Santosha is the practice of finding contentment and satisfaction in the present moment, regardless of external circumstances. It teaches us to be grateful for what we have and to find joy in the simplicity of life, fostering a sense of inner peace and happiness.

This practice is often easier said than done. A common human experience is to think “I’ll be happy when/if”. There is a constant craving and desire.

Samtosha (contentment) is letting go of these cravings for what you do not have. As well as not coveting what others have.  Our modern society is geared to promoting these cravings – through advertising and social media.  Marketing identifies and then works on our fears and feelings of “not good enough”, providing us with a product or service will be able to fix, change, improve if only you use this thing, do that activity, drink or eat this product.

Our mind is easily fooled into thinking that it can attain lasting happiness through the possession of objects and goods, but both our personal experience and the teachings of the sages prove that the happiness gained through materialism is only temporary.  As soon as the thing we have been craving has been achieved, then a new craving starts.

The yogic sages tell us that when we are perfectly content with all that life gives us, then we attain true joy and happiness.

Santosha encourages you to accept and appreciate what you have and what you are, right now. When you have accepted where you are, only then can you move forward in your life and practise with more ease and… contentment! 

On your mat, you can practice Santosha by being content with the pose you are in. Letting go of the comparison of yourself to others and what they have achieved. Also not compare yourself to last week or last month. Working with your body as it is in that moment on the mat.  Being at peace with your efforts, with your Tapas.

Off your mat, you can practice by taking a moment at the end of the beginning or the end of your day to think about things you can be grateful for. Maybe write them down for added impact. Practising gratitude is a great way to realise what you have already. When you can recognise the abundance that already exists in your life, the cravings start to lessen.

This is a challenging Niyama and one that I can’t profess to be able to consistently maintain! It is hard to not compare my efforts and what I am doing to what others are achieving. I have found that it is easier to establish on my yoga mat – I have started to be able to just notice differences in my body and mind on a daily basis and less bothered about how it compares.

Another area I can practice Santosha is with respect to my children. Enjoying them for each year they are in, trying to not to look back to those years when they were little, accepting that they now have their own strong beliefs and values and their own lives developing.  I practice gratitude for the time I have with them and try and ensure that t is their desires for the future that guide them and not mine!