Contentment Comes from Practice

"Practice is not about escaping life—it's about meeting it fully."

Pema Chödrön, The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness. 

As I sit in the front room of my house, on my big comfy red chair, with my precious red heeler, Lila, sleeping on her ottoman and ignoring the view of her outside domain, I am so touched. The evening sun is lighting up the bushes and trees outside in such a lovely autumnal glow. I have some instrumental guitar music playing on Spotify, supporting my creative endeavor of writing something that matters. Or at least doesn’t suck. 

I’m basking in a moment like this, because it feels hard earned. I’ve been driven and goal-oriented since my youth, and contentment does not come naturally. 

I first learned about contentment, or santosha in Sanskrit, in yoga teacher training back in New York City, 2004, which was probably the most competitive era of my life. Just hearing about santosha, which is one of the inner practices of yoga (niyama), sparked my whole mind and spirit with curiosity. 

What is this contentment you speak of, and how do I find it?

And now today, on my 49th birthday, I feel it. I get it. It kinda snuck up on me. Perhaps it comes with age, but perhaps not. It might very well be the 30+ years of practicing yoga, seeking spiritual insight, praying, worshipping, and sitting in meditation that helped get me here. Granted, my life is full of blessings, and I’m forever grateful for that. But I also know people who “have it all,” yet don’t have santosha. 

I don’t think society today (or ever?) celebrates contentment. I know our economic system demands discontent, and our media feeds that discontent. When was the last time you checked in on your level of contentment? Do you even know what it feels like? 

Perhaps it’s easier to name what it doesn’t feel like. A clenched jaw, tight stomach, shallow breath, furrowed brow, anxious mind, and constant distraction are signs that santosha isn’t settled into your system at that moment. And that’s ok! Moments change. The feeling of contentment may come and go, but the underlying river of peace that comes from an ongoing supportive practice of movement, meditation, and devotion remains. It’s under there somewhere, and emerges in moments like this. 

I know you’ve felt it before. 

So much of why I teach yoga, meditation, and spiritual practice is to help people feel content more often. It’s not a terribly lofty goal, but it’s what makes me tick. I have learned, practiced, and gathered so many practices to feel better, I thought I’d try putting more of them out there. 

This is why, for my birthday celebration, I’m inviting you into my world of practices. 

Some you’ll love and want to keep doing, some won’t necessarily float your boat, and all of that’s ok. Even if you learn one thing that, when practiced over time with consistency, brings you more peace, ease, and closer to santosha, it’s all worth it. 

Why now? Because of the discontent out there. Because of the divisions in our lives. Because I believe we need these practices now more than ever, at least in my memory.

Please consider this your formal invitation to 

Practice Through

Contemplative and Therapeutic Yoga Practices for 

Challenging Times

These 30-minute sessions will be live on Zoom various Fridays at 8:30AM Central. We will start October 31, and we’ll have 11 sessions, ending on February 13. Those who attend live are invited to stay afterwards for a period of group reflection.

All sessions will be recorded and available in your online library for you to keep. 

So happy birthday to me! I’m putting something out there that makes me feel good because I know it’ll make you feel good.

Now that’s santosha.

May you capture moments of evening sun, comfy chairs, sleeping dogs, and a contented heart.

Much love