Cultivating Gratitude

“What are you thankful for?” The question we know we will be prompted to answer as we sit around the table Thanksgiving Day with family and friends. As we look around at the smiling faces of loved ones and breathe in the overwhelming aromas of our comforting Thanksgiving meal in front of us, we are consumed by so much to be grateful for, right there, all around us. We are reminded of just how fortunate we are. How can we emulate this feeling each day? In honor of Thanksgiving, practice these Yoga Poses to cultivate gratitude day to day when sometimes we start to let the attitude of gratitude slip away. With this small flow, once more find solace in the present moment to bring you back to the now and awaken from the scattered thoughts to remember that even on a “typical” day we are all surrounded by so much to be grateful for!

Yoga poses to Cultivate Gratitude:

Humble Warrior

• Start in Warrior One (right leg forward) and take in a deep inhale filling up your lungs and lengthening through the spine.
• On an exhale windmill the hands behind your back and interlace your fingers at your lower back, pressing palms together.
• Inhale and lift from them chest while engaging your quadriceps.
• On a long slow exhale begin to bow, lowering your chest and right shoulder inside of your right thigh. Your shoulder can gently nudge your thigh here.
• Allow your chest and shoulders to open as your bound hands reach overhead towards the earth.
• Allow 3-5 deep breaths here, surrendering to the present moment.
• Inhale to lift the upper body with a strong flat back. Release your bind and open to Warrior 2 to prepare for your next pose to Cultivate Gratitude.

Peaceful Warrior

• From Warrior 2 inhale deeply and release your left palm to your left leg.
• On that same inhale, flip your right palm towards the sky and while maintaining your stance gently reach your right arm towards the ceiling until you feel a stretch through the right side body.
• Tracking right arm over right ear, turn your chin towards your underarm and gently gaze up.
• Breathe into this pose for 3-5 breaths.
• To release slowly exhale your arms back down and bring feet to meet at the top of your mat in Mountain Pose.

Namaste