This morning’s yoga practice gently reminds us that self-love is built in moments of presence. Self-love is not powerful. Instead, it is meeting yourself without judgment, noticing that you can breathe deeply and understanding that you can learn to be with yourself even when it feels difficult, just as you are.
With heart-opening movements and gentle hip exploration, this yoga for self-love moves you in a way that feels supportive, energized, and kind.
15 minute morning yoga for self love
As you go through this exercise, stay with your breathing and let it guide your movement. Let each exhale release your protective mechanisms and help you return to yourself. For support you will need two blocks or block-like props, such as stacks of books or sturdy pillows.
Mountain pose
Start with your feet hip-distance apart with a slight bend in your knees, your palms facing forward in Mountain Pose. Stay here for 4 breathing cycles, allowing your body to soften with each exhalation.
Breath of joy
Now practice the Breath of Joy. This is a three-part inhalation and a one-part exhalation. Inhale one-third of your breath and bring your arms straight out in front of you at shoulder height, palms facing down.
Inhale the next third of the breath and spread your arms wide to the sides.
Inhale so that your breath is full and raise your arms high above your head.
Bend your knees and hinge at your hips as you sweep your arms behind you as you exhale.
Repeat this 15 times at the pace of your own breathing.
Standing side bend
Extend your arms above your head on your next inhale, exhaling to return to mountain pose. Notice if your heart feels a little more open.
Inhale and sweep your arms up towards the sky. As you exhale, grab your left wrist with your right hand and bend your upper body to the right. Breathe here for 2 cycles before returning to center.
Cactus arms
On your next exhale, do a baby backbend with Cactus Arms.
Standing forward bend
Inhale through your arms toward the sky and exhale through the heart center as you dive into the Standing Forward Bend.
Half way up
Inhale and draw your hands up to your shins for the Halfway Lift.
Downward Facing Dog
Exhale and step back into Downward Facing Dog. Take one deep breath here and add the movement you need.
Hip circles
Pull your right toes up and back into Three-Legged Dog. Bend at your right knee, stack your hips and raise your knee to the sky, making two generous circles with your right knee leading.
Pigeon pose
As you read, pull your right knee toward the top of your yoga mat and let your knee land behind your right wrist. Your right-left extends straight behind you as you sit on your fingers to prepare for Pigeon Pose.
Fold forward on your next exhale. You can continue to rest on your forearms, lower your forehead into a block of any height, or rest your forehead flat on your mat.
Feel free to pause in the above pose or give it a twist, tucking your left arm under your chest in a supine version of Thread the Needle.
Stay in your chosen position for 5 breathing cycles.
Seated side bend
Release the pose slowly and remove any props you have in front of you. Roll your way towards your buttocks so that you are facing the long edge of your mat.
Keep your right knee bent and your left leg straight. Bring your right foot flat against the inside of your left thigh. With your left hand, reach for your left foot and sweep your right arm above your head.
Breathe into this side bend. When you’re ready, make three generous circles with your right arm, scooping down, forward, and up. Come back to your side bend.
Stargazer pose
On your next exhale, place your right hand behind you, fingers pointing away from you, and sweep your left arm forward and past your ear in a semicircle. As you do this, lift your hips and press through your left foot and right shin into Stargazer Pose.
Stay here or bend your left arm and make 3 large arm circles here.
Seated twist
On your next exhale, return your sit bones to the mat. Your right hand lands behind you and place your left hand on your right knee as you turn toward the short edge of your mat. Inhale to sit longer, exhale to twist deeper.
Downward Facing Dog
Release your spin and move through the table top into downward facing dog.
Step forward in one Standing forward bend. Inhale, Half way upexhale, fold. Inhale, reaching your arms toward the sky before exhaling Mountain pose. Repeat Standing side bend Through Seated twist on the other side.
Cow pose
Relax and move through the Tabletop Sleep Cow Pose. Arch your back and open your chest as you lower your stomach toward the mat. Hang here for a full breath as you rock forward and back.
Cat poses
On your next exhale, round your spine and tuck your chin into Cat Pose. Hang around here and enjoy the silence or a soft rock.
Repeat each pose one more time, adding the movement you need.
Lying butterfly
Bring your 2 blocks to the mat to set up Reclined Butterfly, a assisted heart opener. Place your fist block lengthwise along the center of the mat so that it falls between your shoulder blades. Place the second block crosswise on the mat at the middle level and use it as support under the back of your head.
Position your back body so that your spine and head touch your blocks, bring the bottoms of your feet together and drop your knees wide. Let your palms shine toward the sky in an act of surrender and letting go. Stay here for 3 to 5 minutes or as long as you like.
Close
When you’re ready, remove your blocks and roll to either side into Fetal Position. Push yourself up through your hands and into a comfortable chair. Bring your hands together at the heart center and bow your head, thanking yourself for this act of self-love.
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