Morning Yoga to Boost Self-Love

This morning yoga practice offers a gentle reminder that self-love is built in moments of presence. Self-love is not forceful. Instead, it is meeting yourself without judgement, noticing that you can breathe deeply, and understanding that you can learn to be with yourself, even if it feels difficult, exactly as you are.

With heart-opening movement and soft hip exploration, this yoga for self-love practice moves you in a way that feels supportive, energizing, and kind.

15-Minute Morning Yoga for Self-Love

As you move through this practice, stay with your breath and allow it to inform your movement. Allow each exhalation to release your protection mechanisms and help you come back to yourself. You’ll need two blocks or block-like props, such as stacks of books or firm cushions, for support.

Mountain Pose

Begin with your feet hip distance apart with a slight bend in your knees, your palms facing forward in Mountain Pose. Stay here for 4 cycles of breath, allowing your body to soften with each exhalation.

Breath of Joy

Now, practice Breath of Joy. This is a three-part inhale and a one-part exhale. Inhale a third of your breath, bringing your arms straight  forward at shoulder height, palms facing down.

Inhale your next third of the breath, opening your arms out wide to the side.

Inhale so that your breath is full, bringing your arms high overhead.

Bring a bend to your knees and hinge at your hips as you sweep your arms behind you on your exhalation.

Repeat 15 times at the pace of your own breath.

Standing Side Bend

Reach your arms overhead with your next inhalation, exhaling to return to Mountain Pose. Notice if your heart feels a bit more open.

Inhale and sweep your arms up toward the sky. With an exhalation, grab your left wrist with your right hand and bend your upper body toward the right. Breathe here for 2 cycles before returning to center.

Cactus Arms

With your next exhalation, take a baby backbend with Cactus Arms.

Standing Forward Bend

Inhale your arms back toward the sky and exhale through heart center as you dive into Standing Forward Bend.

Halfway Lift

Inhale, drawing your hands up your shins for Halfway Lift.

Downward-Facing Dog

Exhale to step back into Downward-Facing Dog. Take one full breath here, adding whatever movement you may need.

Hip Circles

Draw your right toes up and back in Three-Legged Dog. Bend into your right knee, stack your hips, and bring your knee toward the sky, creating two generous circles with your right knee leading the way.

Pigeon Pose

When your read, draw your right knee toward the top of your yoga mat, landing your knee behind your right wrist. Your left left extends straight back behind you, as you tent up on your fingers to prep for Pigeon Pose.

Fold forward with your next exhalation. You can stay propped on your forearms, lower your forehead to a block of any height, or rest your forehead flat on your mat.

Feel free to pause in the above posture or add a twist, threading your left arm underneath your chest in a prone version of Thread the Needle.

Stay in your chosen pose for 5 cycles of breath.

Seated Side Bend

Slowly release the pose, removing any props you have in front of you. Roll your way onto your bottom so that you’re facing the long edge of your mat.

Keep your right knee bent and your left leg straight. Bring your right foot flat against your inner left thigh. Reach your left hand toward your left foot and sweep your right arm overhead.

Breathe into this side bend. When you’re ready, make 3 generous circles with your right arm, scooping down, forward, and up. Come back to your Side Bend.

Stargazer Pose

With your next exhale, land your right hand behind you, fingers pointing away from you, and sweep your left arm forward and alongside your ear in a half circle. As you do so, lift your hips and press through your left foot and right shin in Stargazer Pose.

Stay here or bend into your left arm and take 3 big arm circles here.

Seated Twist

With your next exhalation, bring your sit bones back to the mat. Your right hand lands behind you and bring your left hand on your right knee as you twist toward the short edge of your mat. Inhale to sit taller, exhale to twist deeper.

Downward-Facing Dog

Release your twist and move through Tabletop to Downward-Facing Dog.

Step forward into a Standing Forward Bend. Inhale, Halfway Lift, exhale, fold. Inhale, reaching your arms to the sky before exhaling to Mountain Pose. Repeat Standing Side Bend through Seated Twist on the opposite side.

Cow Pose

Unwind, and move through Tabletop tow Cow Pose. Arch your back, opening through your chest as you lower your belly toward the mat. Linger here for a full breath, rocking forward and back.

Cat Pose

With your next exhalation, round your spine and tuck your chin in Cat Pose. Linger here, enjoying stillness or a gentle rock.

Repeat each pose once more, adding whatever movement you need.

Reclined Butterfly

Bring your 2 blocks to the mat to set up Reclined Butterfly, a supported heart opener. Place your fist block lengthwise along the center of the mat so it falls in between your shoulder blades. Place the second block crosswise on the mat on the medium level and use it as a support beneath the back of your head.

Settle your back body so that your spine and head meet your blocks, bringing the bottoms of your feet together and letting your knees fall wide. Shine your palms toward the sky in an act of surrender and release. Stay here for 3–5 minutes or as long as you’d like.

Closing

When you’re ready, remove your blocks and roll onto either side in Fetal Pose. Press up through your hands and into a comfortable seat. Bring your hands together at heart center and bow your head, thanking yourself for this act of self-love.