Day 7: Choose Ease

Welcome to Day 7 of the Yoga Anytime Self-Care Challenge. Hi. We’re so happy you are here. Today we focus on contentment. Real contentment, rather than dishonestly convincing ourselves everything is fine when it’s not. Real contentment, rather than unsustainable, ignorant bliss. Santosha is about living the life that is actually happening, rather than being constantly pulled away from presence by the kleshas (remember those?). It’s a mature practice, certainly, because it depends on an unobstructed view of reality AND a sense of appreciation for the moment at is.

“Contentment leads to unsurpassed joy.” ~ YS 2.42

With all of the deep inquiry, honesty and awareness we have been practicing in this Self-Care Challenge, and in the face of tragedy and gross injustice in the world, the idea of cultivating contentment can feel paradoxical, irresponsible and even pathological. However, if we stay with the goal of practice as being seeing more clearly what is actually happening (Yoga Sutra 1.2), living with reverence for dharma (ahimsa) and inhabiting truth (satya), we can see how santosha (contentment) is an extension of that quest for harmony with reality. It’s about remaining hopeful, because just as my process is unfolding in a way that I cannot even imagine, so too is the life’s work of everyone around me. To remain in contentment is to locate and walk the precipice of accepting what is while simultaneously continuing to grow. Please touch base with your own experiences and struggles with contentment by commenting here or on social media. Tag us on Facebook and Instagram and use the hashtag #SelfCareChallenge. Join us for the 10 Day Self-Care Challenge with Kelly Sunrose.