Waking up early in the morning and getting your workout on may feel like a hard chore. These workouts can boost your mental and physical energy as well as promote a healthy frame of mind for the entire day. Waking up to morning workouts will help kick-start your metabolism, allowing you to burn tons of calories hours after your workout. Here are five energy boosting moves you should do every morning:

Jumping Jacks

Jumping jacks are a classic full-body, calorie-burning exercise. 10 minutes of jumping jacks every morning is incredibly good for your body. This workout is ideal for starting your workout sessions as it increases your body temperatures and prepares your body and mind for the workout session. It does this by triggering your heart to pump out fresh, oxygenated blood to your muscles. It also makes your lungs work harder to deliver the much-needed oxygen.

Directions:

• Start this exercise in the standing position with your feet and arms pointing outwards
• Jump your feet apart to hip distance simultaneously raising your arms stretched up until your fingertips touch above your head
• Jump your feet back to the starting point at the same time lowering your arms to your sides
• Repeat these jumping motions for 5 to 10 minutes straight
• Make sure to maintain proper abdominal tension to work out your core muscles

Walking Plank 

After the Jumping jacks, get your abs, and the whole body warmed up by getting into the plank position.

Directions:

• Get into the push-up position by planting your palms on the floor directly below your shoulders
• Plant your toes on the floor and then squeeze your glutes to steady your body
• Slowly move your right leg up and outside your right hand on the same side
• Still in the same position, stretch up your right arm toward the ceiling and bring it down slowly
• Repeat this pose several times alternating on both legs and arms

Hip Opener 

The hip opener is great for opening the hips and stretching the back, which tends to get knotted up from sleeping and sitting down all day. This exercise also helps to strengthen your arms, legs, shoulders, and back.

Directions:

• Move into the downward dog position (a great energy-boosting pose) by placing your palms on the floor and lifting your hips towards the ceiling and the crown of your head pointing downward
• Raise one leg behind you
• Raise it as far up as you can and then bend the raised leg and draw it toward the bum
• Keep your shoulders aligned with the front of the mat
• Hold this position for at least 30 seconds and repeat with the other leg

Quad Stretch

Like most people, you probably wake up with tight quads. Taking a few minutes every morning to stretch can energize your body by loosening up your muscles. There are plenty of ways to stretch these muscles including;

Lying Side Quad Stretch Directions:

• Lie down on one side and prop your head up with your hand
• Pull the foot on the upper side towards your butt and hold for 30 seconds
• If you have trouble staying steady, you can bend the bottom knee to provide support

Easy Quad Stretch Directions:

• Stand on one leg with both knees touching (you can hold on to a chair or wall for support)
• Now grab on to the raised foot and pull it toward your butt
• Try your best to maintain an upright posture with your chest upright to give your quad a good stretch
• Hold for 20 to 30 seconds before stretching the other leg

Kneeling Quad Stretch Directions: (This stretch helps to loosen the muscles above your knee particularly well)

• Start off in the downward dog position
• Slowly drop your right knee to the ground
• With your right hand, reach back for your right foot toes
• Hold this position for 30 seconds and slowly release
• Get back into the downward dog position
• Switch sides to perform the same move on your left quad

Good Morning Bend 

This exercise provides one of the best ways to build leg, hip and back strength.

Directions:

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width and place your hands behind your head
• Slightly bend your knees and torso straight
• Bend your back forward until it is parallel to the ground
• Make sure to keep your weight on your heels and hips
• Hold for a few seconds and then return to standing

Always keep in mind that for these workouts to be highly effective, you need to combine them with a healthy eating habit. The Whole30 diet is highly recommended as it helps to push the reset button with your eating habits and health. This is done by cutting out foods that may be negatively impacting on your health and making you feel tired all day long.

Lydia Mattern, NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Lydia is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer at fitnessgoals, with a passion for writing and a love for chocolate. She enjoys long walks with a breeze and finding ways to make dessert healthy.