The holidays are upon us! We at Dogwood want to say thank you for being part of our community. We hope the learning community online, in person, and recorded classes and private sessions have been beneficial to your wellbeing.
Having a practice of appreciation and gratitude for yourself, others, the circumstances you are in, and your life, is a powerful practice to support your wellbeing. Psychology today says, “Gratitude starts with noticing the goodness in life”. Easier said than done, right? We can train up gratitude.
Watkins summarizes some of the research for why gratitude is important for life in the book, Gratitude and the Good Life. In various studies, researchers found that practicing gratitude can:
1. Open the door to more relationships. Acknowledging others' contributions can lead to new opportunities.
2. Improve physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and they report feeling healthier than other people, and grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health.
3. Improve psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
4. Enhance empathy and reduce aggression. Grateful people experience more sensitivity and empathy toward other people and a decreased desire to seek revenge.
5. Help people sleep better. Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a 2011 study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
6. Improve self-esteem. Gratitude reduces social comparisons. Rather than becoming resentful toward people who have more money or better jobs – which is a major factor in reduced self-esteem- grateful people are able to appreciate other people’s accomplishments.
7. Increase mental strength. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma. Recognizing all you have to be thankful for – even during the worst times of your life – fosters resilience.
In all of our classes over the last few months we have been inviting moments of gratitude. We all have the ability and opportunity to cultivate gratitude. Some forms of gratitude are more difficult, like gratitude toward yourself, but we can train up an “attitude of gratitude” to improve satisfaction with life and build resilience during a long pandemic.
Speaking of gratitude, our Karma class for Healing Pines led to over $2800 in donations! Wow, we are so grateful and so is Healing Pines. https://www.healingpinesrespite.org/about-us
All of us at Dogwood send our love and gratitude to you. Your presence in our community brings us joy. We appreciate all you do to bring more love and light to the world.
May your days be filled with appreciation of and gratitude for all you hold dear.
Maitri,
Sam and the Dogwood Team - Jennifer, Aviva, Ainslee, Leesann, Rachel
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online class in yoga as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.
Dogwood Studios is committed to learning and growing! We strive for everyone to feel respected and supported, to be treated equally, and to be celebrated for who they are. We are very excited about our ongoing endeavor to make Dogwood Studios a refuge and beacon of compassionate practice by including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).