(Original article written by: Gabriela Aoun) Morning time: The birds are singing, you haven’t checked your e-mail yet, and you have a moment of peace before the day attacks. This is your opportunity to start the day off right. Like the common belief that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, your morning exercise routine is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for your to do list and feel great all day. What’s a great way to get centered and wake up? Yoga. HuffPost Hawaii asked yoga instructor Noelani Love of Noelani Studios in Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore to show us five poses that anyone can and should do to greet the morning. 1. The sun is up and waiting for you to greet it. As soon as you wake up, try to get outside. You need the vitamin D, and your mood will improve. Live in a concrete jungle? Open a window, breathe some fresh air and fill your room with natural light. Standing backbend and side stretches: Inhale the arms up straight and bend back slightly to feel elongation throughout your entire body. Exhale and let one hand slide down the side of your body with the other hand still raised. Allow your head and neck to relax, feeling an even deeper stretch in the ribs and side body. Slowly inhale up to center and exhale to the opposite side. Repeat this motion 5 times on each side.
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I couldn't imagine driving anywhere without music in my car. Even if it's just a quick trip to the grocery store, I need to hear music. I was going through some of the music on my iPhone Road Trip Playlist today, and here I am sharing it with you. Enjoy!
I have to admit, being an independent writer has its perks. I get to choose where I want to work every day. For me, this is a big deal. I had jobs in offices for most of my life. Being confined to one place day after day, and on someone else's schedule, doesn't cut it for me. My mobile office consists of:
2. Pen and pencil 3. Lip-gloss 4. Money for coffee (or tea) I create my day from the minute I wake up, literally. Rolling out of bed, I throw on some clothes - something along the lines of yoga pants or jeans, a tank top, hoodie and running shoes. First matter of the day is exercise - not always my favorite thing to do. The early morning hours are the best because it's still chilly enough to go for a walk or a hike. June in Sedona, AZ is hot during the afternoons. Once out and walking through my neighborhood, I feel great. I stroll down the hill listening to the birds chirping, breath in the fresh air and feel the sunshine on my face. Seriously? Not exactly. Some days are like that, but some are not. I struggle to get out of bed and out of the house. No matter what mood I'm in, I always feel better after my morning walk. Where do I want to work today? This is the fun part. There are lots of coffee and tea shops nearby and they all have wifi, a necessity for a traveling writer. Starbucks is the closest coffee shop and I do go there quite a bit, but recently that's gotten stale. An Eastern Indian chai shop caught my attention. With balconies and sitting areas with large pillows and Tibetin rugs, I feel right at home. Belly dance music plays while I sip a coconut-milk rose chai and snack on a cumin cookie. A small private balcony with a colorful fabric-upholstered seat and small table is my office for that day. Independent coffee shops are my favorite. They offer the local blend of hippies and artists, not to mention unique espresso and healthy food. (Vegan and gluten-free aren't always part of my diet, but my conscious feels better after I eat them.) Today's work space - Creekside Coffee. With plenty of tables and comfortable seating, incredible views of the Sedona red rocks and Oak Creek, this is where I want to be today. At 11:00 a.m., the morning rush is gone. I'm drinking a small decaf coffee (what's the point of decaf, right?), and just finished the most delicious cheese danish I have ever had in my life. As my day unfolds, I create and re-create it, being where I want to be. As a writer, sitting too long in the same place makes my work stagnant. I need to mix it up. Today, Creekside Coffee; tomorrow, The Chai Spot; this weekend, maybe a funky little place in Jerome. The choice is always mine. Where are you working today?
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