ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As the holidays approach, life starts to speed up with family gatherings, travel plans and end-of-year deadlines. Amid the flurry, it’s easy to lose our sense of steadiness. Yet November also invites something deeper: a reminder to pause, breathe and reconnect with gratitude for the simple things that keep us grounded.

Why gratitude belongs on the mat

Practicing gratitude reduces stress, improves sleep and strengthens emotional resilience. When we weave it into our yoga practice, we create a physical reminder of what it means to stay rooted even when life feels chaotic. In a grounding flow, the steady rhythm of breath mirrors the stability we seek during the holidays. In moments of stillness, such as a deep forward fold, child’s pose or a simple hand over the heart, gratitude becomes tangible.

Here are three simple ways to stay grounded in gratitude this season, both on and off the mat.

1. Ground yourself in the present

The first step to cultivating gratitude is awareness. When we pause long enough to feel our breath and notice where we are, gratitude arises naturally.

Try this: Begin in Mountain Pose by standing with your feet hip-width apart and press evenly through all four corners of your feet. Engage your legs gently, lengthen your spine and soften your shoulders. Breathe deeply and imagine the ground beneath you offering steady support.

2. Create space to release

Gratitude grows when we make space for it. Releasing tension in the body helps quiet the mind and open the heart.

Try this: Move into Child’s Pose. From a tabletop position, bring your big toes together to touch and let your knees widen slightly. Sink back into your hips and rest your forehead on the mat or a block, extending your arms forward, lengthening your breath. As you breathe, imagine releasing what no longer serves you and making room for what does.

3. Reflect with intention

Gratitude deepens when we take time to acknowledge it. Whether through journaling, meditation or a quiet pause, reflection helps us integrate what we value most.

Try this: List three things you’re grateful for: one in your body, one in your environment and one in your community. Speak them aloud or write them down to make them real.

Community practices for Thanksgiving week

This Thanksgiving, we’re inviting the Asheville community to move, breathe, and celebrate gratitude together.

Thanksgiving Morning: Grounded Flow – 9-10:15 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 27

A 75-minute all-levels class designed to help you find steadiness and presence before the day unfolds. Expect breathwork, mindful movement, and space for reflection.

Friday Night: Power Hour “Turkey Twists” – 5:30-6:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28

A fun, fiery flow to help you reset after the feast. This energizing class combines strength, mobility and playful twists to leave you feeling light and renewed heading into the weekend.

Both classes are $28 per person and open to all, whether you’re new to the studio or a longtime member of the YogaSix Asheville community. It’s a chance to reconnect with what matters most: movement, gratitude and each other.

Coming home to the present

When we slow down enough to notice, we realize gratitude isn’t something we practice once a year – it’s a way of being. Each breath, each pose and each act of kindness ripples outward. Whether you join us on the mat or take a quiet moment at home, may this season remind you that the greatest gift is simply being here.

Find more information at www.yogasix.com/location/asheville.