Week 156: Giving the Gift of Gratitude

It was my birthday this past week. And I've always taken the opportunity on or around my birthday to do two things. 

1. Book my annual physical exam with my doctor, and

2. Reflect on the past year and plan for the next one (okay, sounds like an abridged New Years resolution, which I guess it sort of is).

I've been somewhat successful in doing number two. On the actual day of my birthday, I posted this...

Grateful/Gratitude being the key word here!

My life (read: sleep, body, mental and emotional wellbeing) seems to be settling. Yes, life is different with TWO kiddos but it's not the crazy first year with a baby (and another underfoot). I'm getting more time for me, which I am very thankful for. 

This is the new norm.

What that means is I am at a place where I have routine (which I crave) but the ability to reflect on how gosh-darn-blessed I am!

I could write many, many lines of what I have in my life (i.e., loving husband, adoring and adorable, happy, healthy kids, food to eat, a roof over my head, parents who live less than fifteen minutes away, a job I'm excited to go to, etc. etc.) . But instead, I will just say I have everything that I could possibly need.

As I journey to know more about yoga and how to be a teacher, I chose a practice this week that reflects my birthday week...Melt Into Gratitude with my friends over at Do Yoga With Me and Nicky Jones.

Nicki lead me through something I’ve never done before - Joy Breath or Breath of Joy. It was such a refreshing sequence of breathing that I have to consciously remember to do it again over the next year!  This pranayama practice would be great to include in my teaching practice too. Who does want to feel joy?! With a little search, I found out it increases oxygen levels in the bloodstream, temporarily stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, circulates more prana, and gently stokes agni.

Joy Breath looked something like this...
Standing in mountain pose - Inhale through nose, again inhale, again inhale, and exhale out of mouth with a forward fold.

Wait a minute. Stokes agni? 

What does that mean?

Agni is broadly our ability to process all aspects of life, including food, experiences, memories, and sensory impressions. Okay…I have another thing to learn about! More for another day...

Well, I better get to my other "birthday thing" - call up the doctor for my health,
LW