YOGA BLOG

Learn a little more - take what you need, leave what you don't, come visit another day!

Gratitude Journal

Gratitude & Yoga

November 13, 20233 min read

Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for & to return kindness.  Yoga brings about gratitude for your body & all it can do.  They enhance & enrich each other in so many ways.

Mindful Presence: Both emphasize the importance of being present in the moment.  This is achieved in yoga through mindful awareness of your breath, body & sensations.  Gratitude encourages you to be present by focusing on the positive parts of your life & acknowledging the gifts & blessings that surround you.

Cultivating Awareness: Yoga offers self awareness & self reflection.  The more you practice the more you become aware of the sensations in your body, your thoughts & your emotions.  This heightened awareness can go on in to the rest of your day – making you more aware of the positive things around you, which fosters gratitude.

Acceptance & Contentment: Yoga teaches you the importance of accepting yourself & your current circumstances.  Gratitude goes along with this by helping you find contentment with what you have & where you are in life, instead of constantly wanting more or something different.

Heart Opening Poses: Many yoga poses open the heart & chest area.  This can lead to an increased sense of openness & vulnerability.  The physical experience can be mirrored emotionally so it’s easier to open up to feelings of love & gratitude.

Breath Awareness: The central element of yoga is breath.  By focusing on your breathit helps to calm the mind & bring you to the current moment.  Gratitude can be practiced with every breath, with each inhale & exhale, to express thanks.

Balancing & Centering: Balance is a big part of yoga.  While working on physical balance, it can bring a sense of mental & emotional balance.  Gratitude is a balancing act that counteracts negative emotions, stress & anxiety

Self Compassion: A big part of yoga is self compassion & self care.  Gratitude encourages you to be kind to yourself & others, appreciate efforts & qualities. 

Reducing Stress: Yoga is well knows for its stress reducing benefits.  Practicing gratitude has been shown to reduce stress as well.  Combine them & you’ve got a powerful tool for stress & anxiety.

Positive Affirmations: Positive affirmations are a part of a yoga practice & can be brought into your daily life.  This positive mindset reinforcement can help with your mindset & helps you stay focused on the good in your life.

Integration into Daily Life: Both yoga & gratitude practices can be brought off your mat & into your daily life.  Gratitude can be used to help you remain present, positive & handle all that’s thrown your way.

Yoga encourages mindfulness, self acceptance & balance which is where gratitude can begin.  Gratitude enhances the benefits of yoga by promoting a positive mindset, emotional well being & a deeper sense of contentment.  Put the two together & you have the ingredients to lead a life with more contentment & fulfillment.  If you’d like some help with your gratitude practice, check out the Gratitude Journal here.

May you always stay true in your intentions, true to your hearts desires & speak loving truth to those around you.

Love ya!

 

Back to Blog

FREE GUIDE

Beginner Yoga Poses To Do Daily

Ready to learn some great daily yoga poses? Ready to have them broken down, step by step?

Terms of Use © Copyright 2024 True to You Yoga Privacy Policy