the practice of enough
santosha
contentment
written by diane, moondog yoga instructorI've been noticing lately that when I'm driving around running errands or home doing simple household tasks, I find myself feeling content. It's not a big feeling and something that could easily be overlooked. But I do notice and feel it. Contentment. Everything is alright in my world. I have everything that I need at that moment. I can feel it in my breath. It is relaxed and easy. I feel good in my own skin. I'm not anxiously looking forward to things that haven't happened yet and I'm not churning over the past. This is Santosha.
Our culture belittles and minimizes contentment. We're supposed to be always striving for something, or we seem simple and lazy.
Our culture belittles and minimizes contentment. We're supposed to be always striving for something, or we seem simple and lazy. Often, we're not even aware that we feel content, because we've been trained to always look for the next big thing.
How do we achieve contentment? I'm not sure, but I do know that saucha can help. If my mind is cluttered, I don't feel content. If there are distractions or distortions in my way, I'm most likely to focus on them, and not be able to be present. And that is key -- to be content in the present moment.
the yamas & niyamas
each week this summer, june and diane are exploring a different yama or niyama, the ethical heart of yoga practice, beyond the poses. catch up on previous posts or follow along each week right here on the blog.
we would love to hear how santosha is showing up for you -- on the mat, or in the quieter moments in between.
light your lamp & you light the world --
june and the moondog team