Samtosha means contentment, accepting the truth 'as it is". Not to be confused with happiness or complacency. The is the ability to accept your circumstances and learn how to discern that which we can change and that which we cannot. Building upon our circumstances to become a better you.
I am learning this in quite a unique way. Having broken my ankle on a recent scuba diving outing, what started as a 21 day adventure to Spain, has turned into a 6-8 week journey toward healing. A practice of patience and acceptance of what is and making the best of a set of circumstances beyond my control. I am hearing from others how they experienced profound growth in their yoga practice when their physical practice was interrupted due to an illness or injury . How can that be if yoga is a physical practice?
What about my handstands, my back bends, I am moving away from advancing in these poses! I almost had my free standing handstand! My heart opening back bend practice was so close to getting me into scorpion.
STOP!
Now is the time for me to really practice living in the moment, making peace with my current situation, accepting it for what it is and know that this to shall pass! I may have to take a few steps back in some of my asanas, reevaluate the importance and perhaps the intentions of my practice. This is all good, right?
Easy to say, harder to practice.
A practice grounded in strict form only feedS the inadequacy you may feel in your physical body and in your ability. So today as you begin your practice take a moment of gratitude. Gratitude that you are not practicing or striving for an ideal form but rather for ideal function for you body, today!
Take a moment to thank your body for simply showing up today and be open to receive any and all benefits and lessons. Remember there will not be a parade today if you reach the floor, or have the deepest split in hanumasana. The world is not going to shatter if you should take a child's pose in the middle of Surya Namaskar number 45 or stop for a drink of water. Honor the limits of the body, today, accept that this may or may not pass. At some point you will have gone as far in a pose as your body safely will ever be able to go.
There is no shame, only honor and respect as you accept with grace and dignity the wisdom of your body. It is when we resist, resist what is, that we cause harm. Practice today with complete honesty as you accept where your body is today.
Now as we move forward, take a mental note of your strengths and weaknesses you believe to be in your practice. Instead of looking upon your perceived limitations as a negative in your practice, how might you grow with them? How can you adapt your form so as not to lose the function of the asana or cause discomfort someone where else in your body.
Don't compromise other parts of the body, be content and honor the form your body is able to create. Be true to the function or sensation of the asana not your neighbors form. Observe if you are able to find the full body breath and find contentment in your expression of the asana. Take a pause in each asana and allow the function and sensation you are striving for to really resonate in your body, be full body aware and content in your expression of each pose. Seek support from props and always modify when you need to.
In closing, are these perceived weaknesses showing up today new? Have you been ignoring them, risking injury or cheating yourself out of the true function and full benifit of the asana? How many times do you find that you ignore these cues refusing to accept that you need to slow down, do less or go further..
Instead of grieving or complaining about the things that have gone wrong, or are not just right in your life, accept the truth and learn from it. The payoff will be a state of calm and happiness, reguardless of what is going on around you. Your true authentic self is joy, regardless of what is going on around you.
May you know joy, may you know peace, may you know contentment.
Hums
joy, honor, contentment, ease, truth, allow, be, freedom, explore, accept, adapt, receive, believe, know, observe, flow, ground,
The second of the 8 limbs of yoga are the five internal practices of Niyama (observance). Niyama can be described as the rules that need to be observed by individuals, on a more personal level.
- Sauhca
- Samtosa
- Tapas
- Svadhyaya
- Isvarapranidhana