• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Kids Yoga Stories | Yoga and mindfulness resources for kids

Yoga cards, mindfulness resources, yoga books, yoga resources for kids.

  • Home
  • START HERE
  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • *FREE Resources*
  • ABOUT
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Graduate-Level Professional Development
    • Media Kit
    • Sign Up for Newsletter
    • Printing Instructions
    • Download Troubleshooting
    • Kids Yoga Monthly FAQ
    • Guest Posts
    • Privacy Policy
  • KYM Login
  • Show Search
Hide Search

12 Practices of Gratitude

Giselle · December 29, 2012 ·

This month, I focused on Gratitude.

In his book, The Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes five Yamas as personal disciplines to becoming a responsible, productive, and happy person.  One of the Yamas is Aparigraha, which is translated as “greedlessness” or only possessing what is absolutely necessary in our lives.  It could also be loosely translated as being grateful.

What a month to practice being grateful – in between American Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I made a list of at least a dozen things I was grateful for in my life – my family, kind words of encouragement, the Kids Yoga community, world travel, books, and children worldwide who teach us to live in the moment, love life, and laugh lots.

It was a wonderful way to finish the year with a feeling of gratitude, instead of judging myself or wishing I had done more this year.

It got me thinking about how I am going to talk to our daughter about gratitude when she grows up.  Thinking like a mom can certainly be different than thinking like a teacher.

12 Practices of Gratitude

Check out this list of ways to help our children develop a sense of gratitude, from the lovely book, Under the Chinaberry Tree: Books and Inspirations for Mindful Parenting by Ann Ruethling and Patti Pitcher (p. 206-208):

  • Make a point to be appreciative yourself.  Say “thank you” at every opportunity.

 

  • Be explicit.  Teach your children specifically when it is considered polite to say thank you.

 

  • Practice the “I’m lucky because” game.  List off the many ways you see that she is lucky – a warm bed, a loving family, a big sister to play with.

 

  • Teach your children to send thank-you notes, even if those notes are simply one of her drawings embellished by your writing and her dictated thoughts.

 

  • Encourage your child to say “thank you” to her teachers at the end of the day or class.

 

  • Offer a prayer or song of gratitude before meals.

 

  • As much as your family is able, get involved in holiday gift-giving programs for the needy.

 

  • At the end of the every day, while you are sitting at your child’s bedside, ask her to name one thing she is grateful for.

 

  • When your child feels sad or lonely, have him send a letter to someone he loves.

 

  • Every day, in some small way, make sure your child knows you are grateful for the gift of being his parent.

 

  • Notice and appreciate the small things in life.

 

  • Use famous sayings or quotes to punctuate the need for gratitude.

Check out the book for more detailed descriptions under each point.

I’m curious, how do you practice gratitude in your house, studio, or classroom?  I’d love to hear your stories – feel free to email me at giselle (at) kidsyogastories (dot) com.

Thank you for reading.  I’m grateful.

Giselle
Kids Yoga Stories
www.kidsyogastories.com
www.facebook.com/kidsyogastories
www.pinterest.com/kidsyogastories

 

 

If you liked this post, share it here:

Share on FacebookShare on PinterestShare on LinkedInShare on Email

Filed Under: Benefits of Yoga Tagged With: aparigraha, gratitude, kids yoga stories, loving kindness, yamas and niyamas, yoga for children, yoga sutras

Primary Sidebar

FREE POSTERS

yoga poses for kids, kids yoga, yoga printables

Welcome

Giselle Shardlow Profile Image Welcome to Kids Yoga Stories. To create the yoga books, yoga and breathing card decks, and yoga and mindfulness classroom resources, I draw from my experience as an international teacher, a world traveler, a certified yoga teacher, and a mom to a spirited child. I’ve been practicing yoga practically my whole life, and after I became a mom, I fell in love with the idea of sharing yoga and mindfulness with my daughter. Read more.

Social

  • Facebook 34 K Likes
  • Pinterest 24 K Followers
  • Insta 7 K Followers

Recent Posts

  • 10 Calm Down Corner Ideas for Your Classroom – to Help Students to Breathe, Take a Break, and Regulate
  • How to Do Yoga Games with Large Groups of Kids (+ Printable Poster)
  • How to Apply for Grants for School Yoga Programs
  • St. Patrick’s Day for Kids: Books and Yoga Poses (+ Printable Poster)
  • Learn about Jane Goodall through Books and Movement
  • Ripple Effects of Mindfulness in Schools




POPULAR YOGA PRODUCTS FOR KIDS

Yoga Cards Collection Image
Yoga Cards for Kids
Yoga Book Collection Image
Yoga Books for Kids
Yoga Bundles Collection Image
Yoga Bundles for Kids
Teaching Resources Image
Teaching Resources
Yoga Pose Image
Yoga Pose Images for Kids

POPULAR YOGA RESOURCES

Yoga Poses Image
Yoga Poses for Kids
Seasonal Image
Seasonal Yoga Lesson Plans
Monthly Yoga Image
Monthly Kids Yoga Themes
Holiday Yoga Image
Holiday Yoga Lesson Plans
Kids Yoga Class Ideas Image
Kids Yoga Class Ideas

QUICK LINKS

About Us
Contact Us
Store
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Refund Policy

SOCIAL

Link to Twitter Image
Link to Facebook Image
Link to Pinterest Image
Link to YouTube Image

GET FREE UPDATES

Yoga tips and kids yoga resources delivered weekly to your inbox from Kids Yoga Stories!

SIGN UP

Copyright © 2023 · Kids Yoga Stories LLC · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy