork
- Inhale deeply into your belly, add a short inhale on top, then sigh out to release tension.
Lymphatic Massage
- Gently press beneath your collarbone to open the lymphatic system.
- Tap and sweep your hands upward and inward, directing flow toward the centre of your body.
- Spend extra time on larger lymph nodes around the collarbone, armpits, hip flexors, and behind the knees.
Vinyasa Flow
- Inhale to open your chest, exhale to close and gently stretch.
- Half lift on the inhale, fold forward on the exhale.
- Lower onto your belly, roll your shoulders back, and lift gently on the inhale; release on the exhale.
- Roll onto one side to twist your lower back.
- Alternate Cat (inhale, gaze up) and Cow (exhale, gaze down) to warm your spine, adding circular movements for a full spinal release.
- Stretch your triceps in Child’s Pose, then flow up to Downward Facing Dog, gently moving your body.
- Transition between Downward Dog and Cobra to maintain circulation.
- Turn your toes outward and open your left hip, focusing on lengthening the body. Ease into a hamstring stretch, then move to Half Pigeon, lifting your back leg for a quad stretch. Repeat on the other side.
- In Malasana (wide-legged squat), inhale to lift one arm and exhale to lower it.
- Gently release outer leg tension, then activate your core in Navasana (Boat Pose).
- Finish with Bridge Pose for an extra boost of heat and hip openness.
Closing
Lie down and set a positive intention for your day that uplifts you and helps maintain a calm, energised mindset.