Health Tips # 25 - Waking up - the ideal routine

Here are some tips to start the day on a positive note, with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and to sustain it throughout the day.

You should ideally wake up by 6 a.m. Start the day with a glass of water.

Your body will probably be a little stiff after the night's sleep. It's time to really "wake it up" , give it a good stretch and get the circulation going.

In Indian thought, early morning is the best time to fill up with life force energy (praana in India, chi or qui in China and ki in Japan).

Do the following exercise:

• Stand straight as if in prayer;
• Stretch your arms over your head, lean back slightly and inhale;
• Bend down, keeping your knees straight and touch the ground with all 10 fingers while exhaling;
• Push your feet back, keep your back and head in a straight line and your abdominal muscles pulled in (in the manner of a dog stretching after a nap);
• Inhale and lunge forward; place your right foot between your arms and left knee on the floor while looking straight ahead;
• Exhale; bring your left foot next to your right (you'll have to bend your knees to keep your hands on the floor);
• Inhale and return to prayer position.
• Repeat this sequences six times, alternating your leading leg in step 5 every time. This exercise stretches the spine, "wakes up" your muscles, stimulates blood flow to the brain and fills you up with positive energy.

If this yoga sequence proves difficult, go for 30 minute walk. The above yoga broadly follows the Surya Namaskar, which was explained in another post.

Have a cup of herbal tea after 15 minutes. A cup of tea or coffee accompanied by low calories, sugar-free biscuits will do equally well.

Eat your breakfast by 8 a.m.; it should be high in proteins, vitamins and minerals, moderate in carbohydrates and low in fats.

Never ever skip your breakfast - that is the number one problem for many diseases.

The next post will focus on how best to close the day and relax .