Yoga Sutras and Contentment

What Do the Yoga Sutras Have to Say About
Santosha (Contentment)?
Everything you need is inside you.

2.42 From an attitude of contentment (santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy, and satisfaction is obtained.
(santosha anuttamah sukha labhah)

santosha = contentment
anuttamah = unexcelled, extreme, supreme
sukha = pleasure, happiness, comfort, joy, satisfaction
labhah = is acquired, attained, gained
Santosha brings happiness and joy: From an attitude of contentment (santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy, and satisfaction is obtained.

Contentment comes from within: We humans seem to always be seeking satisfaction in the external world and our internal fantasies. Only when we comfortably accept what we currently have will be able to do the practices that lead to the highest realization.

Respect

Hello Friends!

I was talking with one of my teachers, and relaying a story a yoga teacher once told during a class, and my reaction to it. Her immediate reaction was, "You HAVE to write about that in your next newsletter!!!"

So here you go: I was in a class with a yoga teacher we'll call "Bob". Bob was telling us how he was in a public restroom and before he washed his hands, he turned the knob on the paper towel dispenser so he didn't have to touch it after washing his hands. (He was preaching to the choir so far, because I do the same thing.)

Bob commences washing his hands, splashing his face, whatever... While he's taking care of business, he notices the guy next to him is done washing his hands and is shaking the water off his hands, wiping the water off his hands, and repeating. Bob finally figures out that this gentleman saw Bob get his paper towel ready and was WAITING for Bob to finish so that he could dry his own hands.

Bob then pauses for dramatic effect, and says theatrically, "Now THAT is respect." Pardon me, for being so contrary, but the first thing that popped into my mind was, "Sorry, Bob, RESPECT would have been you telling the poor man to take the towel and THANKING him for noticing and waiting so politely without rushing you."

The lesson here is that we all get very self-centric, and think that WE are the ones due respect. (Check this out next time you're in traffic and get angry when someone won't let you merge, yet you find yourself behaving the same way when you're in a hurry.) We forget that everyone is due common courtesy and respect and the best way to engender respect is to be respectful and behave in ways worthy of respect. Given that we aren't (well, I'll speak for myself!) all perfect, I hope that when we realize that we have not behaved in a way that is worthy of our fellow humans and their respect, that we acknowledge it, and apologize-- if not to them, at least in our own hearts.

Respectfully, :)

Liz Doyle
www.LizDoyleYoga.com
lizdoyle@msn.com
206.660.2321

LOYALTY

Writing about respect got me thinking about loyalty and rewarding quality. So here're some links to people who are highly talented in their profession, and decent human beings. If you are able use them, please do!

Robert Varley (www.eleveightsalon.com) has been cutting my hair since I was 15. Robert's amazing; I had a precision haircut once that was so incredible, strangers would stop me on the street and ask who did my hair. He just opened his new salon. He also does stunning container gardens for your deck.

Dr. Russ Nomi (www.nomidds.com) is my dentist. Very down to earth, and an unbelievably talented dentist. Russ is an impressive businessman -- wait until you see the efficiency with which his business runs, that's a study unto itself-- and a great guy.

Lucy (www.lucy.com) is a yoga and active wear apparel story, with locations in Redmond, Bellevue and UVillage. The people that work there have been very kind to me, and it is likely the friendliest staff you'll find around. Very helpful and upbeat, and their clothes are great.

Phyzz Yoga (www.phyzzyoga.com) has been featured on local television,
and is run by my friend Karen Lindenberg. Phyzz Yoga is a Seattle-based mobile yoga studio that brings yoga and meditation classes to offices and unexpected spaces. Karen is fun, funny, and a quality instructor and person.

Be Truly You (www.betrulyyou.com) is a Seattle Based company born out of the passion of two women, my friend Ann Caiola, and her business partner, Heather. They offer eco-and soul-friendly clothing and lifestyle products. Be Truly You is one of the first companies to offer a line of eco-friendly glass water bottles encouraging us to reduce our bottled water usage and lessen our environmental footprint. I love mine!

SANTOSHA (Contentment)

I realized recently while washing dishes in my "step-saver" kitchen, that I am feeling a sense of contentment I have never felt. I'm living very simply, well within my means and have whittled my personal belongings down to very little.

It's quite liberating really. I will say that I got here kicking and screaming all the way. It's hard to let go of things of which we're fond.

I know that this is a feeling I should have had all my life. I have spent most of my life striving for more and bigger and better, and thought that if I was truly content with my current situation it would make me complacent.

Of course, that's not true. It's human nature to excel and explore the boundaries of what we're capable. What I've found instead is that I have more energy, and I'm more excited about life in general and my plans.

All of this simply because I've allowed myself to enjoy what Life has offered me so far.

Upcoming Events!

I'll be leading a gentle movement and Yin Yoga class at Lucy in UVillage February 5, 2010 from 12-1PM. It's free, so grab your mat, a blankie, and come on down!

See other events (Backbending workshop, teen yoga, yoga alignment workshop) in the below post.