5 Ways to Practice Gratitude with Good Posture

5 Ways to Practice Gratitude with Good Posture

Why practice gratitude? Well, there’s a powerful link between happiness and gratitude via daily exercise. We’re not talking about high-intensity aerobics, rather daily gratitude exercises that provide physical, social and psychological benefits. Prime example? Practicing good posture helps with mental clarity and productivity, but it also helps connect us back to our bodies and minds with cognitive application of good posture. Ultimately, when we express gratitude, we feel better about ourselves and invite wellness into our lives. Gratitude is not a flighty feat, scientific research proves that practicing gratitude helps improve sleep, emotions and the immune system. Want to improve your gratitude and posture? Here are 5 ways to practice gratitude daily with good posture.

1. Gratitude Walking

Getting outside is a great way to heighten your senses. Smell the freshly cut grass, hear the birds singing, feel the cool breeze on your cheeks, touch the velvety flower petals. When you see something beautiful, say thank you, see how the mind reacts to appreciating things we too often take for granted. Not only are you enlivening your senses, but walking increases endorphins, lowers stress and improves self-worth. Walking is a naturally therapeutic way to express gratitude and improve sleep, lower blood pressure, and promote physical health. Keep your stride straight with shoulders back, spine aligned upright, and chin up to ensure you see all of the beauty that lives in the great outdoors.

1. Daily Journaling

There is great healing in self-reflection, and one way to really visualize our thoughts is to journal. Carve out 5-10 minutes in the morning or before bed to either set intentions for your day, or to express gratitude for the positive experiences you had. While journaling, be sure to sit upright and keep the spine aligned. This exercise can provoke optimism and happiness.

1. Gratitude Meditation

When we silence the world around us and look inward, we’re cutting out the distractions to get centered and balanced. When meditating, it’s important to maintain upright posture to allow yourself to breathe naturally, as well as allow oxygen to flow to the brain, where the healing is happening. Meditating is not only a great opportunity to improve posture, but it also helps us cultivate gratitude toward ourselves and the quiet patience and understanding that comes from being alone with our mind. When sitting in an upright posture, use this opportunity to visualize all the things you’re grateful for.

1. Working

Let’s face it, we’ve all gotta work. So, one way to make the workday more bearable is to practice gratitude. Rather than allowing ourselves to dread clocking in, we can shift our perspective to be thankful for our jobs and careers which support our lifestyles. One way to practice gratitude at work is to maintain good posture. Check in with your body, sit up straight and hold your head high, reflect on the good things that work provides, and allow your thoughts to focus clearly thanks to your upright posture. If you catch yourself in a slump, straighten the spine and take a few deep breaths to reconnect with your body.

1. Yoga

Yoga is a time-honored, ancient practice that’s healed people for thousands of years. There is a broad spectrum of yoga practices, but the unifying feature is intentionally connecting the body and mind through breath. Yoga is also a great way to build strength, flexibility and improve posture. So, next time you step on the mat, try setting an intention to express gratitude, and come savasana (corpse pose) savor the moment by thanking body for the amazing things it can do, and your mind for bringing you back to the mat.

There you have it, the goal isn’t to overexert yourself trying to cram all these tasks into each day. Instead, find a few that work for you, because the true intention here is to feel good. Because when you feel good, you’re grateful, and when you’re grateful, you’re happier. Bottom line? Happiness spreads.

Need a little guidance with practicing good posture? We’re here for you! Try UPRIGHT, the posture trainer that makes good posture a habit. Wearing a posture sensor for 15 minutes a day can yield immense results, and help improve moods, emotions, and gratitude.