For All That You Have, All That You Are

My at-home yoga set up

 

As a stereotypical west coaster, I enjoy practicing yoga. Because of the coronavirus and my personal (dis)comfort levels with going into a studio to practice with other people, I haven't physically been to a yoga class since earlier in the year. But luckily, there are plenty of online classes to choose from - free, or by subscription.

At some point over the pandemic, practicing yoga from my living room, I was introduced to the concept of santosha. In Slow Hatha Yoga for Winding Down, YYOGA instructor Hillary Keegan explains that santosha is "contentment and gratitude for all that you have, all that you are, in this moment - right here, right now." 

Looking into its meaning a little further, EkhartYoga explains: 

Santosha or "contentment" doesn’t mean idly sitting back and relinquishing the need to do anything. It means accepting and appreciating what we have and what we are already, and moving forwards from there. 

The truth is – you will always be you, and you can either continue to disregard your [self] in favour of reaching towards something you think you’re supposed to be, or appreciate it, love it [and be] content with all you are and all you have, because there is no one else who can offer the world what you have to offer.

I think of this as apt for Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. Living in a COVID-19 existence for nearly seven months, this seems like the perfect time to take stock of "all that you have, all that you are, in this moment - right here, right now" and be grateful, simply for that.

Our experiences, family units and daily lives may look a little different from one another, but contentment is surely something we all seek. This long weekend, we may not be able to celebrate as we might normally would, compared to pre-COVID times. We likely will not see our family or friends - or even if we do, there might be social distancing, face coverings, or no shared food involved. 

But there is still room for acceptance - of our current situations, of differing risk levels amongst those closest to us, and for celebrations of a different kind. 

Santosha is something that requires work, patience, open hearts and open minds, perhaps even more so now, during pandemic times. This holiday, I wish you all acceptance and contentment - with not only others, but also yourselves. Happy Thanksgiving.