To conclude this series on the Yamas, we will round out our journey with the fifth and final Yama, Aparigraha (non possessiveness). Up to this point, we’ve gone through how to operate through life without causing harm, how to be your real and honest self, how to avoid stealing from your life experiences, and how to approach all of this with balance and non excess. Now we will encounter the art of letting go and finding freedom in non possessiveness.
Aparigraha
Translation
As with many translated words, Aparigraha can take on several meanings in English, all with the commonality of non possessiveness. Here are a few other word choice options for this Yama:
Non attachment
Non greed
Non clinging
Non grasping
Non coveting
You’re invited to try on these words for yourself within your practice of Aparigraha to find what makes the most sense during your spiritual journey.
Meaning
While there are many translations for this Yama, the meaning is very clear: find yourself in a constant state of being able to let go of the things that do not serve your life or your purpose. It sounds simple and complex at the same time, right? The reason the Yamas ask you to be capable of releasing things is so that you build a trust that there will always be something to replace what you’ve let go of.
Think about your breath for a moment. Your body naturally knows that in order to find life and sustenance, it must let go of one breath in order to make room for the next. This is exactly what Aparigraha is calling you to do. Your body was anatomically designed with this knowledge that letting go does not leave you with less, but in fact allows room for more. You are a garden of blooming cells that take the place of those that have wilted. So how do you build that wisdom built into your DNA into your conscious actions?
Practice
Journal
How many times have you overpacked for vacation? Your mind is filled with ‘what ifs’ and suddenly you have to sit on your suitcase just to zip it shut. Have you ever wondered why that is? Have you noticed that there is a lack of trust somewhere in the planning recesses of your mind that is seeking security? Like maybe you don’t trust the weather forecast or you don’t know if you’ll need a formal outfit so you bring all of these extra things just in case.
Have you ever gone on a trip where you actually used every item stowed away in your luggage? If you haven’t, did you notice how carrying around those extra items actually did more harm than good (Ahimsa)? Maybe your back is aching from carrying the weight, maybe you pay a fee for the extra items, or maybe you get home and realize that you weren’t able to keep track of so many things and you accidentally left something behind.
Maybe you haven’t experienced this, but can you see how this holding on to your baggage can go so much further than inconveniencing a trip? Answer these questions below either in a journal or just as you read them now and notice if anything feels particularly sticky:
Are you carrying around baggage that does nothing but make your journey feel miserable?
Are you holding tightly to thoughts or emotions that you’ve had in the past and are still hurting you today?
Are there any lies that you know aren’t true about yourself, but they’re so attached to you that you cannot see beyond them?
Are you holding onto a relationship for fear of the unknown your future would be without a certain person in your life?
What would your life look like if you let go of whatever came to your mind when reading any of the questions above?
On Your Mat
Next time you get on your mat for a yoga class, notice each and every act of letting go you do. Maybe the teacher will call you to release your shoulders away from your ears, alerting your mind to let go of unnecessary tension. Every “inhale” and “exhale” you hear is a command to bring in your life force and let it go over and over again. You don’t have to start out big with this one, you don’t have to tackle letting go of habits or ending a relationship. Like everything else in your life, you can start to tackle this on your mat.
Imagine in every Down Dog that the worries you’ve carried into the room are sliding down your spine to the floor in front of you. When your sweat begins to escape through the pores of your body, notice how your body knows it needs to release the moisture in trust that you will replace what was lost. You are experiencing Aparigraha with every breath, every movement in class, and you are doing amazing! Build your confidence there, and then see how you can expand this Yama into the other crevices of your life.
Dive Deeper Into The Yamas
Interested in learning more about the Yamas? This series was written using this book as a reference as well as the Yoga Sutra and you can easily use these same resources to learn more about these ethical practices.
Intend to Shine,
The NuPower Tribe