What’s your morning routine most days? This is your choice to make. It really will influence the rest of your day.
Do you drag out of bed, rush through cleaning up, gulp gobs of caffeine, get your kids and pets up, and grab your device to catch up on news, emails & your feeds?
Do you get up, eat something to fortify yourself for the day and spend time looking at something uplifting, pray, meditate, do yoga nidra, sing/chant, or stretch with yoga or tai chi?
Keep in mind that starting your day rushing and stressing will kick in stress hormones (cortisol, etc.) and beta brain waves. Anxiety and fear are sure to follow if high beta brain waves are activated.
Get-a-Dose of MindBody Bliss. Here’s how ..
If you jumpstart your day meditating, your baseline will be a happy dose of mindbody bliss, emotional ease, and mental clarity. Alpha and maybe even theta and delta brain waves will be your foundation. This helps you generate a recipe of positive and helpful neurochemicals/ neurotransmitters and hormones to see you through the day.
Here’s what can happen. Use the acronym – Get-a-Dose – for mindbody bliss. Research suggests the ones listed are only some of what happens. There’s more! Learn more about brain waves and meditation here.
Benefits of Meditation
| Hormones Neurochemicals & Neurotransmitters | Purpose | Brain Waves | Purpose |
| GABA | Anti-anxiety | Gamma | Insight, integration, high level learning, whole brain integration |
| Endorphins | Pain killers, happiness | Alpha | Calm relaxation, intuitive awareness, integrates brain. Stops fear and anger. |
| Telemerase (enzyme) |
Protects telomeres, genetic data | Delta | Meditation preserves and increases telemere length (chromosome end). May slow aging. |
| Anandamide | Bliss, happiness. | Gamma | Insight, integration, high level learning & memory |
| Dopamine | Pleasure, motivation, reward | Theta | Flow, imagery, intuition |
| Oxytocin | Bonding, the ‘hug drug’ | Delta | Clears brain toxins, helps memory, learning |
| Serotonin | Happiness, emotional balance, | Alpha | Calm relaxation, intuitive awareness, integrates brain. Stops fear and anger. |
| Endocannabinoid Naturally made inside your body |
Happiness, anti-inflammation. Improves mood & concentration | Delta | Clears brain toxins, helps memory, learning |
Goose getting blissed throughout the day with mindfulness breaks, especially when you get knocked off your game when weird or upsetting stuff happens. Breathing intentionally can regulate your heartrate, nervous system and up your awareness quotient. Here’s some ideas.
- Complete Yogic Breath: Dirgha Breathing
- Ocean Breath: Ujjayi Breathing
- Take a 2-hour Power Nap in 10 minutes (with video)
- Smorgasbord of meditations, guided imagery & guided relaxation remedies
Get Yoga Nidra Meditations by Julie Lusk & Bliss Brain by Dawson Church to learn more!
Author: Julie Lusk, MEd, E-RYT 500, has over 35 years of expertise in stress relief, yoga, relaxation training, guided imagery and meditation 
as an international author, recording artist and workshop leader. Julie is the author of Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation, Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief, Yoga Meditations, two volumes of 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, and Desktop Yoga®. Her audio downloads and CDs include Wholesome Relaxation, Power of Presence, Yoga Nidra Essentials, Blue Moon Rising, and many others. Learn more at JulieLusk.com
