Thanksgiving Gratitude Class, Yoga for Recovery, New Book Study, and other opportunities for you!

Gratitude

If you spend any time in yoga class with me, you may hear the word 'gratitude' a lot. Gratitude is related to a yogic concept called "Santosha", which means contentment in all circumstances. That's easy when things are going well. But what about when things don't go your way? Think about a circumstance you are less than happy about. Where can you find contentment in that circumstance, or what about that situation can make you feel grateful? It can be challenging to find the good in all things, but it's there - you just have to look. You see, our brains are wired to pay attention to the negative stuff - it's a survival mechanism. But, we practice those negative thoughts by repeating them over and over. And the more negative thoughts we think, the more negative thoughts we're going to have. Science calls this neuroplasticity, but yogis have called this "samskaras" for thousands of years. The good news is that we can rewire our brain by shifting our thoughts, and that's where neuroplasticity works to our advantage. So, rather than focus on the negative about a situation, find the positive and focus on that. Each day before you go to bed, write down three things about the day for which you are grateful. It could be anything - a phone call from a friend, a beautiful sunset, or snuggling with your dog. You can write on plain paper, or in a fancy journal. The important part is to write it down so, over time, as the list grows and grows, you'll be able to see - in writing - just how blessed you are. You can pick up your gratitude journal when a dark mood arises to remind you of all the reasons you have for feeling gratitude. You'll notice that, with practice, your thoughts shift toward gratitude rather than the doldrums of "stinkin' thinkin'". Gratitude becomes a habit. The practice of gratitude leads us to that place of contentment in all situations - Santosha - which ultimately leads us to peace.

Thanksgiving is a holiday where we focus on the abundance we have, and it's a great time to begin the practice of gratitude. Don't wait - start today.
Happy Thanksgiving, and many blessings to you and your family.

Kim

An addiction can start when we use things outside ourselves to make us feel better. It can be cigarettes, alcohol, shopping, technology, work, gambling, food, drugs – even exercise. Many of these are socially acceptable vices in moderation – even marijuana use is becoming more mainstream and legal now in some states. However, any vice we use to escape from ourselves or our lives, that takes us away from family, friends, and work, ultimately harms us and our loved ones and can be life-ending.

Yoga is a great complementary practice for those in addiction recovery. Yoga offers tools to address feelings, thoughts and actions. These solutions are very similar to those found in recovery programs and involve intellectual, emotional, and spiritual self-exploration. Yogic tools are congruent with the principles of the twelve-step philosophy. Somatic, or body-based postures cultivate awareness of the physical/energetic/mental/emotional states, enabling the practitioner to learn to manage pain in all forms, combat stress, sleep better, and take better care of themselves. Breath work is critical in recovery and has both neurological and physical benefits. Meditation practice will help the practitioner reconnect to him/herself, others and our Higher Power.

Announcing Yoga for Recovery Workshop,
December 6, 2016 - February 21, 2017

Highland Hope United Methodist Church
12846 Daiber Rd, Highland, IL 62249

This program will meet on Tuesdays at 6 pm at the church, upstairs, beginning December 6. The program is FREE to everyone, with donations accepted. Participants do not have to reveal any addiction details. They only need to have the desire to stop the addictive behavior. Some yoga mats will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own. A light blanket is encouraged as well.

The class will last 60 minutes and will involve physical postures, breath work and meditation. The class will be designed so that students can participate regardless of physical limitation. Chairs will be available for those that prefer to remain off the floor. There will be a weekly topic and self-study opportunities. Practice at home is encouraged.

If you or someone you know struggles with an addiction, please consider trying Yoga for Recovery. Please help spread the word.

Questions? Contact me, Kim Gray, 618-792-6677