How 3 Women In Wellness Start & End Their Day

It’s often said that a good day starts the night before, informed by the rituals and practices you incorporate to prepare for the day ahead. Equally, the start of your day is the perfect time to set yourself up for calm, fulfilment, and success. We asked some of our movement and mindfulness instructors how they structure their morning and evening routines to give you some ideas, and so that you can get to know them better too.

What does your morning routine look like?

Rebecca Moore, breathwork instructor: 

My first waking ritual is to make myself a large mug of lemon and warm water, sometimes with ginger or a drop of oregano oil for an immunity boost. I enjoy rising with the sun and will often sip my drink whilst taking a few moments to enjoy the beauty of light filling the skies. Then I do some morning journalling, followed by a yoga kriya practice which involves movement, breathwork and meditation. After a shower and nourishing breakfast, I am ready to begin my day.

Lucy Aarden, yoga instructor:

Whilst training to be a yoga teacher, I was fascinated to learn that yoga was actually developed to help prepare the body and mind for meditation. So I’ll start my morning with a short yoga flow to wake my body up gradually whilst stretching off any sleepiness. Next, my partner and I do a 10 minute ‘sit’ using a guided meditation. This really helps me to focus my mind and start the day calmly. Lastly I’ll do a quick journal session, where I write for roughly 10 minutes and set myself an affirmation for the day, whilst sipping on a warming ginger tea.

Jess Baccanello, yoga and mindfulness instructor:

I'm big into my morning rituals and routine. However, at this moment in my life I have to be flexible with it as I have a baby and a 4 year old. If all goes to plan I do the following! As soon as I wake up, I start to list things I appreciate in my mind. I then sit for a 20 minute meditation practice, incorporating some breathing at the beginning and a handful of powerful affirmations at the end. Following this, I write down whatever has come up during the practice: insights, ideas, encouraging words, whatever is flowing to me. Then I play a song that I love and visualise the year ahead and beyond, contemplating what I'm doing to get to where I want to go. I sometimes do this in the car when dropping off my son if I didn't get the chance to in the morning!

What is a non-negotiable for you at the start of the day?

Rebecca:

Silent meditation is a non-negotiable for me in the mornings. Sometimes my schedule won’t allow for all of the practices I enjoy but sitting in silence, even for just a few minutes, is a daily ritual I rarely skip.

Lucy:

A non-negotiable for me is to get some time outside. Whether this be sitting in the garden with a cup of tea or even just walking to the station, getting outside helps to regulate my circadian rhythm so that I sleep so much better at night. In the colder and darker months, I have a sunrise lamp that I put on whilst I'm journalling, and it helps improve my mood and energy levels so much.

Jess:

I have an affirmation script that I say each morning. It gets the day off to a confident and positive start, and I return to that script throughout the day. The important thing is to say these with conviction so that you really believe and feel them.

What does your evening routine look like?

Rebecca:

To unwind after a long day, I’ll put my phone on aeroplane mode, light some candles and play my favourite soothing playlist. If I'm feeling stressed or anxious, I will regulate with a restorative breathwork practice. I usually make myself something soothing to drink like a chamomile or lavender herbal tea. If I have space, I like to practise yin yoga or gentle pilates to help release any physical tension and signal to my brain that I am ready to slow down and relax.

Lucy:

I’m a lover of early nights, so I tend to eat around 7pm and round off the meal with a sleepy tea. I love reading a page or two in bed, or listening to 15 minutes of an audio book to help me wind down. If I’ve had a particularly busy day, I find a gentle yin flow works wonders to clear my head. Something with positive affirmations can help shift any negative or critical thoughts that might have built up before I unwind for sleep.

Jess:

At the moment my evenings are so short as I like to get to bed super early because the kids are up at the crack of dawn! I always ensure I make time to cook dinner, sit, chat and connect with my husband, watch something funny and light-hearted, do my full skin routine and face massage, and then read and go to bed.

What are your tips for someone keen to improve their day-to-day wellness?

Rebecca:

Carve out time for conscious rest. This could be any ritual that enables you to relax and soothe your nervous system throughout your day. It may be a few simple stretches to re-energise your body, a short walk outdoors for a revitalising breath of fresh air, or simply sitting in stillness for a moment to take a few grounding breaths.

Lucy:

Making changes to ingrained habits can feel like an uphill battle. But more often than not, it's the tiny changes which build up incrementally that make a world of difference. With enough small improvements, I find that I might just wake up one morning feeling that bit more energised and fulfilled. Being kind to yourself is key; it's not about perfection, it's about doing your best with what you have and reaping the rewards from that.

Jess:

I have a few! Firstly and perhaps most importantly, prioritise your sleep. If you struggle to sleep, know that you can change your relationship to sleep with a little work and effort (I used to be that person too, so I know it’s totally possible!). Eat well 80% of the time. Practise mindfulness regularly, as happiness really lies in the present moment and the little things in life. Learn to talk to yourself like a best friend and have your own back!

Practise wellness with Rebecca, Lucy and Jess