For more energizing poses, McMullen suggests trying a modified sun salutation that doesn't require any lengthy floor work. "In the morning to get a little stretch, you could just do the standing [salutation]," she says, referring to the part of the practice that involves the following:
- Inhale with arms up.
- Exhale into a forward fold.
- Inhale while lengthening the spine.
- Exhale and come back up to standing.
Warren adds that this kind of forward folding is useful because "it's calming, and then it's also releasing a lot of stored tension." If you're looking for an even deeper stretch, McMullen says there's an easy modification. "You can bring the full palm under the feet, bend your knees a lot, bring the toes to the inner wrist, and you can kind of massage your wrists there," she explains. "Especially if you're on your computer all day, that feels amazing."
Image Source: Getty / Oana Szekely