Early Morning Energizers

Beauty/Skincare, Daily Health Solutions, Featured Article
on May 2, 2011
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Yes, coffee works wonders to wake you up, but it’s not the only way to get going in the morning. When you want to perk up and look more awake—no caffeine required—try these more holistic rituals.

 

Shock to the System

Makeup artist Petra Strand starts her mornings by splashing her face with ice-cold water for a minute or two. This deep freeze for the face is invigorating for the whole body (without being as uncomfortable as a cold shower), tightens pores, and even helps deliver an enlivening flush of color to an otherwise tired-looking complexion.

 

Om in the A.M.

Often we wake up feeling fatigued and sluggish because we’re too busy to get enough exercise. “In that case, you can do a more rigorous yoga practice in the morning to get things moving,” suggests Subtle Yoga instructor Kristine Kaoverii-Weber of Asheville, North Carolina. Performing the right yoga poses can help balance your energy and doesn’t require much time. Two energizing poses: Warrior Two, which Kaoverii-Weber says is a great pose for starting out your day because it “facilitates deep breathing, and getting more oxygen is a sure-fire way to improve your energy”; and Cobra, which improves function in the kidney and adrenal glands. “Many traditional medicines say that stronger kidneys mean better, more stable energy,” according to Kaoverri-Weber.

 

Veg Out

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids can give your skin a healthy, attractive glow. People with diets high in this nutrient tend to have a more yellow complexion and when researchers at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus, asked study subjects to choose between skin color caused by a sun tan or eating foods loaded with carotenoids, they preferred the carotenoid color. For naturally glowing skin, try eating cantaloupe at breakfast, then noshing on carrots, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, tomatoes and spinach throughout the day.