This is me on auto-pilot:

I get up around 7 (after sleeping through my three alarms).  It's usually dark still in this part of the country and I'm usually not very awake. I'm naturally a bit of a kicking-screaming-fighting-to-get-my-butt-out-of-the-comfort-of-my-bed kind of person and I won't be able to converse with anyone in anything except grunts, for at least a full 30 minutes. My hips hurt and all. I. Want. Is. Coffee.

This is me on a morning yoga kick:

I hit my alarm around 6 am and I get out of bed and roll out my mat (I used to practice right next to my bed, but these days, I practice in my garage-turned-studio). I put my space heater on right up close to my mat (because who likes to be cold early in the morning) and I get my body moving. Afterwards, I feel less achy and tired and a little more excited about what the day will bring.  Whenever I get myself on this daily, am kick, life starts to feel and look a lot brighter.

Do you want to start or rededicate yourself to a morning, home yoga practice too?

Here are my 4 tips to amp up your am yoga routine:

(or what I do when I am on a morning yoga practice kick)

1. Set up a yoga space
2. Rework your day before
3. Have a plan
4. Create a ritual of You Time  

Set up a yoga space

Having a place to practice has been a crucial part of keeping myself aligned with the goal of an am yoga practice. Even if it’s just a mat + small altar set up beside your bed, having a space prepared will remind you of your intention to practice and help you to get all the pieces in place to get up a little early.

All you really need is a space long enough to lay out your yoga mat. It can be right next to your bed or in another designated spot in your house. You could even create a mobile space, by putting all of the things you need in basket and carrying that to the place you want to practice. Your mat is really the only necessary thing that you need to practice, but there are a few other things that can help set your mind in yoga mode:

• a candle or some other soothing, low lighting
• music (if you like to practice to music)
• a few items that inspire you: art, pictures, flowers, etc. I have a Ganesh statue and Nourishment Yantra and a few special stones.
• You also might want to have a block or two, a blanket and a strap, just as you would at a yoga studio!

Rethink your day before

The day before your am practice will directly effect your success. For me, drinking caffeine too late in the day, eating dinner late, eating too much chocolate for dessert, and/or stay up too late, challenges my well laid plans to get up in the morning to practice yoga. So think about your day before. What can you do to assure you get to bed early enough to wake a little earlier and what can you do to help yourself  get to sleep when you do go to bed. A couple of things that help me are: 

• avoiding caffeine later in the day
• avoiding chocolate in the evening  
• doing a little bit of breathing/pranayama before bed
• journaling before bed (to get out any of the thoughts that might keep you awake)
• putting Lavender essential oil on the bottoms of your feet and pillow
• giving yourself a foot massage (this helps to ground you and alleviate an anxious mind)
• drinking warm milk with nutmeg before bed

Have a Plan

Have a plan for what you are going to do in your morning yoga practice. If I know what I am getting out of bed for, I am 10 times more likely to get out of bed. Decide the night before what you are going to do for your practice. You could pick a sequence out of a yoga or fitness magazine or find some sequences on Pinterest or Youtube (check out my pinterest board for at home yoga practice ideas). I have also used online streaming yoga videos before. Here are a couple that I’ve used and enjoyed:

• Cody App
• Yogaglo
• YogaToday
• Yoga Download

A plan helps get you out of bed, but it’s also good to be willing to let go of your plan once you are actually on your mat. For example, if your internet keeps cutting out or you are really exhausted and need a slower practice than you planned, it’s important to go with the flow and do what is right for your body and mind in that moment.

Create a Ritual of You Time

I have a lively 2 year old daughter, so as you can imagine, I don’t have a whole lot of quiet, downtime to myself. So the promise of a special time just for me has been a huge motivator in getting me out of bed these days. Inspired by  Hal Elrod’s The Miracle Morning, I created a series of morning rituals for myself that help satisfy my soul, my body and bring my mind into a prime position to start the day. My morning ritual includes:

• Morning Pages with a cup of hot lemon water
• A few minutes of pranayama/breathing exercises
• Yoga practice
• Meditation
• a few minutes at my altar

I don’t always get all of these pieces in everyday and actually, allowing that to be ok is a key part in my success in getting out of bed for any of it at all. Some mornings my daughter wakes up early and I only make it through part of my routine. Other days, I only have time for an abbreviated version of this routine. And that has to be ok.

