Hello and welcome everyone.
This is Laura of Approachable Asana.
Thank you so much for joining today's short practice focusing on gratitude.
Today we're going to use the word GLAD as an acronym as we channel thoughts of gratitude.
Adding a gratitude practice to our lives can improve our mental health,
Our well-being,
Our physical health,
Help us reduce stress,
And help change those brain connections.
So let's go ahead and find a comfortable seat.
You can do this practice sitting on the floor,
Sitting in a chair,
You can even do this practice lying down if that feels best,
But go ahead and get yourselves comfortable.
Allow your eyes to close or soften your gaze and let's begin with three breaths together.
Inhaling through the nose and exhaling with a sigh.
One final breath inhaling through the nose and exhaling with a sigh.
And then settling in,
Settling into your natural rhythm,
Your natural breath.
Let's take a moment here and check in with how we're doing today.
You can check in with how you're physically feeling,
Check in with your energy,
And check in with any thoughts or emotions that are coming up and just allow things to be as they are.
Give yourself permission,
The time and space that you need for this practice.
So we're going to use the word glad as a way to bring gratitude to our lives.
As you sit here comfortably,
We'll begin with the letter G and I invite you to think of something for which you're grateful.
This can be anything at all.
Whatever pops into your mind first is the right thing for today's practice.
And as you breathe gently in and out,
Repeat that word or phrase silently to yourself,
I am grateful for whatever it is that you're feeling today.
Allow all of the warmth and energy from this object to fill you completely on each inhale and on each exhale.
Feel the energy for what you're grateful for today.
Moving on to the letter L of glad,
Think of something that made you laugh today,
Anything at all that brought you laughter.
And once again,
Don't spend a huge amount of time choosing the perfect thing,
But just whatever comes up,
Something that made you laugh today.
And again,
Repeat this phrase or word or object silently to yourself,
Allowing yourself to experience whatever comes up,
Whatever thoughts or emotions or sensations when you think of this thing that made you laugh.
Next,
We'll move on to the letter A of glad.
And here I invite you to think of one thing that you accomplished today.
This doesn't have to be a grandiose gesture or huge project.
It can be very simple.
So whatever pops into your mind in this moment is the right thing.
Once again,
We'll silently repeat this to ourselves.
I accomplished whatever that is today.
Allow yourself to fully immerse in it,
Experience it completely.
Feel all of the sensations and emotions from that thing that you accomplished.
And finally,
The letter D,
Something that brought you delight.
This can be anything at all.
Choose something delightful from your day.
Immerse yourself in it,
Surround yourself in its presence as you silently repeat this object that brought you delight.
Noticing everything and anything that comes up.
Repeat silently once again what you were grateful for.
As we notice our breath,
The air moving in,
The air moving out,
Let's remind ourselves once again why we are glad.
Recite once again the object for which you're grateful for today.
What made you laugh?
That thing that you accomplished and what brought you delight.
What you are grateful for.
What made you laugh.
What you accomplished.
And what brought you delight.
Allow all of these sensations,
All of the energy from this gratitude practice to fill you completely.
Feel the warmth,
Feel the light,
See what comes up.
See if you notice a subtle shift today.
Take this energy with you as you move throughout your day.
Please continue to feel grateful.
To laugh,
To feel accomplished,
And to be delighted.
Take care,
Everyone,
And be well.
Take care,
Everyone,
And be well.
