Santosha is one of the niyamas that asks us to choose contentment. Of the eight limbs of the yoga tradition, the niyamas are one branch that offers guidelines for bringing more peace within one’s internal spirit. The practice of contentment is a reminder to look at who we are and where we are and to choose acceptance of what is today.
“A harvest of peach is produced from the seed of contentment.”
-Kashmiri Proverb
As I write this, it is spring where I live, and a few weeks ago, I planted my summer vegetable garden. I planted seeds for peas, leeks, and fennel to produce a garden filled with veggies to nourish my body. I love this reminder from the natural world. We can choose what we get to cultivate in the garden of our soul. Planting the seed of contentment, as the Kashmiri Proverbs suggest in the quote above, not only benefits us in the short term. It produces peace in our body, our home, and maybe even our finances. It also brings about peace in our communities.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
– Teddy Roosevelt, U.S. President
Contentment abuts against jealousy and the idea we don’t have enough. Our consumer-driven culture preys upon our insecurities by offering solutions to consuming more goods and services. We can either look at others and focus on what we are lacking or compare and see the beauty in ourselves and others as diverse and worth celebrating. The yoga philosophy of santosha or contentment suggests that accepting who we are and where we are brings peace to us internally and in our relationships.
Santosha in Somatics
What I don’t think this means is that we are stagnant. We can still build businesses and relationships and even move while staying true to this principle. I believe this shift is not to resist what is. This practice of accepting what is also feels very somatic. When difficult memories or sensations come up, rather than try to flee or distract, accept the sensations. Find your strategy to stay present, breathe deeply, or find movement (walks help me with this). Somatic therapy promises us relief when we process our pent-up stress and emotions—accepting the feeling to process and letting it go, bringing about a bit more peace in your body.
“You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.”
– Brené Brown
A practice for contentment
I invite you to plant a seed of contentment. Right now, if you have a minute, do a body scan and notice how you feel. Observe parts of your body that feel tired, sore, or might be injured. Be curious when you do this where your mind naturally goes. Now, shift your focus to where your body feels good or neutral in this moment. Notice the ease you might feel in your body. See if you can breathe deeply and imagine cultivating that ease and contentment in all the parts of you. Take a few more deep breaths, just noticing. End with the words, “I choose contentment.”
