Rev Up Your Metabolism With a Daily Morning Practice

Developing a morning practice is a way of regimenting your life so that you repeat a number of healthy habits each and every morning.  Here are some suggestions for developing a daily morning practice that can help kick-start your metabolism.

1. Wake up at dawn.

The human body thrives when it is in sync with the movements of nature. If you want to rev up your metabolism then make it a habit of getting up as close to dawn as you can every day.  This helps your body acknowledge its natural circadian rhythms, one of which is the urge to empty the bowels and bladder as early as possible in the morning. If we don’t do this then our body reabsorbs toxins.

If this means going to bed earlier so you can rise at dawn then try your best to do this.

2. Drink lukewarm water with lemon.

The first thing you should drink after you wake up is a glass of lukewarm water in which you have squeezed the juice of a fresh lemon.  If it is hard for you to swallow this than you can add a dab of honey or balsamic vinegar glaze.  After you drink the lemon water follow it up with a tall long cold glass of water.  For many, this helps stimulate a bladder and bowel movement.

3. Do some stretches to limber up your muscles.

To keep your body flexible and get the blood flowing do some basic stretches.  The Five Tibetan Energy Rejuvenation Poses written about earlier in this Healthy and Active Blog are ideal for this purpose.

4. Bounce up and down!

To get your lymph moving and your metabolism set to burn mode jump rope, jog or do some rebounding.  This helps wake you up and gets the oxygen speeding through your body.  Rebounders are mini-trampolines that cost between $28.00 and $60.00 to purchase and offer an affordable way to stay in shape.

5.Speed up your metabolism by lifting weights

Lifting weights for just twenty minutes every morning helps train your body to burn fat all day and also cuts your appetite.

6.  Enjoy a caffeinated beverage.

Whether you prefer to get your caffeine from coffee, green tea, black tea, hot cocoa or even caffeinated water, it is a helpful aid when it comes to speeding up your metabolism and helping your body get moving.

Finally, there is a seventh floating step that you should try and include in your routine called  “Meditate for Ten Minutes.”  Meditating for just that short time can help you feel relaxed, wake up your brain and feel ready to focus on the day ahead.  When you meditate is a matter of personal preference.  You can meditate just after you wake up, after you empty your bowels, after you are done bouncing and lifting weights or during your cup of morning caffeine.  How you want to fit this necessary step into your practical morning routine is completely up to you.      

For more information about The Pinewood Institute for the Advancement of Natural Medicine courses including course outlines, detailed descriptions of courses and information about upcoming training sessions, please go www.pinewoodinstitute.com.  You can also send us an email using our email form at http://pinewoodinstitute.com/contact.aspx or call us at 416-656-8100. If you prefer to fax the number is 416-656-8107.