Smile More, Complain Less: The Art and Practice of Moga

“Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace.” –Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace

I’m reading a book about mindful mothering, Denise Roy’s Momfulness, and she discusses “Mouth Yoga,” which I’m cheerfully calling Moga these days. The concept comes from Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who uses the term Mouth Yoga for smiling. Roy mentions that the many muscles that create smiles need to be stretched and exercised if we want them to grow stronger. We’ve all heard, as well, how even the act of smiling—before we really feel the sentiment—can help lift our spirits and brighten our moods. Smiling releases endorphins and other feel-good chemicals, combating the stress hormones that often circulate in our bodies due to our contemporary lifestyles. Muscles in the face and body relax when we smile, helping us to soften into the moment instead of meeting it with rigidity.

Encouraging ourselves to smile more might seem like a simple goal, but in moments of stress, tension, despair, or hard work, smiling can feel like a monumental effort. In these times it can be difficult to soften into the acceptance of what is instead of feeling we need to meet it with toughness and efforts to control. Easier, perhaps, is trying to smile when we’re doing pleasant or even neutral tasks. Try to smile when you’re brushing your hair or dressing for the day. Try smiling when you’re driving (listening to something uplifting in the car can help here) or when you’re eating a meal. And certainly try to bring a soft smile to the face when practicing yoga or mediation. Yoga, as a discipline, can help create joy in our lives, and this process will be facilitated when we smile while practicing asana. Getting into the habit of softly smiling and looking pleasant, even when we’re doing something potentially strenuous, can do wonders for helping us soften into and smile through more difficult moments in daily life.

Give it a try. Start practicing Moga, and see how you feel.