Release the Drill Sargent and be your own personal soul soother.

Even 5 minutes on the mat is better than no minutes at all. Practice not perfection.

What would you include in your own ritual of you time? Will you get up and practice with me?

You know the feeling when you walk into your favorite yoga studio, massage room, meditation room, a temple or a beautiful cathedral? Your breath slows down, your shoulders relax and your senses open. You feel as if you've stepped into another world, a sanctuary, a quiet space that exists between places. It might be the intense depth of the scent of incense, the soft caress of drifting smoke, the sight of delicate lilies sitting on an altar or the way the light filters across the floor that makes you feel more alive. It might be the sound of a sweet melody that seems to balm your soul. Whatever it is, you recognize it when you feel it because it immediately makes you feel more expansive, grounded, or calmed (really whatever it is that you need in that moment).

Sacred space is a space that has been intentionally cleared and you call in the energies you need to help you with your creative and healing work.  

What if I told you that you could create this kind of space for yourself? What if you could create a sacred space to help you connect more deeply to your creative spirit?

It’s a lot easier to connect with the creative pulse within yourself when you feel clear, relaxed, and calm in your mind and body. The space around you can have a major impact on making you feel that way. So opening sacred space is a way to intentionally clear out any unhelpful energies and set a clear boundary around the place you work, so that only helpful, creatively flowing vibes can enter.

Why create sacred space?

• Sacred space cleanses the area and the people who enter it.
• Shamans believe that smoke helps disperse negative and unhelpful energy that might be hanging around or clinging to stuff. So when you use some sort of small fire source (a match, a smudge stick, or a candle even) you can rid your space the negative vibes that might be hanging around.
• Opening sacred space extends an invitation to your creative energy to come in and assist you in your creative endeavors.
• It helps clear the space of any negative or unhelpful energy.
• It is a way for you to express you gratitude to your creative energy.

Where and when to open sacred space

Anyone can create sacred space. There are no special qualifications other than your intention to do so. Opening sacred space for your own creative endeavor is an awesome idea, but here are some of the things you might want to open sacred space for are:

• your at home yoga practice
• a yoga class you are teaching
• an art making session
• meditation
• a special gathering like an art night or a women's circle
• your house (I like to open it in my house every so often as a reminder to myself that the sacred is always available to me)

What tools and materials do you need to open sacred space?

A great part about creating sacred space is that it can be done very simply without any special tools or experience. All that you really need is your intention. But there are a few fun things that you can also help set the tone:

• flowers/elements from nature
• music or drumming
• crystals or other objects of beauty
• burning incense, sage or palo santo
• a candle
• an opening prayer or inspirational poem
• essential oil or rosewater

Step-by-step guide to opening sacred space for your creative spirit

These are the steps that I use when I open sacred space in my own studio, but these are just guidelines, as you try it out for yourself, feel free to make up your own steps!

1. Find quiet time and gather any items you'd like to use to aid you.

2. Spend a few moments to get quiet and find your breath.

3. Set your intention to create sacred space. Perhaps jot down your intention or a few words that describe how you'd like your space to feel.

4. Light a candle, burn some sage, or anoint yourself with essential oil or spritz some rosewater.

5. Read your opening prayer or poem

6. Hold the space. While you do whatever work you've set out to do while in your sacred space, continue to stay in with your intention. I like to glance at flowers or other objects I bring to the space, keep a candle lit or play soft music as little reminders that I'm in sacred space.

Recently, I read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm a big fan of Gilbert's work on creativity and this book is no exception! It's an excellent read about creativity and it's place in our lives.

At one point in the book, Gilbert talks about a writer who, when experiencing a creative block, would prepare himself to swoon creativity. He'd shave, get cleaned up, and dress himself to the nines and then sit down to write, as if heading out on a date with creativity.

In my experience, I too find that my creative spirit shows up when I show up for it, when I make room for it come in, when I reach out to it and say, "come, let's tango!"

