day retreat rental

Santosha: Cultivating Contentment in a Restless World

Santosha: Cultivating Contentment in a Restless World

As we surrender ourselves to the observance of Santosha, we discover that contentment is not a destination to be reached, much like how Saucha is also not an arrival point, but a way of being—a way of embracing the fullness of life with hearts wide open. This practice may not make us immune to undesirable situations in our lives, but it can sweeten our perspectives, inner stories, and how we respond to the insatiable demands of our need for gratification. May contentment be part of what anchors us to ourselves, to each other, and to the divine presence that dwells within us and among us. In many ways, this is both a personal and community practice, something that can be cultivated at home, and also further amplified (or activated) at a nature retreat here at Nectar Yoga on Bowen Island, BC. There is something profoundly powerful when you are witnessed by others, and when you witness others cultivate Santosha with intention.

Saucha: Cultivating Clarity in Ancient Yogic Philosophy

Saucha: Cultivating Clarity in Ancient Yogic Philosophy

The practice of Saucha extends to our relationship with the land. It means centering and learning from the Indigenous groups, such as the Coast Salish peoples, and traditional earth-relating cultures. It calls for mindful consumption, reducing waste, and living in harmony with animals, plants, air, waterways, and other elements in Nature. It means a return to living and consuming seasonally. By being conscious of our ecological footprint, we acknowledge that humans are here for a reason, and to not waste this opportunity to steward this Earth. Saucha reinvites us back to circular living.