Journalist, translator, and yoga instructor Cristina Giner has shared a simple yet powerful wellness tip that is gaining popularity: start your day by stretching your body before reaching for your phone or jumping out of bed.
In an interview with La Vanguardia, Giner argues that small daily habits can transform how we approach our day. “We should do what cats and dogs do when they wake up to start the day well,” she explains. Giner recently published a book on integrating yoga into everyday life without needing constant classes or much free time.
She emphasizes that the body needs to activate slowly after hours of rest. Her recommendation: spend just a few minutes each day stretching your arms, legs, and back before getting up. “Animals, when they wake up, the first thing they do is stretch. We should do the same,” she says.
Giner stresses that yoga isn’t limited to poses on a mat. The key, she says, is body awareness: paying attention to posture, breathing consciously, and avoiding long hours hunched over a phone or computer.
In the same interview, she notes that modern life is highly sedentary. To counter this, she suggests introducing movement throughout the workday: getting up from your chair, moving your neck and shoulders, or taking breathing breaks. “We must listen to the body’s signals that warn of accumulated stress and tension. The body constantly alerts us, but we often ignore it,” she adds.
With a simple yet realistic approach, Giner advocates applying yoga principles daily, going beyond traditional classes to notice real changes.
