| Good morning beautiful Sangha. I hope the longer days, full of light (and a little more warmth!), are landing well with you helping to cultivate hope, and joy. This time of year often brings a sense of lightness and possibility – and with that, an opportunity to reflect on where we find our joy… What are you looking forward to right now? What fills your mind, what are your goals? Most people I speak to have dates in the diary – summer holidays planned, yoga retreats coming up. While we all benefit from these goals and milestones, it’s easy for the next target, the next item on the to-do list to become our pre-occupation. The social media culture we’re surrounded by is driven to tell us life will be better if we can only make deeper yoga shapes, lose weight, invest in a new wardrobe, try this new skin cream, the list is endless! The result is, we often lose sight of the here and now, totally rooted in this new/future self, alternative moment which may or may not arrive. This is why yoga puts such a strong emphasis on ‘Santosha’ or inner contentment. The Yoga Sutras describe Santosha as ‘ultimate joy’ and unparalleled happiness… what a claim! Could such a state of peace and bliss really exist? I suppose that’s largely up to us. When we practice a posture, or a state of mind over a period of time, we become consistent and stable within it. Whether that’s through yoga, meditation, a sound bath, a therapy session, or simply taking time to pause and breathe, we begin to build a steadiness within ourselves. Contentment can become part of any practice, as much as breathing, moving, resting or receiving. Santosha doesn’t mean letting go of goals, of fun, of aspirations, it’s simply about being mindful of the present moment, holding space for all that exists within it; the good, the bad, the indifferent – an acceptance, and recognition of what is. The opposite of contentment is discontentment, a grasping on to things, people, situations, to try to elevate our state of mind, so that we never feel we are enough, or that we have enough. This might show up in any practice – or in life more generally – as pushing extra hard, always reaching for the next level, the next experience, the next outcome. Wanting more, doing more, being more. But in our practice, and in life, there is no final shape, no end point to reach. The work is never really ‘done’ – it unfolds over time, in small moments of awareness, of softening, of noticing. And perhaps the journey isn’t about getting somewhere else, but about learning to be more present with where we already are. This is where Santosha quietly reveals itself. Yoga Sangha aims to be a haven from the striving and the chaos outside. A space where you can simply be, and cultivate contentment through community, practice, and moments of stillness. This month, try breathing a little deeper, making space at the beginning or the end of the day to feel gratitude for something that happened during your day: a smile from a stranger, a cup of tea when you got home, a bed to lay down in – anything that helped ground you. Remind yourself that you are perfect just as you are; that you are enough and that the sun always comes out again after the rain. Slowly work on building an attitude of gratitude as part of your physical and spiritual practice. It’s a work in progress and because all journeys are best shared, know that Sangha is always here for you to simply be, move, share and cultivate contentment in a space built on love, togetherness and moments of pure joy. Scroll down to see our classes and offerings for May and beyond: there really is something for everyone. Wishing you a beautiful month ahead and looking forward to seeing you soon, either in our studio space or online. With love and light always, Yvette and all at team Sangha x |
June: on summer escapes and boundless curiosity
Good morning beautiful Sangha, and welcome to the start of
