Finding the Good

As many of you know, I try to prompt my yoga students to consider a moment or two for a gratitude practice at the end of class during final relaxation. Hopefully you find this to be helpful and find that it is something that helps you leave class on a more positive note.

Our brains are wired to think and to solve problems. As a result, if something negative happens to us, our brain uses that as an opportunity for thinking and learning, and hopefully the result of that thinking is making new choices in the future to avoid more negative experiences. Unfortunately, if this process is left on its own, our brains tend to keep reviewing and thinking about negative experiences long after it is of any help to us. Worry, anxiety, and endless fretting then become the order of the day.

In 2005, a psychologist name Martin Seligman led a research project on depression. His research found that one factor that promoted happiness and decreased depressive symptoms was a practice of having research participants write down 3 things or positive events from each day. This gratitude practice gets the brain to stop pursuing negative events and shifts the focus to what is going right and what has been positive for us. It interrupts our persistent negative thinking that can lead to stress and feeling overwhelmed.

As a practice, yoga allows us to slow down a bit, to examine our thinking, and to be in touch with our bodies. The next time you are on the mat, notice if your mind begins to list and catalog all of your faults, weaknesses, lack of flexibility, whatever it is. See if you can switch up your thinking by considering what is positive in each moment and posture. You'll begin to see new strength, added endurance, better balance, and an overall appreciation for everything that your body is capable of.
Pause, breathe, and consider 3 things that were awesome about your yoga practice. Find the good!