Over the past couple of weeks, we have looked at what gives us energy and what takes it away from us. Now, it is time to look at what we can do to keep our energy level balanced or even increase it if we feel a bit low.
The food we eat, the way we move, the way we breathe are all ways in which we can increase our energy level. This week, I’d like to focus on the way we move.
When it is cold and that both mornings and evenings are dark, it can be hard to find the will to get out of bed, or out of the house. The good news is, you don’t actually need to get out of your bed to start your day with a little bit more energy. Once the alarm goes off, take the time to stretch and to take a nice big breath (or probably a yawn) as you do it. Stretch your arms and your legs, maybe roll from side to side before getting out of bed. These simple movements will wake your body up a lot more than just stumbling out of bed towards the shower or the kettle!
If you have the occasion during the day, go for a little walk. It doesn’t need to be a long walk at all. Just walking for 5 minutes a day can increase your energy level. If you manage to take this 5 minute walk between the hours of 12.00-2.00pm, so much the better as it is the time of day when the sun is at its highest (even on grey days) and you will benefit from a boost of vitamin D (good for the mood) and it will help you keep going throughout the afternoon. Another really good time to pop out in the fresh air is in the morning, within a couple of hours of waking up.
Throughout the day, we tend to store stress and tension in our body and, as we have discovered last week, stress is a big energy thief. Some gentle yoga poses that you can do without needing to unroll your yoga mat will help you release the tension and tightness in your body and will immediately make you feel refreshed. Suggestions are the tree pose, some gentle twists, a forward bend (really good at energising as it increases the blood flow to the brain), some gentle spine stimulation by moving into back bends and forward bends, shoulder rolls… Be creative and listen to your body. If you notice a specific area of stiffness, try and move in a way to release this particular area. Common areas where tension get stored are neck, shoulders and lower back.
I hope these suggestions are useful for you. Next week, we will look at how you can use your breath to help you feel more energised.