As you wrap up the gifts for under the tree, does it ever feel like the holidays come pre-packaged with stress, making you unbalanced and irritable?  Even the excitement and anticipation of the holidays can cause undue stress on the body and mind, and believe it or not, our bodies don’t know the difference between good stress and bad stress.

The holidays often bring extraordinary stress to our lives such as dealing with difficult family members (can you say in-laws?), a higher than usual alcohol or food intake and just the need to get it all done.  How can we approach the holiday season in a yogic way, to make ourselves healthier and happier?

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.  – Henry Ward Beecher

Of the many lessons that I have learned on the mat, gratitude is perhaps among the most empowering.  Through a mindful yoga practice, we go through a gamut of emotions, including humility, acceptance, and the cultivation of gratitude. Gratitude is the sweetest way to live your yoga; when you are struggling or becoming self-defeating in your practice, gratitude can pull you through. It is the realization that each of us has been given an amazing gift; our bodies, minds, and hearts are unique and amazing, and we can instigate change, as Gandhi hoped, first within ourselves, then in the world.