Class Theme Week 5 Oct 2014- The second Niyama- Samtosha

This week I am working in my classes with the next Niyama, Samtosha (contentment). Once more, an opportunity for me to do some reading around it and get inspired. I enjoyed some of the comments in http://www.yogaglo.com/blog/2013/01/the-niyamas-samtosha/ which I condensed and paraphrased for sharing with the class. Here is the link to the article in case you are interested.
For the class, I am asking students to consider, when they are executing a challenging asana, where are they carrying unnecessary tension (often face, neck, shoulders) and what mental attitude are they taking with them? What about when the pose is less challenging- what is the mental attitude here, has focus been maintained, what about holding tension now- same, different? All trying to hone that habit and skill of checking in with yourself, and non-judgementally observing what is going on, if it needs changing, and how to start that change. A few things to take away and practice off the mat!