This article originally appeared in Shape.
"Good morning" may be an email greeting, a cute text your boo sends while away on business, or, TBH, any morning that doesn't begin with an alarm clock. But "good morning" is also an exercise you should absolutely be doing.
Never heard of it? This guide is for you. Scroll down to learn exactly how to do the good morning exercise with good form and what you'll gain from adding it into your exercise rotation.
What Is the Good Morning Exercise?
At its most basic, the movement is a hip-hinge. Hip-huh? "The hip-hinge is one of the functional movement patterns that involves maintaining a neutral spine and bending at the hips," explains physical therapist Grayson Wickham, D.P.T., C.S.C.S., founder of Movement Vault, a digital movement education platform. To visualize, think about the first half of a deadlift when you break at the hips and bend forward—that's a hip hinge. (Never done a deadlift? This deadlift guide is for you).
Another great visual is the movement's namesake: Getting out of bed in the morning. When you get out of bed, you plant your feet on the floor, then brace your midline before shooting your hips through to stand. Right? Well, that's the good morning exercise! (Don't worry, there's a more detailed step-by-step below.)