If you truly learn to love what you have, and develop a sense of gratitude for all the amazing gifts you have, then you can build on that in a positive way. The more you have to be grateful for, the more you get – it is a positive spiral that helps you create an abundant and wonderful life, and one that gives you more success, more to be grateful for, at every stage.

If you wake up and practice gratitude (remember it needs practice!) it can help you go into your day actually looking for things to be grateful for.

As part of Yoga Day USA – taking place Saturday, January 23 – Yoga Alliance conducted a survey to determine those factors that may prevent people from reaping the rewards of this thousands-year-old practice. The 2010 Yoga Insight Survey sought to identify the country’s general level of understanding of the myriad health and wellness benefits the practice yields.

“Yoga Day USA is an opportunity to help educate people – from the most experienced yogis to those trying it for the very first time – about the power of yoga,” said Dr. Terri Kennedy, a member of the Yoga Alliance board of directors.

Everyone has “the blues” from time to time. But for some people, this unhappy, gloomy state becomes a way of life. Typically, those suffering from depression have turned to prescription medication to help them through the rough patches. Unfortunately, anti-depressants often carry the risk of serious side effects. However, there is an incredibly safe and natural alternative that can help you cope. When you learn about yoga breathing and exercises, you can begin to lift the dark cloud that shadows your sense of joy.