What a wonderful opportunity we have this month with Thanksgiving just around the corner. It is traditionally a celebration of the harvest, a time to get together with family and friends, deciding on who will cook what and making travel plans. It’s easy to forget the most important part: taking time to be grateful. Most of us spend a lot of time focusing on what we don’t have and thinking about all the things we feel we need to “fix,” such as physical issues like weight loss, illness, or emotional issues like depression or financial stress. As we focus on what we are lacking, we close ourselves off to the natural flow of abundance. Conversely, gratitude opens the door to prosperity and abundance. I love that Thanksgiving is non-denominational and available to everyone. Saying thank you and focusing on grateful feelings via prayer and/or meditation is a great way to relieve stress, and elevate our consciousness. It is one of the core elements of JoyFull yoga. Since yoga means union, it offers the opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude all the parts of ourselves, others and the current circumstances of our life.

Practicing the Yoga of Thanksgiving:
Begin by taking time for yourself. Plan to be undisturbed for 5 to 10 minutes. Decide to give yourself your full attention… Receive it… say Thank you.

Then breathe gently and receive each breath as you would a precious gift. Slow it down as much as you can, softening the belly to expand on the breath. Exhale with gratitude. Do this for a few more breaths. Take time to pause with each inhale, staying focused on the gift and wonder of each breath. Try to count to 8 or more as you breathe in, pausing for the same count as you receive the gift of the breath; then giving back to the Universe on the exhale for the same count. In this moment there is no end to the supply of breaths. Feel a connection to the great abundance of the Universe.

Now begin to acknowledge each beat of your heart. You can put your right fingers on the inside of your left wrist and find your pulse or put your hands flat on your chest. As you continue to breathe slowly, stay focused on your heartbeat, acknowledging the gift of each beat.

Then relax your hands, palms facing up and begin to think of something you feel grateful for about yourself. Think about all the things that are right about you! Acknowledge the gift of you, as you are right now… the gift of your Life…. Receive the gratitude, then mentally say thank you.

Acknowledge the gift of what is right in your life now, starting with the opportunity of this moment. Breathe in gratitude, then exhale, mentally vibrating thank you.

Now, as you bring your attention to a challenge in your life, be willing to open to the gift of this struggle. Be willing to have it be revealed to you. Don’t look for answers, just be willing to receive with no expectations of when.

Now, acknowledge the gift of the people in your life. Breathe in gratitude, then exhale, mentally vibrating thank you.
Acknowledge the gift of the great beauty of our Valley, the air, the rivers, the mountains etc… Breathe in gratitude, then exhale, mentally vibrating thank you.

Begin your gratitude affirmation: (either the one below or your own)
“I now acknowledge all the gifts in my life: the gift of life itself, health and well-being,
The gift of love and support of friends and family and the kindness of strangers,
I now acknowledge the gifts of the beauty of nature all around me–mountains, rivers, trees,
I now acknowledge the gifts of the strength I’ve gained and am gaining from all the challenges in my life,
I am grateful for the opportunities to serve and make the world a better place.”

Now experience a healing energy returning to you from nature…blessing you…energizing you.

“I receive the abundance of the Universe in all areas of my life, that I may in each moment, each day, feel better and better.”
Allow yourself to let go of any resistance or tensions in your body. Begin to feel the joy in your heart and open up to accept and embrace the gift of NOW, the gift of Joy-Full Living. Remember to take time to breathe.

© Louise Lavergne 2001-2011 www.joyfull-yoga.com; 541-899-0707 Louise is a JoyFull living coach, Motivational speaker & owns JoyFull Yoga LLC where she teaches Yoga, Meditation and offers Sound Healing sessions in Jacksonville.