LIVING YOGA BLOG

It was my intent this month to set aside time each day to reflect upon five things I was grateful for.  To ensure I wouldn’t forget to do this, I added points of reflection into several parts of my day.  Morning meditation began with what I was thankful for.  At the end of class, I would invite students to use silent meditation to reflect upon what they were grateful for that day; using that time again to evince gratitude.  At home while enjoying dinner together, we went around the table sharing what happened in our day that we were especially grateful for.

I discovered along the way, that as I continued to abide in an attitude of gratitude, it became easier and easier to find so much to be thankful for.  Then as I became more cognizant, the more I realized that there is indeed countless ways in which the universe supports us.  I began to notice the numerous blessings and gifts scattered about my day from the people present in my life, to my car getting me safely from point A to B, to the kindness of strangers.  Like the woman at the drug store who saw I had less in my basket than her full cart, and allowed me to go in front of her.  In a state of gratitude, I became Present to the gifts already here. 

The five things soon turned into 10 or 12 things because all that I have became so much more than what I thought I was lacking.  It already was, and in the present moment, that was enough.  What a wonderful way to use my time and energy, ultimately elevating myself to a better and more productive state of well-being. So that instead of noting at the end of the day how many things went wrong, or what I didn’t accomplish, the attitude of gratitude helped me to see how much I had gotten done. 

One gift that I am constantly and ever so grateful for is the gift of yoga.  After several years in the corporate world, I know how lucky I am to be living my passion.  I don’t consider my job, work.  I don’t tire of it as there is always something new to learn, an asana to explore, a dynamic way to incorporate breath.  I am free to create and to express myself as I am.  I’m surrounded by people, by friends who share with me their dedication to the practice, who show up week in and week out on their mats.  And for all of this, I give thanks.

Claudine