Samtośa - finding contentment in the swirl

So much has changed since I last wrote here.

Children have graduated, parents have passed, houses have been sold, and countless miles have been traveled. In the selling of the family home of 18 years (!), I was given the chance to sort through a lifetime of belongings—boxes of papers and photos, closets of clothes, shelves of keepsakes—and make conscious choices about what to carry forward and what to release. Do I regret parting with that thrifted Givenchy duck-egg-blue leather jacket I scored for $1? Well, yes, I probably do, but the truth is, I can hardly remember most of what I donated, gifted, or sold. There’s a lesson in that, I think!

Bones have broken and healed. Hearts, too, have broken and are mending. Through all this change and upheaval, a few constants have anchored me: the unshakable love of family which knows no limits it seems, the steady support of friends near and far, the desire to move and stay active, to eat well and nourish my body, and to keep learning and sharing. These touchstones have helped me stay buoyant in the swirling current of life—and for the support I’ve received along the way, I am deeply grateful.

One of the brightest moments in this season was carving out time to complete my 200-hour yoga teacher training. A gift at any stage of life, but for me, in this particular moment, the teachings really resonated. And this feels like just the beginning of a journey that will continue to shape me in the years ahead.

I was fortunate to learn from wonderful teachers—(Thank you YogaFlow SF) not only in the physical practice of asana, but also in the philosophy of yoga, dipping into the Yoga Sutras and the timeless insights they offer.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on Samtoṣa, one of the Niyamas (the second of the eight limbs of yoga). The Niyamas are guiding attitudes or practices to cultivate, and Samtoṣa speaks to modesty, humility, and contentment—not just with what we have, but with what is. As I navigate this topsy-turvy chapter of life, the idea of finding peace within the swirl feels especially powerful. To accept what comes, to learn from it, and to rest in that acceptance—a lifelong practice, surely, but one worth striving for.

This practice extends onto the mat as well. Every time I unroll it, new challenges—physical and emotional—await. Finding that balance between effort and ease. So I return to my breath, invite in Samtoṣa, and choose to be content with whatever arises in that moment… and then the next, and the next.

I’m grateful and content to be writing again, and I look forward to sharing more of my yoga journey with you soon.