By Judson Chaney, ND, Lac

Acupuncturist

My last blog entry was about making your mornings mindful. In it I suggested you choose three things to help set yourself up for a successful day each morning. For this entry, I would like to share one of the items on my own top three list.

Flexibility. As we grow older, one universally recognized change we experience is a decrease in natural flexibility. Alas, the days of youth with its effortless cartwheels and back bends, how quickly time goes by!

All is not lost; it now simply requires your input of time and effort. We can counter balance some effects of aging by employing mindfulness. Making time each morning to stretch and improve flexibility is a great way to start our day. Which is why it is on my top three list to include each morning. I schedule 10 minutes prior to my morning commute to work on basic flexibility motions. There are many great options and programs out there and I encourage you to find one that works best for you and your body. Just remember to keep it simple.

Treat yourself like an athlete and your day like a challenge. Stretch before you begin. I know that I feel my best when I start my day off with stretching. My body feels more awake, more alive, and better cared for throughout the day. I feel more calm, centered, and have more flexibility in not only my body, but in my ability to adapt to the demands of the day as well. Get started today, your body will thank you for it.

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