Gratitude for the Mat

It always takes me a few days to come down from the high of leading a retreat. On the trip, there is so much to be grateful for; the amazing people, beautiful scenery and special bonds that form. When I arrive home there is the chance to settle back into the routine and to continue the practice of gratitude for the everyday things.

We tend to be pretty good at connecting to gratitude in big moments. It becomes a bit more of a practice to connect to gratitude for the little everyday things or when life is challenging. This is when we have the chance to truly hone in on this practice; the practice of everyday gratitude.

The question you might be asking is why? Well, I will share that not only does practicing make us better at being grateful, but the experience of being grateful actually has positive chemical effects on the brain. The act of being grateful activates the brain stem to produce dopamine. We actually feel better when we are grateful. 

So on the mat we practiced being grateful… for pretty much everything. Grateful for our arms and legs and that we could go into childs pose whenever we wanted, and even gratitude for the mat beneath us. I shared the poem below to highlight that. 

Gratitude for the Mat
 
I lay you down to greet the sun,
a firm base for my Tadasana.  
You grab my hands as I bow down,
securing my pose in your grip,
never the first to let go.
 
As breath stretches limbs,
heavy memories trapped in
cells shed from my skin.
You fold them up in your tight lips,
never to speak of them again.
 
You are my rock, my roots,
my cradle in Savasana.
You transform from solid to soft,
echoing the process of practice.

Only you witness those sweet divine moments
when tears slip from my face to yours.
A closing OM benediction
soaks into your fibers,
ending our union for now.
I say goodbye with a curl of my fingers
and fasten you up,
hoping to soon meet again.
And so my loyal friend,
rolled in the corner
like a fresh cut log,
waiting in your quiver to be
unwrapped for worship,
I thank you.

Practicing gratitude within our bodies even when they can’t do or don’t look or feel exactly the way we want helps us strengthen the practice of every day gratitude.  Our bodies are our teachers and allow us to train our minds to connect to gratitude in the midst of a life that is often not flowing smoothly. That is when we truly need it most.