and toxins out of our bodies, and helps to prevent blockages. In other words, the flowing blood gets rid of trash our bodies generate in the process of living. Without adequate blood flow, the trash piles up and interferes with proper function, just as a huge pile of trash blocking your driveway would make it difficult for you to get out.

Blood also performs another vital job: It delivers nutrients and oxygen to all the muscles and organs in the body. When nutrients and oxygen are lacking, some muscles just won’t fire up while others will be overloaded during the rest of the day. Then there’s more likelihood of strain, the joints don’t move as well, and we get creaky. In other words, without adequate circulation, you won’t be functioning to your full ability, and it’ll feel like your body

Do morning stretches. Walk for

20 minutes. Repeat the stretches.

Enjoy an extra boost all day.

is saying, “Leave me alone, don’t move me, I don’t want to work.”

If you stretch to jump-start your blood flow right after you wake up, your whole system will get fired up. Combine that with a walk, followed by another stretch, and the muscles, organs and joints will all be working at a much more optimal level—plus, your skin will get a healthy glow.

Morning Stretches

Stay relaxed while doing these. They should feel good, not forced or uncomfortable.

PHOTOS, LEF T TO RIGHT: GOODSHOT/JUPITER IMAGES; ALTRENDO/GE T TY IMAGES

1Lie flat on the

floor, hands by

your sides. Relax and

breathe naturally.

Pull your knees into

your chest, put your

hands just below

your knees and gen-

tly pull your thighs

toward your chest.

Keep your shoulders

flat on the floor. Feel

the stretch through

your back and hip

joints, and hold it

for a few seconds,

breathing normally.

2Sit straight up

on the floor in an

L-shape, legs out in

front (slightly bent)

and your arms by

your sides. Inhale as

you lift your arms

straight up above

your head, then

exhale as you stretch

forward toward your

toes. Hold it there

for a few seconds,

breathing normally,

then return to the

starting position.

3Sit up and stretch

your legs out into

a V-shape (your legs

slightly bent). Lean

forward and try to

touch your bent

elbows to the floor.

If that’s too difficult,

put your hands on the

floor in front of you

as far out as you can

without forcing it,

and hold this stretch

for a few seconds.

Return to the starting

position, then repeat

the stretch two or

three more times.

4In the same posi-

tion, sit up and

gently rotate your

torso to the right,

extending your chest

over your right thigh.

Staying in this posi-

tion, swoop slowly in

an arc to the left, so

your chest is over

your left thigh, then sit

back up. Rotate your

torso gently to the left,

and perform the move

in the other direction.

Repeat in both direc-

tions four more times.

5Stand up. With

your weight

mostly on your left

leg, roll your right

foot up onto your

toes, then back to a

flat foot. Repeat a few

times. Then, with only

the ball of your right

foot on the floor,

make a circle with

your knee without

moving your foot.

Circle to the right,

then to the left, a

few times in each

direction. Change

feet and repeat.