By Monica Le Baron
Ancient yogis understood what modern science is only now confirming: A regular gratitude practice can be a powerful “social glue,” helping to rewire your mind and body for calm, joy, health, and connection. Research shows that cultivating gratitude can help you feel happier and more at ease with yourself.
This reminds me of one of the niyamas (personal observances) from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras—santosha, or contentment—and how intentionally practicing contentment helps us to elevate gratitude to the next level by inviting acceptance and appreciation for what is, rather than longing for “shoulds” or “coulds.”
But in our busy, technology-driven lives—and especially during the end-of-year holidays—it’s easy to forget to take a pause and appreciate the present moment. So how can we bring mindful gratitude into our daily routines and make being grateful more than yet another task on our to-do lists?
Gratitude in practice
When cultivated intentionally, gratitude becomes a spiritual teacher. Practicing gratitude reminds us to slow down, forgive ourselves and others, learn from our mistakes, and truly value being alive. Each breath, each connection, each mundane moment becomes a quiet prayer of thanks.
We can simply start by placing a hand on our hearts, taking three slow breaths, and naming one thing for which we are grateful. Let the feeling settle into the body. Over time, we can add being purposely grateful to our daily routines, making gratitude our sacred practice and allowing our heart and breath to guide us, to be our forever teachers and give thanks for the many blessings already on the way.
Get inspired to give thanks
For more inspiration on cultivating gratitude’s ripple effects on your mind, body, and relationships, I invite you to pick one of these previous posts from the yogatherapy.health blog:
- Gratitude: Mind, Body, and Relationship Medicine
- Managing Stress with Yoga Therapy
- The Wisdom of Letting Go: Forgiveness Practices
Monica Le Baron, MBA, C-IAYT, is a sleep expert and bestselling author of Sleep Simplified. She helps women with sleep disorders get a good night’s rest in 30 days or less. Monica is available for speaking engagements and corporate trainings on sleep, stress reduction, and pain management.