Related: How to Avoid Idea Overwhelm (and rock out your creativity)

1. DRESS UP

Like the writer in Gilbert's book, I find that putting on clothes that make me feel good and presentable is a small and easy way to show up for my day and my creativity. It's a message to my creativity that I'm here and ready. I pull my hair back, brush my teeth, put on earrings and my favorite essential oil.

2. DANCE

I love listening to music and I find that when I get started on any creative endeavor, putting on tunes that make my heart sing is a sure fire way to get the creativity flowing. Moving to that music can be even more effective. It's uplifting. It feels good to move. Who cares if you look silly! You are showing creativity that you are playful and fun and free.

3. SING

There's a beautiful saying that says singing allows spirit to see you and I love this! Be seen by your creative spirit by opening your mouth and singing out. Sing your creative spirit your favorite song or make one up, even if you don't feel like you have a good voice, sing. No one but the universe will hear you :)

4. BANG ON A DRUM

I recently started using a little hand held drum before setting out to paint or write. I stand and drum a simple rhythm before getting going and the results are astounding. It helps me clear my head and seems to settle me into another wave of consciousness, one that is much more receptive to the subtle language of creativity. It sounds a little out there, but try it! It certainly can't hurt and it's pretty fun!

5. SET THE MOOD

Think about the place where you are trying to coax creativity to come dance with you. Is it bright? Cheerful? Does it smell good? If you were to set up a romantic dinner for a honey, you'd want to set the right atmosphere for romance. You'd tidy things up, set the table, light candles, and the house would smell lovely and warm from your delicious cooked meal. Why not create the same kind of effect for your creativity. I like to open my shades, clear off my table, and run my essential oil diffuser.

6. CLEAN UP YOUR SPACE

I find that creativity tends to find me so much more readily in a clear, uncluttered space. When my studio feels clean and organized, my mind feels calm and my creativity seems to like those conditions. Spend a few moments putting things away before you get started with your creative practice and see how it helps. (Or if you want to go for a really deep clearing of your space and stuff, check out my friend Tenaya's course Clear your Space, Clear your Mind)

7. INVOKE YOUR CREATIVITY

Often at the beginning of a yoga practice, we call in an intention or Om or do some other small act of invoking a state of presence before beginning. Why not do this at the beginning of your creative practice too? Read an inspiring poem out loud or Om or light a candle and set an intention to be open to receive whatever gift creativity has to offer you.

8. CREATE AN ALTAR FOR YOUR CREATIVITY

Create a special little place devoted to your creativity, where you visit often to offer up your gratitude. It can be created simply with a flower or other objects that strengthen your intention to connect to your creative energy.

Related: Artist’s Guide to Opening Sacred Space (for your creative spirit)

9. USE THE WATER ELEMENT

Creative inspiration is often described as flow, as a rushing movement that floods through you and out into the world through whichever format you decide to express it. If that's the case (and in my experience, when I'm feeling creatively inspired, that's exactly how it feels) your creativity might get inspired to move through you if you include the water element in your work space. You could do this by listening to water sounds on a nature cd while you work or install a small fountain in your space. You could get outside and work near a body of moving water like a river or the ocean. In other words, if you are not feeling the flow in yourself, find the flow in nature and let it inspire you that way.

10. TAKE YOUR CREATIVITY ON A DATE

Julia Cameron talks about this in her book, The Artist's Way. She instructs people to go on regular artist's dates to explore new places as a way to inspire creativity. I think this is a great idea. A change of scene, especially if it's somewhere new and special can transport you, and your creativity, into a place where you might just understand each other a little bit better. So go check out a gallery, go on a hike, or go to dinner at a new and interesting restaurant and see what new perspectives open up for you.

11. WRITE A LOVE LETTER TO YOUR CREATIVITY

Try this. Open up a blank page in your notebook and at the top of your page, write "Dear Creative Spirit" (or whatever you call your creativity) and then proceed to tell your creative spirit all of the things you love about it. Gush on. Let your creative spirit know just how much you love and appreciate its presence in your life.  

How do you entice your creativity? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!