I always knew gratitude was important, but honestly, I never really practiced it.
Even in my personal yoga routine, I’d focus on the movements and forget to appreciate what my body was capable of. It felt like something was missing.
Then one day, I made a shift — I started intentionally weaving gratitude into my practice.
Many things have changed afterwards.
The poses felt more meaningful, my mind more calm.
It wasn’t just about the physical anymore — it became about the connection to myself and the present moment.
If you’re looking for that shift, I’ve collected 10 yoga quotes on gratitude that might spark it for you too.
1) “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Aesop
How often do we find ourselves striving for more?
More success, more achievements, more fulfillment.
In yoga, the practice of contentment, or Santosha, reminds us that everything we need is already within us. Gratitude transforms our mindset from one of scarcity to abundance, reminding us that we are enough as we are.
This quote encourages us to slow down and appreciate the simple blessings around us, from a deep breath on the mat to the energy that flows through our bodies during practice.
2) “The attitude of gratitude is the highest yoga.” – Yogi Bhajan
Before I embraced gratitude, I used to think yoga was about mastering poses.
I’d push through each asana, measuring my success by how well I could balance or stretch.
This quote from Yogi Bhajan shifted my perspective. Yoga is more about mindset than physical achievement, and the highest form of yoga is practicing gratitude.
Now, when I roll out my mat, I begin with a quiet “thank you” to my body and mind for showing up.
It changes everything about the way I approach my practice — it’s less about perfecting the pose and more about connecting with myself.
3) “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” – Maya Angelou
This quote by Maya Angelou resonates deeply with me.
I don’t only practice gratitude on the mat — it’s become a daily ritual in my life.
Gratitude has become my anchor. Whether at the end of my yoga practice or in moments of stillness before bed, I take a moment to reflect on the things I’m thankful for.
When I began making gratitude a habit, I noticed how it shifted my mood, my energy, and my mindset.
It’s simple, but incredibly powerful—grounding me in the present and allowing me to find peace, no matter the chaos around me.
4) “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagavad Gita
Yoga is more than a physical practice — it’s a journey inward.
This quote from The Bhagavad Gita highlights yoga as a personal journey — a path of self-exploration and acceptance.
As you practice, remember to be grateful for your body, your breath, and your progress.
After all, gratitude in yoga means embracing where you are in your journey, without judgment, and knowing that every pose, every breath, is a step toward inner peace.
5) “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey
This powerful quote from Oprah connects deeply with the principle of Santosha in yoga, which is about contentment and non-attachment.
When you focus on what you have, rather than what you lack, you open yourself up to abundance — both in your practice and your life.
On the mat, gratitude helps you appreciate your body’s capabilities, no matter your flexibility or strength.
By being present and thankful, you enhance the richness of each pose, deepening your connection to both your practice and yourself.
6) “The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Interestingly, sometimes you can even think of gratitude as a muscle. How so?
Well, the more you practice it, the stronger it gets.
I didn’t realize how true this was until I made gratitude a regular part of my life. But now, I find myself naturally looking for things to be thankful for in every yoga practice.
At first, it felt like a small shift, but over time, I noticed it began to transform my outlook. Yoga became a space of joy, not just because of the physical practice, but because of the gratitude I brought to it.
This quote shows me that practicing thankfulness has a ripple effect, expanding into every part of life.
7) “Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe.” – Deepak Chopra
This quote from Deepak Chopra perfectly captures what I’ve experienced in my own practice.
Gratitude opens us up to something greater than ourselves — it creates a space for wisdom, clarity, and creativity to flow in.
When I approach yoga with a grateful heart, I find that my practice feels deeper, more aligned.
I’ve noticed that when I focus on what I’m thankful for, the noise in my mind quiets.
Suddenly, the poses become easier, and my breath flows naturally. That’s how gratitude has opened me up to a more meaningful connection with the universe, and with myself.
8) “The root of joy is gratefulness.” – David Steindl-Rast
It’s no secret that gratitude and joy go hand in hand.
Yoga, with its focus on mindfulness and inner calm, offers a perfect space to practice gratefulness, which in turn cultivates joy.
As you flow through your yoga poses, focus on how your body feels, the movement of your breath, and the moment you’re in.
When you center your practice around gratitude, you’ll find that joy naturally follows. This quote reminds us that when we approach life—and yoga—with thankfulness, joy becomes the inevitable result.
9) “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.” – Cicero
Gratitude has a way of unlocking so much more than just a sense of thankfulness.
As Cicero suggests, it’s the root of so many virtues—patience, kindness, humility.
When I began practicing gratitude regularly, I noticed a shift in how I approached not just my yoga practice, but my interactions with others and even my relationship with myself.
The thing is that gratitude softens us, and makes us more open and present.
It’s like planting a seed that grows into everything else we hope to embody—compassion, peace, and wisdom.
10) “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle
This quote from Eckhart Tolle sums up the most powerful lesson I’ve learned from gratitude: that it’s the key to abundance.
So often we’re focused on what we don’t have, what we’re striving for, or what’s missing.
But when we pause to recognize what’s already good, we unlock the true potential for abundance—in our yoga practice and life.
Every time I roll out my mat, I remind myself that I already have everything I need.
The ability to move, the breath in my lungs, the present moment—this is abundance. And it’s gratitude that brings it all into focus.
Final thoughts: Let gratitude transform your practice
In the end, I’m not going to tell you that practicing gratitude will magically fix everything in your life. No, not every yoga session will suddenly feel perfect either.
That hasn’t been my experience, and honestly, that’s not the point.
What I’ve learned is that gratitude doesn’t make the challenges go away, but it does change how I approach them. It shifts my focus from what’s lacking to what’s already here, and that has made all the difference.
For me, the true power of gratitude has been in its ability to ground me, both on and off the mat. It reminds me to appreciate the small victories, the simple breaths, and the moments of peace, even on tough days.
And while it doesn’t make everything easy, it makes life — and yoga — feel more meaningful.
