Where to Begin? Begin with Gratitude.

As I was pondering what to share first, I asked myself what the most important aspect of yoga is. There’s the Yamas, which are ethical disciplines and include such endeavors as being compassionate and truthful, not stealing nor grasping, and the spiritual use of our sexual energy. The Niyamas would also have been a good starting point as they encompass ideals for living with soul through individual discipline. The Niyamas include living purely, with contentment and enthusiasm, self-study, and dedication to and celebration of the spiritual. All of these are important parts of yoga and we will have a more in-depth look at them individually soon.

Of course there is no one ‘most important’ aspect of yoga. But what kept coming back to me over and again was how great it is to be able to recognize the gifts that life gives us and to sincerely feel grateful for them. The other component to that is the realization that every event and everybody in our lives serves our growth. Be it something as little as our car keys being easily found when we’re pressed for time or as large as loving people in our lives, everything deserves our gratitude and we are all the more fulfilled when we realize and acknowledge that on a regular basis.

Regular feelings of gratitude may require cultivation. One way to do that is to set some time aside in your day to solely focus on what you have to be grateful for. It may start with something as seemingly minor as not being late for you class today and then remembering that person who showed you a kindness by making room for you. That might lead you to the appreciation of yourself for your efforts that you put into your health and well-being by practicing yoga or what ever else you do to take care of yourself. Those thoughts may then cause you to realize how grateful you are to be able to practice because you have the time, the physical capabilities, and the commitment, etc.

As you go along, you begin to realize that the things that you have to be grateful for are endless. The more often you set time aside for cultivation of gratitude, the keener your awareness becomes of the fact that you are the recipient of an abundance of wonderful gifts all day, every day.

So let us begin with gratitude, each day. Let us end with gratitude, every night. And let it permeate our day. Nothing but good can come from it.

Namaste.