Alida's 15 minutes of Morning Yoga

This isn't a guest post, but a loved ones request. Alida is a friend from the days of yore, who is starting an organic farm in Massachusetts (currently taking CSA members!). She has a blog, too. She is fierce, kind, and has beautiful red hair. In Alida's honor, here is a quickie for women who have to wake up and farm.

Alida's 15 minutes of Morning Yoga

Start off this morning, and if you like it every morning, by standing up, making your body as big as 
possible and make ridiculous morning noises. Go MRRR! and UGGGHK! and scare your 
children/partner/neighbors. Get it all out, enjoy.

1. Uttanasana (Forward Fold). Hold for 2-3 minutes. Come into it gentle, don't pull yourself deeper. 
2. Hands to sacrum/low back. Raise your chest towards the ceiling for slight back bend (chin slightly tucked)
3. Lateral stretch, with single arm going towards opposite side above head. More morning noises to release crunchy sides and back. Repeat other side. 
4. Taking feet 2-3 feet apart, swing arms like empty coat-sleeves, allowing torso to twist as comfortable. Gently hit yourself. On the twist exhale a strong "HA!" sound, inhaling through the nose in between. Speed up or slow down as you feel is right for your morning body. 2-3 minutes. Note: If you do allow your hands to gently hit the back body, the usual location is right over the kidneys. If you're not hitting too hard, this can massage the adrenal glands, and work like a cup of coffee by encouraging the flow of adrenaline in the body. 
5. Marichyasana (Marichi's Twist). Or any good twist. This helps untangle the nerves along the spinal cord. Hold each side for a minute, and gently twist in the opposite direction before switching sides.