November Gratitude + Yoga {holiday schedule}

November is the month of thankfulness, showing appreciation for all we are and all we have. Consciously noticing, observing, giving, and receiving acts of kindness and care have positive benefits on our overall wellbeing. A consistent practice has the capacity to rewire the neural pathways in the brain. A single act of gratitude can decrease negative mindset, boost emotional resilience, decrease feelings of stress, and enhance the flexibility of the mind. Cultivating the practice of gratitude is cumulative and it can be practiced anytime, anywhere. 

Here are a few ways to practice gratitude: 

Keep a gratitude journal. 

Establish a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly practice of writing down what you are grateful for. 

Share your gratitude with others. 

Saying "thank you" is a powerful way to show respect. 

It translates as "I see you", "I value you", and "I appreciate you".

Create or bake something sweet for someone. 

Try this easy homemade almond butter granola recipe, it makes a great gift.

Experience a gratitude meditation. 

Start by observing where you are in the moment. Use your senses to notice your surroundings, take in the shadows and the light, any movement or stillness. Are there sounds in the space you are in? Do you hear any sounds outside the space you are in? Notice the texture of the clothes against your skin, the temperature of the air around you. Tune into any scents or lingering tastes in your mouth. Once you feel connected with your body and mind, turn your attention to recalling an ordinary moment, or any situation that brought you feelings of thankfulness, connection, or belonging. There are no rules to what you can appreciate. In addition to feeling grateful to someone or something, gratitude can also be a moment of paused reflection or an action. Feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin, choosing a moment of rest, enjoying a sip of coffee or tea, snuggling your pet, or listening to your favorite music are all mindful moments. Breathe deeply as you hold space for gratitude in your heart. 

I am so grateful to teach affordable and accessible yoga in my community. 

Thank you for showing up.

Please find my updated schedule and links to yoga and meditation below.

Weekly in-person yoga classes:

$5 drop in at Wakefield and Melrose Senior Centers. 

Monday Chair Yoga (11a-12n) in Wakefield, MA at the McCarthy Senior Center. 

{There will be NO CLASS on 12/23 and 1/20, Mimi Izzo will sub on 12/30}

Wednesday Chair Yoga (10a-11a) in Melrose at YMCA Metro North.

{There will be NO CLASS on 12/25 or 1/1}

Thursday Mat Yoga (8:45a-9:45a) + Chair Yoga (10a-11a) in Melrose, MA at the Milano Senior Center. {There will be NO CLASS 12/26 or 1/2}

I'll continue to sub in yoga classes at all YMCA Metro North branches in Melrose, Saugus, Peabody, and Lynn as my schedule allows. 

FREE yoga videos on YouTube

FREE guided meditations on Insight Timer

Many thanks to all who joined our 4 week 'Mindful Yoga for Fall' series through the Melrose Public Library. I shared gentle movement, breathing techniques, and meditation to carry us during the election weeks and beyond. The timing of this series was intentional. Sharing these practices as resources and ways to cope connects us all. Thank you to our Friends at the MPL for supporting our community with yoga. Our next seasonal yoga series is TBD as we hope to move into our newly renovated library in 2025.

I loved watching these dahlia blossoms grow this past summer into fall. 

I'll definitely be planting them again next spring as they brought so much cheer and hope.