At different times in 27 years of practice, I’ve had affinities for different poses or types of poses. Early on, backbends were my passion. I still love them, but since then I’ve delved into standing poses (originally NOT my favorite poses), spinal rotations, and long inversions, among others. One pose has been a constant favorite for me from the beginning:  shoulderstand. When I roll up into shoulderstand, my body immediately says, “Ahhhh.” I love the feeling of weightlessness, and I think that going upside down changes my perceptions, not just in the moment, but throughout the day.

What are your favorite poses? What is it about them that you enjoy? What have you learned from them?

Most of us are feeling the pinch these days. As a full-time yoga teacher for the past 23 years, I’ve approached my classes as a service rather than a business. Consequently, I have almost no wiggle room to absorb the tough economic times. Still, I’ve been able to survive–so far–by cutting back on some of the frivolous spending I’d become accustomed to. Because “recreational” spending is not an option at this time, I no longer spend a lot of mental energy on wanting things. This has been freeing. Instead of focusing on what is lacking in my life, I practice appreciating what I do have in abundance–my health, good friends, a congenial family, my partner, my music, my yoga classes and my wonderful feline friends.

Santosha, the cultivation of contentment, is one of the guiding principles of yoga. Contentment allows us to be free and at ease in each moment. Are you “doing without” because of the economy? What has the effect been? What is the difference between the energy of wanting and the energy of contentment? Please share your ideas for practicing santosha.