Santosha for Balance

Alright, we’re back!… talking about Santosha. So exciting! This month we are continuing to work with the second niyama of the 8 limbs of yoga, Santosha (complete contentment). Read the last blog on more about Santosha. This week I wanted to read a passage I found on Santosha and see what seems interesting in it for you, in your life right now. 

“We must look at our asana practice and appreciate where we are at, and what all our body has achieved. Be content with our progress and not risk injury, yet, push to improve areas that can be comfortably improved. Thus in physical yoga practice, Santosha maintains this fine equilibrium between acceptance and advancement.

This equilibrium must be sought in the general sense, in life, while observing Santosha. We must be content and satisfied with our physical state and materialistic possessions, yet harmlessly push to extend our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.”

What if we give ourselves this space… this time in our practice to cultivate contentment and really tap into it, so we appreciate the practice. We appreciate our body where it is at the current moment. And know that this is just a constant practice… constant weaving in of knowing were we are at the current moment… and be ok with it. It’s ok to have moments of anxiety, fear, anger… but can we see when it arises and just sit with those emotions. Not feed those emotions nor deny them. Santosha is the practice of finding complete contentment with current moment… it’s a practice. I love this quote:

“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I really like mantras, if I’m getting stuck in my mind or stuck in the practice, I just repeat the word. So the beauty and power of the mantra or intension can wash over you. It can be a really cleansing and clearing practice. See if repeating Santosha in your mind helps you in any way. Try it for a couple days and see is you notice any shifts. We’ll be back next week to talk about more ways to cultivate Santosha and the benefits it has on our lives. 

Enjoy your day, namaste