Santosha -Acceptance + Resiliency thru Love + Community
Sometimes I ask myself, why the yoga studio? Why now, in the middle of a global pandemic of all times, would I dive head first into re-opening a business that had been shuttered in March 2020. Why now, would I choose to leave behind everything I knew for a career and start anew as a yoga teacher and studio owner?
My teacher, Dana, would often reference the discomfort of the physical yoga posture that you are trying to get into, deepen, or hold, as a great metaphor for life.
He would say,
“Our consistent practice trains us to get comfortable with the discomfort.”
This can be evidenced in both the yoga asana on the mat, as well as in our psyche, and how we respond to both our inner and outer world. Accepting what is, without attachment to how you think or wish things would be, is the premise of the second niyama, santosha, defined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as contentment.
I’ve recently barred witness to the breadth of resilience and acceptance of what is, that exists in and amongst our little yoga community. When our meditation teacher, Leah was preparing to heal from a knee surgery she took her meditations online for what was supposed to be a short term change. However, a few days post surgery she suffered a fall and was bound to a straight leg cast for 8-12 weeks. When asked what she will do, she responds with a smile, saying “This oughta be interesting!” Leah’s ability to maintain her curiosity in the face of adversity was palpable and a clear example of the santosha she has cultivated from her meditation practice.
A few weeks ago yoga teacher Anjali fell skiing just hours after teaching her Yin Yoga class. Anjali’s livelihood relies on her teaching yoga not only at Mountain Kula Yoga, but via her own business offering yoga and healing services throughout the valley. With a fractured pelvis, friends, family, and students quickly formed a Go Fund Me and a Meal Train to support her recovery.
We’ve also been deeply missing the presence of our dear friend Ron Routhier as he battles cancer. His presence and his smile at the studio are so missed. I know he wouldn’t want me to make a fuss over him, but I’d be amiss not to mention the huge support he’s been of seeing the studio flourish and the joy his friendship brings me, and so many others. Ron does not take the people in his life for granted and would benefit greatly from your thoughts and prayers, calls and texts, and healing vibes, now more than ever. You can learn more about Ron’s inspirational journey with cancer in this piece from Dartmouth Hitchcock.
Seeing our community come together to help support each other is what answers all the questions of why now, why this that I may have had. When faced with difficulty each of these people have been and continue to be a testament to the yogic path. To be in their presence, is to know santosha, the acceptance of life, of ourselves, and of whatever life has brought us.
They have drawn on their years of practice to accept where they are at, albeit not at all easy, it gets better with community, support, and love. Remembering we are never alone and that there is much to be gained in the face of difficult times. That’s why I’m here doing this yoga teacher and studio owner thing. I’m feeling very grateful to our teachers and staff, especially Christine and Bridget who have kept things going at the studio the last few weeks, while I stayed home due to Covid. I’ve been practicing santosha even more the last weeks, accepting where I’m at but always looking forward to seeing you again—thankfully returning this week!
