JUMP START YOUR DAY!

Here are my six top tips for a fantastic start to your day. The key is to have a simple structure planned and to STICK TO IT! I can too easily get caught in that awful phase where I know I need to get out of my cozy robe but I can’t quite make the transition. If I stay just that bit too long in that cozy cocoon with a cup of tea in front of the computer, the day can start to go horribly pear-shaped, so here’s some tips & tools that you can build into your early morning routine.

If you ever wonder how many stunning celebrities look so great on and off the Red Carpet, the answer would be tons of exercise! Aside from the look-good aspect of getting your bod moving, it feels so fantastic to get your blood pumping first thing in the morning. Yoga is a firm favorite of many beautiful stars including Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Trudie Styler and Alica Silverstone.  The Bar Method (a personal favorite,) is how Drew Barrymore and Lisa Rinna keep their amazing bods in shape, and since the movie Black Swan, many here in Hollywood are taking to ballet training to the next level!

1. Get Up!!!! No matter how sleepy I feel, no matter how much I believe that I need another 15 minutes after the alarm has gone off – just to doze and get my thoughts straight, I absolutely need to stick to the get-up time that I’ve planned. My experience is that if I move my body, my mind will follow – not the other way around.

2. Hydrate: As soon as you’re up, it’s time to down an 8oz class of room temperature, filtered water. I add a huge squeeze of fresh lemon juice to cleanse my liver and sometimes add 2oz of aloe vera juice (many health benefits).

3. Moving & Grooving: I need to move straight into exercise mode as soon as I lift my sleepy bod out of the bed. This doesn’t mean I have to start training for a marathon or perform 100 jumping jacks, it simply means that I need to start some kind of physical movement. I cannot underscore how important it is to start with the physical and let the mind follow. The KEY is to plan what you are going to do the night before because otherwise your mind will trick you out of it. If you planned a 20 minute yoga practice, have your mat rolled out ready. If you are going to the gym, have your gym pass, your water bottle and everything you need, packed and by the door.

Your morning workout doesn’t have to be a huge deal, if time is not on your side, try 10 minutes yoga, or even 5 minutes on a mini-trampoline. Some mornings I’ll do an exercise DVD (The Bar Method, The Element Ballet Conditioning, or a Kettle Bell Workout), but I’ll just click on the section that I know I want to work on – this might mean 15 minutes abs or 20 minutes lower body.

I need to have something really comfy to slip into for my morning exercise. The thought of having to squeeze into a pair of tight lycra/spandex pants at 6am is really off-putting. I like my morning yoga/workout clothes to feel comforting. This doesn’t mean that I need to pull on an unflattering pair of baggy old sweats either – I’ve found a couple of brands that I adore for my morning routine. One of my fave’s is a company called Om Girl. Not only is this an ethical and super-green company, but the clothes are soft and very sexy. Pull on a pair of OM Girl Nomad Pants or Leggings and you feel like a Yoga Goddess before you’ve even started. What I love about the Nomad Pant is that it has a little pull-down skirt built in, so if you’re staying in your yoga kit for the day, you’ll be able to conveniently cover your tush with this sexy little skirt.

4. Conscious Contact: Take a little time out, directly after exercising to make a conscious connection with whatever it is that you believe in. I have to have this time to remind myself that I am a spiritual being that needs to plug in to my Higher Self/Higher Power/God/Great Spirit. I ask that I stay conscious of this presence throughout my day and pray that I will be guided. I usually finish this short meditation asking that I be guided to someone who might need my help that day. Depending on my day, this ritual may be anything from a 1 minute quickie prayer, to a full-on 20 minute meditation. The important thing is that I do it.

5. Skin Brush: After exercising, don’t get caught in the “slopping-around-in-your-sweats” trap. Get straight into the bathroom and whip out your sisal brush. Dry skin brushing is the next key to a great start and also great preventative health care. You need a sisal brush with a long handle. Stand in front of the mirror (naked) and start vigorously brushing your skin. Always use long, strokes up or down towards your heart. Since the skin is an organ of eliminations, this brushing will help this process as well as stimulate your lymphatic system. If you have a copy of Do It Gorgeously, I go into great detail about the actual brushing technique and give you a great recipe for a Cellulite Oil too. Skin Brushing will wake you up fast – better than a double shot latte.

6. Super Foodie: By now you might be running out of time, plus the family might be waking up so your precious “me” time is coming to a close. Make sure you don’t short-change yourself on the breakfast front. The best way to make sure you are getting a nutrient dense breakfast is to make a smoothie or add a some super food powders to your oatmeal. You want to make sure that you’re getting your anti-oxidants, fiber, protein and omega’s all in one shot.