Two weeks ago, my yoga instructor asked me to start each morning with a brief yoga workout. Specifically, she gave me instructions for Mandala Namaskar III, which for those of you who practice yoga is a combination of warrior poses with malasana. For those you who don’t practice yoga, this routine is a combination of specific lunges, stretches and controlled breathing.

The idea behind the morning yoga practice was to provide additional stress relief. Overall, I do feel a bit more relaxed, though I still have much work to do on the relaxation front. :) The biggest benefit so far, however, is alertness. Not only do I wake up better and faster, but I find myself feeling more energized throughout the day. It is as if someone gave me a controlled release caffeine pill. The energy stays with me throughout the day. Plus, there is the added benefit of getting extra exercise.

I spend about 10 minutes in the morning, so it’s a very minimal time commitment that just about anybody can squeeze in.

Since the morning practice is performed on carpet (as opposed to the wood floor that my yoga studio has), I use a Yogitoes skidless mat. Unlike a traditional mat, this is a very thin mat that is designed simply to improve foot traction. On carpet, this makes a difference, because the combination of a traditional mat and the padding underneath a carpet creates a surface that is too soft. The Yogitoes mat, however, works extremely when placed over a traditional mat (on a wood floor), especially for those practicing hot yoga or are simply prone to sweat a lot. Best of all they are machine washable.