Aparigraha: a lesson in non-attachment
I have been on a 15-year journey of non-attachment or as we refer to it in yoga, “aparigraha.” It is probably one of the most difficult concepts from my yoga teacher training to put into practice.
As humans, we like certainty. To guarantee certainty, we tend to cling to or attach to people, to places, or to things that provide us with the comfort of knowing. And so we grasp and hold on so tightly to all that we want to be “ours.”
But the problem with gripping so tightly is that we close ourselves off to the natural ebb and flow of life. When our fists are closed, we are not open or available for the magic of life to land like a butterfly into our hand.
I want you to imagine that the infinite possibilities of life are floating around us in any given moment. When we loosen our grip, and open our palms, we open ourselves up to receiving the magic and beauty of life. If our fists are clenched, or palms shut, we end up squeezing the very beauty out of the things we want most.
And so we begin the practice of “aparigraha” or non-attachment. In our practice of “letting go” we create inner liberation - in our minds, in our bodies and in our hearts.
In our daily lives, attachment can show up in subtle ways. We can attach to people and even create co-dependency without realizing it. We can attach to expectations or desired outcomes. The need to be seen a certain way. The fear of losing a job, a relationship or a routine. We attach to past narratives and identities, paralyzing us in our growth.
These attachments are often rooted in insecurity, past limiting beliefs or a misunderstanding of the self and what we truly need to be happy. We grasp because we believe we are not enough without what we have and hold.
But yoga teaches us that our essence is already whole and complete, just by being who we are. That nothing outside of us gives us our light, but rather it shines from within.
By practicing non-attachment, we create space, mentally and spiritually, for the truth to take form. We begin to experience freedom from depression, anxiety, jealousy, possessiveness, and the need to have control of everything in our lives.
Putting Aparigraha into practice:
Declutter your space: let go of what you don’t need. Notice how lightness comes with simplicity.
Cleanse your mind, body & heart: let go of any negative thought patterns, unhealthy behaviors, toxic relationships, or outdated beliefs.
Be present without clinging: enjoy moments without trying to hold onto them. Enjoy people without trying to hold onto them. Practice gratitude for what IS, without the need for it to last forever.
Release outcomes: set intentions, but surrender the results. Whether in yoga poses or in life, do your best to show up with love, but also release control or attachment to the outcome
Practice generosity & unconditional love: give without expecting anything in return. It affirms abundance over scarcity.
Journal Prompts for Exploring Aparigraha:
What am I clinging to?
What fears keep me holding on?
Where do I seek control, and how does that affect my peace of mind?
What stories about myself or my past do I keep retelling? Can I release them?
Imagine yourself walking through life with open hands instead of clenched fists, an open mind instead of rigid beliefs, and an open heart that is ready to receive love at every opportunity instead of putting up a wall. When we are open, we allow life to move through us. We learn to hold gently and release freely. We trust that what is meant for us will stay, and what is not will return to the flow.
Non-attachment invites us to life deeply engaged in the present moment, rooted in trust rather than control. In letting go, we do not lose; we instead make space to breathe, to grow, and to remember the peace that was never outside us to begin with.
May your yoga practice, both on and off your mat, bring you closer to freedom.
With much love,
Shanna