We are nearing the end of a year that turned out to be far more challenging, and more enlightening, than most of us could have anticipated. That alone may be good enough cause to be thankful as we prepare for Thanksgiving, the day when most Americans count their blessings.
Having an attitude of gratitude is always in season for those on the path of yoga. In fact, gratitude fits in nicely with the concept of Santosha, or contentment, which is one of the 5 inner disciplines (or niyamas) prescribed by the Yoga Sutras, which tell us that “by contentment, supreme joy is gained” (1.42). Contentment is the understanding that what you have, who you are, and where you are moment to moment, is enough. And through learning to be in your contentment, the Sutras tell us, will create a path of joy.
It is my personal practice to read and interpret the Yoga Sutras regularly, however I want to stress that you don’t have to rely on the ancient scriptures alone to know the truth of this statement- there are plenty of contemporary studies to corroborate this claim! Better still is to discover the joy of contentment in your own heart by practicing contentment. As my teacher is known to say: Yoga is a heuristic discipline! It’s meant to be learned and affirmed through your own experience, not just through text- whether ancient or cutting edge.
I created a simple device for counting my own blessings using affirmations based on the chakra system. I was inspired to make this connection while thinking about how much stress I have witnessed lately from students young and old, from my friends and family, and (okay I will admit it) from myself. Chakras are a whole field of study unto themselves, but from a practical standpoint I think it’s easy to relate them to a hierarchy of needs (shout out to Maslow). Our basest needs are mainly physical, and based around survival of the self (and of the species). At the root of it all is a sense of stability. As we find ourselves in a position for reliable access to these, we start to move into seeking to satisfy our social and emotional needs, and on it goes until perhaps we find ourselves with the good fortune to be able to contemplate big ticket items like “self actualization” and the meaning of life.
Right now, however, in the middle of a global pandemic that’s expected to continue for another few months, there’s a lot of fear in the “basic needs” department. Many of us can’t rely on things that used to seem inevitable, even the simplest of routines have been re-imagined (anyone else find themselves in the shower at 2 pm? Just me?) When our roots are destabilized, it makes sense that we feel stressed and anxious- think of how easily a tree might shift in the wind without a sturdy system to keep it grounded.
And so, I started to realize that reminding myself and my students to affirm the gifts we have in these areas of our lives was a helpful tool for returning to a place of contentment, if only for that moment. As with any practice, the benefits grow exponentially as we keep at it. It’s something you can add to your own meditation or stillness practice, and it is an absolutely invaluable technique to share with the children in your life! The same basic ideas can be esoteric or simple depending on the age group you’re working with.
My personal affirmations go something like this:
(Root): I am secure in…. and I am content.
(Sacral): I take pleasure in… and I am content.
(Solar Plexus): I am empowered to… and I am content.
(Heart): I love and am loved (by)… and I am content.
(Throat): I follow my path (to)… and I am content.
(Third Eye): I trust my Inner Knowing… and I am content.
(Crown): I connect with grace through… and I am content.
But of course, when working with young yogis, it’s important to share these deep concepts in a way that feels easy to understand and fun to think about! That’s why I made some modifications in wording so that kids can grasp the esoteric bits and focus on what really matters to them
I have been using this format to create guided meditations, journal prompts, and Share Circle discussions for my yoga classes with people of all ages and wanted to share with the Good Seeds Yoga community. Click the links below to download two original worksheets, one for yogis in the kindergarten through second grade range, and the other can be used as a prompt for folks up through middle school.
Let me know in the comments below if you use these activities with the kids in your life, I would love to hear how it goes!
Til next time, I am wishing you peace, joy, and contentment!
♡Chelsea
