April 2011
Santosha means contentment. Contentment of where you are, what your doing at this present moment, what you have in your life, and who you are.
Meaning that at any given moment, I can accept 'what is' and if I don't have the power to change it - then letting it go and just BEing.
I am given so many moments on a daily basis that I am given time, and rather than enjoying it, and being grateful for this moment, I can end up feeling inpatient, frustrated and use up wasted energy.
These are moments I cannot change - so I should accept it and use the moment to give thanks for having that friend who is late, and even being grateful in having a computer or car in the first place.
With the latest 6.1 earthquake in my home town Otautahi/ Christchurch it is a challenge for me to find Santosha- my contentment. I was just about to go into my graduation where I had just completed my second 200 hour Yoga teacher training through Santosha Yoga, run by Sunny Richards-Glasser when I heard the horrific news. With no communication from my sister and dad and some close friends I went into shock as I waited for a couple of hours close to the computer. At long last I finally heard my Dad and sister were alive, and slowly one by one my friends updated their Facebook status to say they were safe. Through my graduation - tears were released as beauty songs were sung, though my heart and mind was back home with everyone and knew and what was their current reality. There was already many deaths, and most of the CBD had collapsed along with many of our old historic buildings. It has been declared that Christchurch was in a national state of emergency.
A decision was made after 2 weeks of the earthquake had passed I could no longer find Santosha in Australia. Even amongst beautiful waves, lovely people, hot sunshine, and a job - my heart was at home. As we drove into christchurch from the airport just after midnight sadness filled me. Roads were torn, buidlings were collasped, and it was so quiet and eerie. No longer could you surf at the beach, as the water was contaminated. How do you find Santosha when there is so many people suffering in a very real way of their loved ones who died, their house collapsed and made redundant?
I was getting used to a very simple life again of no electricity and water - and quietly reflecting on how much STUFF I have.
Soon after I watched in horror as we saw on the internet the tsunami hit Japan after their 8.8 earthquake.
There is no words to describe another devastating natural disaster. Again my heart raced to my loved Japanese friends who I had just met through my yoga training, and to kiwi friends living in the area too.
Soon after 9 people from the USAR (urban search and rescue) came round to our home and gave it a yellow sticker declaring it was no longer safe to live, and enter at your own risk. With cracked piles in the foundation of the house and exteriory outer damage we quickly packed up the house and left. We all felt very blessed in the weeks we had been living there, we were all OK amongst the daily after shocks.
Since leaving, I have been fortunate enough to have friends let me stay and have found some temporary work. In this time the word 'Santosha' kept coming to me. Where and how do I find this right now ...?
I sure wasn't getting it as I drove through the torn roads, feeling homeless, hearing sad and real stories from friends and my head space becoming more down by the moment.
I knew Yoga was the way forward. And if any time more than ever, now was the TIME, to create a dream of mine that I have had for years - to run a 'Yoga4Surfers Programme!' The earthquake and the after effects from it gave me the confidence and drive to get out there and teach. I knew our local surfing community could not surf because of the water contamination and wanted to provide a way they could relax and still keep surfing strong. It so far has been a success, and most monday nights we have about 13 people coming. It has given me so much inner happiness to see people stoked on the fusion between surfing and yoga. A huge thanks to the Sumner Rugby club for offering their space as a venue for this to happen, as the local gym and community centre are earthquake damaged. Tuesday night yoga has since commenced which also gives me so much happiness.
I found a sense of *Santosha* again amongst the rubble. Some days are still not easy... I miss not being able to surf at our local, I miss the ocean views from our whare and sometimes the aftershocks feel too much - but so much to remain grateful for. So many friends have opened up their home for me and community spirit is alive :)
I hope santosha is a life long lesson that I will remember and grow from daily.
"To be happy and content in my surroundings. To be content in who I am. To be content (as much as I can) in this present moment. :)
Ai Takusan to Arigato Gozaimasu Nihongo Tomodachi. Ai Chunyuuu !!! Aroha and thanks to all my new Santosha friends. You each have taught me something new and so stoked our paths crossed. Look forward to the next adventure with you all I hope soon :) Your always welcome here in Aotearoa/New Zealand. xxx
The army coming into help
