Naomi combines playful, powerful movement practices with the science of habit change to make it easier for busy moms to get moving every day. She frequently writes about the intersection of mom life, feminism, diet culture, and the unrealistic standards we hold ourselves to as women. Naomi is passionate about helping moms move more freely in their bodies and feel more at home in their skin.
Movement Snacks: The boring magic of morning routines (plus a 5 minute yoga flow)
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quick note: I have an upcoming program called the Daily 5, which I'm promoting for the next week, through February 1st. That means I'll be sending out more emails than usual. Don't want to see the Daily 5 bonus emails? Click here and you'll only receive Movement Snacks this week on Friday. Hey Reader, Last weekend, I taught my annual Winter Retreat. It was, as it usually is, a phenomenal weekend of movement and writing and connection and creativity and conversation. I always come away from this weekend feeling renewed. But, my own morning practices of meditation, writing, and movement, tend to suffer. It can be really difficult to sustain familiar practices when you're in a different space or waking up at a different time. On Tuesday morning, when I woke up in my own bed, I immediately slipped back into the familiar morning routine I have here: Alarm off, bathroom, scrape tongue, oil up body and dry off, put clothes on in the dark, sit on the downstairs landing and meditate for 2-10 minutes. Then, put muffins in the oven and walk dog. Once home, feed the dog and write and put away dishes while oldest gets ready for school. Walk her to bus stop. Come home and make lunch for youngest. Spend the next 40 minutes helping the younger kids get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, and get out the door with their dad to the bus stop. Once they're gone, I put on my tap shoes for tap practice followed by movement, usually strength training. Then breakfast. Then work. There are some other things in there, depending on the day, but mostly that's how it goes. It's kind of boring and also magical. I can count on the consistency to carry me through, ensuring that I do most, if not all, of the important things that need to happen -- which include my personal essential practices. This leads me to my Movement Snack this week. Movement Snack this week: Routines can be boring and magical. Both can be true. What's great about routines is that when they are really dialed in, they allow you to move more smoothly through busy or particularly challenging moments. Another bonus about very consistent routines is that they are well set up for building new practices within them. That's how I added my latest addition to my morning practice (5 minutes of tap practice) into the current established routine. My husband was already taking the kids to the bus stop and I usually started my movement practice around then, but often scrolled first. Now, I drag out my tap board and lace up my tap shoes as soon as they shut the door. The key is first to know what your entire morning routine looks like -- that's why I wrote mine about above. So you can see the whole thing! The next step is to find where there are even small gaps -- spaces to add in maybe a quick dancer pose or a 5 minute flow (scroll down for a link to that one). What does your current morning routine look like? And where are the most opportune gaps? Last thing: One of the easiest ways to add movement into your current morning routine is to make that movement quick and accessible. This is why I created the my Daily 5 program. The Daily 5 begins February 1st and you'll receive a 5 minute movement practice (yoga, bodyweight strength, strength with weights, and mobility) every day for a month. It's one of my most popular programs because it gets you moving with ease and support, but it's also a lot of fun. Plus, when the month is done, you have a handy resource to help you stay in the groove of your new daily movement routine. In case you're curious, here's what a past participant said about her experience in the Daily 5, related specifically to morning routines: "It is so much easier to prioritize myself when I do it first thing in the morning and when it fits into the routine. I realized how I am lacking a routine for myself on the weekends and how I would like to address that. It also really broke the rut I was in with yoga/fitness." Want a taste of what a 5 minute yoga flow is like? I just released a 5 pose, 5 minute yoga flow on my YouTube channel. Watch it here. I look forward to hearing about your morning routines and maybe even seeing you on the mat! Warmly, Naomi |
Naomi Gottlieb-Miller
Naomi combines playful, powerful movement practices with the science of habit change to make it easier for busy moms to get moving every day. She frequently writes about the intersection of mom life, feminism, diet culture, and the unrealistic standards we hold ourselves to as women. Naomi is passionate about helping moms move more freely in their bodies and feel more at home in their skin.
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