Poses to Inspire Gratitude
Lately we've been sharing how and why we feel thankful. Gratitude is indeed something to practice, just like the different facets of yoga. You can infuse thankfulness into every part of your practice, from meditation and breathwork to asana. Perhaps think of your next sun salutation as a burst of thanks for life or your next balancing pose as an homage to the steady, rooted earth.
The shapes we make with our bodies can reflect a deeper reverence; an offering.
Here's 5 poses you can incorporate on your next visit to your mat. Remember, although you may do these poses every time you practice, it's the intention behind them that creates the power.
1. Balasana/Child's Pose
Balasana is a beautiful pose to not only initiate practice but to continuously come back to throughout. With your forehead rooted into the earth and your arms stretched long, you feel grounded, safe and connected. You can pour your heart into your mat; your thoughts into stillness. Your body is ready to receive and you can allow gratitude to flow through you as you either create or reflect on your intention.
2. Adho Mukha Svanasana/Downward Facing Dog
Adho Mukha Svanasana may be thought of as your home-base posture, allowing you to connect between poses and re-establish your breath and intention. You simultaneously pour your heart down as you breathe into and illuminate your back body. With hands and feet rooted to the earth, you are stable and strong. As strength and serenity play off of each other, you can channel your energy towards gratitude.
3. Virabhadrasana II/Warrior II with Variations
Our warrior postures connect our strength and softness. Whether held for longer periods of time to define and articulate the alignment or used in a radiant, dynamic flow sequence to move energy and open the long lines of your body, warrior poses allow us to swell with gratitude in their nature of balance and beauty.
Acknowledging what you’re thankful for can lead to a happier, healthier life, just like a regular yoga practice can.
Play around with infusing the two and let us know how you feel!