The Benefits of Starting Your Day with Yoga
The Benefits of Starting Your Day with Yoga
How a few mindful movements in the morning can uplift your body, mind—and yes, even your skin!
Let’s be real—mornings can be rough. Between alarm clocks, rushing kids (or pets!), catching up on emails, and trying to sneak in a healthy breakfast, self-care often takes a back seat. But what if we told you that carving out just 10 minutes for a gentle morning yoga routine could completely shift your day?
We’re not talking about an hour-long power flow or twisting yourself into a pretzel. We’re talking slow, steady movement paired with breath. The kind that clears the cobwebs from your mind, loosens the tension in your back, and sets the tone for a more grounded, glowing you. Yes—even your skin benefits.
Here’s why starting your day with yoga is one of the kindest, most effective ways to support your mind-body wellness, ease stress, and even promote healthy skin from the inside out.
1. Morning Movement = Better Mood
Let’s start with the obvious: moving your body in the morning feels SO good. You wake up a little creaky (I know I do), and instead of going straight into fight-or-flight mode with a packed schedule, you start your day with intention. Just a few stretches—child’s pose, cat-cow, a few gentle sun salutations—can help increase circulation and send a signal to your nervous system that you’re safe and supported. Trust me, we are keeping this routine very achievable!
And guess what? That kind of gentle reset lowers cortisol, the stress hormone that wreaks havoc not only on your mood but also on your skin. (Think puffiness, breakouts, dullness—ugh.) Which brings us to our next point…
2. A Natural Form of Stress Reduction
If your morning routine currently looks like coffee + phone scrolling + chaos, consider this a loving nudge. We have all been there! Incorporating stress reduction techniques like breath work and slow movement into your morning can help shift your body out of high alert. Deep breathing alone—try inhaling for four counts, holding for four, exhaling for four—can lower heart rate and calm the mind. I do this even throughout the day when I start to feel that overwhelm and anxiety creeping in!
And when your nervous system is in a more regulated state, everything from digestion to hormones to skin function works better. Stress shows up on our faces. But, so does calm! Starting your day with yoga is a powerful way to invite more of the latter.
3. Improved Circulation = Skin That Glows (Naturally)
Let’s talk skin. We often think of healthy skin as a result of the right cleanser or serum (and trust us, that helps), but skin vitality also starts from within. Yoga improves blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body—your skin included. That boost in circulation helps bring nutrients to the surface while flushing out waste products that can build up overnight.
You may even notice after a good yoga session, your skin looks a little brighter. That’s not just sweat—it’s your body saying THANK YOU!
Pair your practice with a quick skincare ritual post-yoga (like misting with rosewater or applying a hydrating serum while your skin is still damp), and you’ve created a mini spa moment that feels indulgent but is entirely doable.
4. A Morning Ritual That Grounds and Connects
There’s something deeply sacred about giving yourself time in the morning—not for productivity, but for presence. Yoga offers that. It reconnects you to your breath, your body, and your intentions. For many women, especially those navigating changing skin, changing hormones, or just the sheer stress of daily life, that connection is everything.
When you approach skincare as part of your holistic wellness, it stops being about “fixing” and starts being about nourishing. Self care is the best care!
5. It Helps With Lymphatic Drainage (Yes, Really)
One of the lesser-talked-about benefits of yoga is the role it plays in lymphatic flow. The lymphatic system is your body’s natural detox network—it helps move waste and toxins out. But unlike your circulatory system, it doesn’t have a pump. It needs movement.
Simple inversions (like downward dog, legs up the wall, or even a forward fold) help stimulate lymphatic flow, which can reduce puffiness and inflammation in the face. Pair that with a gua sha session and a few drops of our Nightly Face Serum, and you’re giving your skin the ultimate treat.
6. Yoga Supports Hormonal Balance
For women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond, hormonal shifts can lead to all sorts of skin challenges—acne, dryness, sensitivity. Regular yoga supports your endocrine system by lowering stress hormones and encouraging healthy hormone production.
Poses like bridge, seated forward fold, and gentle twists are particularly supportive. Over time, you may notice more regulated energy levels, better sleep, and yes, calmer skin.
7. You Don’t Need to Be “Good” at Yoga to Benefit
This part’s important: You don’t need fancy leggings, a studio membership, or years of practice. You can roll out a mat in your living room in your pajamas. You can do five minutes. You can follow a free video online or just stretch in silence. One of my favorite YouTube channels is Yoga with Adriene: WATCH HERE
Try This: A 10-Minute Morning Yoga Routine
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a simple, beginner-friendly sequence you can do tomorrow morning—right next to your bed if needed. Wherever feels best for you!
- Seated breathwork – 1 minute
(Close your eyes, inhale through the nose, exhale slowly through the mouth.) - Cat-Cow stretch – 1 minute
(Gentle spinal movement to wake up the back.) - Child’s pose – 1 minute
(Rest, breathe, let your forehead sink to the mat.) - Downward dog – 2 minutes
(Bend one knee at a time to stretch your legs and back.) - Standing forward fold – 1 minute
(Let your head hang heavy; sway a little side to side.) - Mountain pose with intention setting – 1 minute
(Stand tall, hands at heart center, and ask yourself: “How do I want to feel today?”) - Seated twist – 1 minute
(Gently twist left, then right to stimulate digestion and wake the spine.) - Savasana or Legs up the wall – 2 minutes
(Lay back, close your eyes, and let yourself rest.)
Follow it with a splash of cool water on your face, your favorite skincare, and maybe a mug of tea or warm lemon water. Boom, your day just got a whole lot better! Trust me!
Final Thoughts: This is a Form of Skincare, Too
We often look for skincare answers in jars—and we love a good serum around here—but the truth is, how you start your day sets the tone for everything that follows. When you give your nervous system some love, get the blood flowing, and treat your body with care, your skin responds.
Yoga is skincare. Skincare is self-care. And mornings are a sacred opportunity to choose both.
So tomorrow, before the coffee and the chaos—unroll your mat. Breathe. Stretch. Be still. Your skin, your mind, and your whole body will thank you.
XOXO
