I am very big into yoga. Not just the asanas, or poses, but all aspects of yoga. Yoga is an eight-limbed path towards enlightenment. These eight limbs are referred to as Ashtanga yoga (ashta, “eight”and anga “limb”). The stages begin with ethical and moral practices followed by the physical practice and then breathing and mental strength. Each stage is a journey to reach a higher state that allows for union with the divine…and continuous contentment, (Santosha in Sanskrit). What does it mean to be content? Are you truly joyous in what you do or are you just trying to get by? I find myself really pondering santosha right now as my life is in a state of upheaval. For the first time in my life, I know what I want to do and to get it, I find myself embracing a way of life completely foreign to me. Because it is new, I am in a state of discomfort despite the joy I am receiving. I am grappling with what is my contentment.
Contentment really is about accepting life as it is and not as how you want it to be. In yoga, contentment would be accepting where you are in a pose and not comparing yourself to your neighbor, your friend, or even to yourself and your practice the day before. Life is not about comparing yourself to your friend, your neighbor or how you think your life should look. And if you really are not content with life as it is – change it. Seriously, listen to your excuse. Listen to how many times you say “but” when focusing on your dreams, your ideal life or any change or struggle in your life. I want to start writing in a journal. It seems like an easy task, right? I could just start writing down my thoughts and voila! I am journaling. But I can come up with a thousand excuses why I don’t journal: I need a pretty book (but do I really? And why don’t I just go get one then). I don’t have time (but I have time to watch re-runs of the X Files). Someone might read it (so? Is that really that devastating? It has happened before) Bottom line is I am too lazy to change my habits and start doing what I really want. Do I accept that I am lazy or do I create change in my life and move towards santosha? What excuses are you making? What are your desires? Is anything keeping you from truly enjoying the present life you are in, or are you too busy making excuses about how you don’t have time? Do you tell yourself you are too busy with the kids, school or are broke? Will there ever be a good time? Right now is the only time you have and if you aren’t truly content, if you aren’t truly happy, it is time to sit with yourself and find out what it is you need from you. Being joyful, being happy, is a state of being, a perspective of the world. Alter yours to be filled with light and love and bestow all that wonderfulness and everyone around you. You are a magnificent being. So accept your greatness, smile and shine.
If you are left wondering, “What are the eight limbs of yoga?”…
1) Yamas: Five virtues that govern our relations with others
a. ahimsa –nonviolence
b. satya – truthfulness
c. asteya – nonstealing
d. brachmachara – moderation
e. aparigraha – nonclinging (in layman’s terms: freedom from wanting more. Try practicing this one in today’s culture…not that simple)
2) Niyamas: Five observances of the Self
a. saucha -- purity or cleanliness
b. santosha -- Contentment
c. tapas – self-discipline
d. svadyaya—self-study
e. isvara pranidhara -- Devotion to a higher power
3) Asanas: the postures for union with mind, body and spirit
4) Pranayama: breath (prana is your breath, your energy, your life force – without breath you do not live)
5) Pratyahara: inward focus. Withdrawal of the senses from the outside world
6) Dharana: Focused concentration
7) Dhyana: Meditation
8) Samadhi: Pure joy. Consciousness merges with the Divine
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