Gratitude is Joy

‘As a result of contentment there is purity of the mind, one-pointedness, control of the senses, and fitness for the vision of Self’ - The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sutra 2.41

‘By contentment, supreme joy is gained."- The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sutra 2.42

The word ‘Santosha’ means contentment. This niyama teaches us that it's beneficial to practice gratitude and feeling grateful for whatever the present moment is offering because we can't change it. The present moment is an accumulation of previous thoughts and actions, so it's teaching us there is either blessings or lessons, and both are instrumental in our experience as human beings. 

In this blog, we'll explore the importance of Santosha and how it can enhance the quality of our lives.

Brief Yoga History: Yoga Sutras + 8 Limbs of Yoga

The true meaning of Yoga is the union of body, mind, soul, and spirit to reduce suffering.

According to the practice, we often suffer because of not knowing our true Self and the illusion of separation of our individual consciousness from Universal Consciousness.

So taking a step back... where do the Niyamas come from? 

The five Niyamas are the 2nd Limb of Yoga, within the 8 Limbs of Yoga, which are 30+ concepts that come from the Yoga Sutras. If you'd like to dive deeper into the other Limbs, I have written the additional blogs below so far:

1st Limb of Yoga - The Yamas

1. Ahimsa/ NonViolence
2. Satya/ Truthfulness
3. Asteya/ NonStealing
4. Brahmacharya/ NonExcess
5. Aparigraha/ NonAttachment
   
   

2nd Limb of Yoga - The Niyamas

1. Saucha / Purification
2. Santosha / Contentment 
3. Tapas / Discipline
4. Svadhyaya / Self Study
5. Ishvara Prandihana / Surrender

3rd Limb of Yoga - Asana

4th Limb of Yoga - Pranayama

5th Limb of Yoga - Pratyahara

6th Limb of Yoga - Dharana

7th Limb of Yoga - Dhyana

8th Limb of Yoga - Samadhi

The Yoga Sutras contain 196 verses, which discuss the aim of yoga and how you strive for freedom, liberation and self-realization - the 8th Limb of Yoga, also called Samadhi.

The Yoga Sutras were transcribed by a man (and most likely many of his colleagues and students) named Patanjali, presumably from India, estimated to have lived between 2nd century BCE to 4th century CE, and act as a practical guide to assist you on your journey of remembering the ultimate union.

According to the Sutras, beginning the pursuit of self-realization is the most significant step in life – as they make us aware of our pitfalls and how to overcome them.

The Meaning of Santosha

Where the Yamas are helping us deepen our relationship with the external world, the Niyamas are helping us to enhance our relationship with our internal world.

As we find a sense of gratefulness in who we are and what we have in the present moment, we reduce the cycle of thinking that we need more for ourselves or others. It's the feeling of lack, that creates suffering. 

One of the biggest ways we do this is by comparing ourselves and what we have to others. Stop comparing. Keeping our focus internal, and taking time each day to give thanks for all we are experiencing can properly prepare you to create change if desired. When we let go of the constant desire for more, we begin to experience the magic of Santosha. The biggest lesson here is that contentment comes from within, nothing and no-one externally can provide this for us. 

"When we expect the world to meet our needs we turn outside of ourselves to find sustenance and completion. We expect our jobs, partners, friends, family, material items, money to solve our problems and make us happy, and when they don't we play the 'if only' game and begin our external search again. As long as we think satisfaction comes from an external source, we can never be content. Looking outward for fulfillment, will always disappoint us and keep contentment out of reach" ~ Deborah Adele, The Yamas & Niyamas

How To Apply Santosha to Your Practice & Life

ON the mat:

• Can you show up grateful for that your body is even capable of being there and any progress you've made?
• Can you practice gratitude for the space, props and if you are practicing with a teacher as a guide?
• Can you acknowledge one thing the teacher says or does that truly makes you feel grateful for their presence, effort, time and knowledge (if not, you might need to find a new teacher)
• In each pose, can you find a sense of whatever your ability is to be enough for that day? 
• Can you use the breath as a way of showing gratitude for each moment in the poses?
• Keep your breath flowing consistency throughout practice. Notice your breath and lungs, expanding and contracting, how smooth is your breathing?
• Can you find more neutrality on the mat? Reducing preferences, likes and dislikes?

OFF the mat:

• Can you take responsibility of your emotions and reduce how often you give others the control over what you feel? This weakens us and keeps contentment away. 
• Can you notice when ego and self importance is getting offended often by others or replaying previous conservations and experiences that emotionally or mentally disturb you? (*These are physically disturbing you as well)
• Can you feel satisfied in this moment for who you are and with everything you have in your life? The moment is unchangeable, once you realize past thoughts and actions formed the present moment, you can stop being upset and wishing it was different and you can start working towards how you want the future to transform.
• Can you practice gratitude everyday for at least 1 person, place or thing?
• Can you find more neutrality in daily life? Reducing preferences, likes and dislikes.
• Can you allow all emotions and thoughts to be enough and ok? Being grateful of the supportive and unsupportive, as these are blessings and lessons.
• Can you notice when you slip into unsupportive mental and emotional states like envy and jealousy? It's in these moments where we become aware, we can do some work on the mat (or off a mat) like reading, writing, movement, breathing, chanting, affirmations, sound healing, meditation to open our hearts and take us back to Santosha.