• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
PIOR Living

PIOR Living

  • Shop
  • About
    • Team
    • Philosophy
    • Quality Assurance
    • FAQ
    • Get in Touch
  • Ask Selina
  • Journal
  • Partnerships
  • My Account
  • Cart

Aparigraha Yoga and 5 Ways to Practice Non-Attachment

PIOR Living / Yoga Life & Reflections / Aparigraha Yoga and 5 Ways to Practice Non-Attachment

March 14, 2021 by Clare Michalik

Are you holding onto something, emotionally or energetically, that may be weighing you down? Perhaps it’s a feeling, relationship, or idea that you’ve been holding onto that no longer serves you. By releasing what no longer is meant for you, you are freeing yourself into a more harmonious way of life and practicing the art of non-attachment. Aparigraha yoga, or non-attachment, is freedom from greed, possessiveness, or covetousness.

It refers to the recognition that all things – material items, emotions, and thoughts – are impermanent, and we must be open to the changing experiences with ourselves and with others. Non attachment is about increasing mindfulness and awareness that we cannot control things. Keep in mind that non attachment is not indifference, complacence, or rejection of material items. It’s about acceptance.

In the yogic tradition, aparigraha is the 5th Yama of Maharishi Patanjali’s Yamas and Niyamas. When practiced, it can bring significant self-liberation and contentment into one’s life by only taking on what is necessary and nothing more. Aparigraha reminds us not to covet what isn’t ours.

This article will explain the relation between aparigraha yoga and ayurveda and ways to cultivate non-attachment.

Ayurveda and Aparigraha Yoga

Aparigraha yoga is directly connected to the kapha dosha from an ayurvedic lens because it is the very thing one needs to practice when experiencing too much kapha. The kapha dosha is made up of the earth and water elements, making this dosha heavy, dense, and moist. When too much kapha energy is present, one may express their fear through feelings of attachment, over possession, and over-controlling.

Naturally, kapha is very sweet, supportive, and compassionate. These traits are typical because of the stability and structure kapha dosha embodies through its grounding elements. However, when kapha becomes out of balance, meaning it becomes in excess, individuals are likely to become overly sentimental and find change difficult, leading them to become stubborn and attach themselves to people, places, and things. Kapha energy is ordinarily slow to change, but it is even more prominent when out of balance. Thus, it is crucial to be aware of aparigraha. 

So, how can one practice aparigraha yoga? Continue reading below for insight on how to practice the art of non-attachment. 

5 Ways to Practice Aparigraha Yoga

Let Go

Remove things physically, mentally, and emotionally from your space. Whether it be thoughts in your head, or an object in your house, letting go will clear up space and energy for you to align yourself with more positivity. Problems letting go? Check out these 3-ways to shed your old skin and let go.

Faith and Trust

Attachment typically stems from a place of fear. And concerning the kapha dosha, fear typically shows itself through attachment and over possession. However, the opposite of fear is faith. Therefore, it is vital to practice aparigraha yoga to move from fear into a state of faith. 

Self-Care  

Fear, and thus attachment, always seem to come from a place of scarcity. When we feel we don’t have enough or about to lose something, we may cling on even harder. But this just further shows that something deeper inside us is not nourished in the way it needs. By actively attending to our self-care, we can feel nourished and complete on our own, so we don’t cling to others. 

A powerful way to nourish yourself is through chyawanprash, a traditional ayurvedic nutritive jam. Chyawanprash is packed with 35+ herbs and spices to provide optimal nourishment to your entire system.

Breathe

Breath is a potent tool in the art of aparigraha yoga. When we attach ourselves, we typically are holding our energy and breath tight, in a fear state. Thus, to practice non-attachment, we need to be more fluid. Consciously breathing allows us to loosen up and relax back into a parasympathetic state (rest and reset). 

Aparigraha Yoga Asana

To further practice the art of non-attachment, try this yoga sequence to help detach. This flow intends to release any expectations and allow each movement to become what it may. Be sure to start with a 5-10 minute warm-up and a few sun salutations to open and warm the body. 

  • Locust pose
  • Reverse table-top
  • Bridge pose
  • Shoulder stand
  • Fish pose 

Cool your aparigraha yoga practice down with deep breathing pranayama. For more breathing exercises, discover other major types of pranayama. 

Clare Michalik, Ayurvedic Practitioner

@clareminded

Category iconYoga Life & Reflections Tag iconAparigraha Yoga,  niyamas,  non attachment,  yamas,  yoga

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for education and reference purposes only. It is not meant as actual medical information. For advice about illnesses or healthcare, please visit a qualified physician.

Further Insights

Is there such a thing as Ayurvedic salt?
January 25, 2023
Today’s Lunar Eclipse to End the Eclipse Season of 2022
November 8, 2022
Is there an Ayurvedic explanation for the power of music?
August 10, 2022

Primary Sidebar

PIOR Living Chyawanprash

PIOR Living Chyawanprash
PIOR Living Chyawanprash is wild-crafted and ethically sourced.

Latest Yoga Life

Slaying the Demons of our Minds on Dussehra, the Tenth Night of Navaratri

Dussehra 2021, is the tenth day after the Nine Nights of the Goddess, Navaratri, when … [Read More...] about Slaying the Demons of our Minds on Dussehra, the Tenth Night of Navaratri

As I Enter the Middle Stages of My Life, Are There Any Ayurvedic Practices that Will Help Me Feel Vibrant, Giving Me More Time and Space For Creativity?

Thank you for your question. Time, ah time, what a phenomena. I feel like I’ve been in a … [Read More...] about As I Enter the Middle Stages of My Life, Are There Any Ayurvedic Practices that Will Help Me Feel Vibrant, Giving Me More Time and Space For Creativity?

The Holy Cow and Spirit of Ghruta

The Holy Cow In Hinduism, the cow is seen as holy because it lives such a virtuous and … [Read More...] about The Holy Cow and Spirit of Ghruta

More Yoga Life...

  • Try this Meditation Exercise to Boost Energy
  • The Fire of Life
  • How To Use Yoga for Acceptance and to Love Yourself More!
  • A 10-Minute Gentle Morning Yoga Flow for Beginners
  • When is the Best Time to Meditate?
  • The 9 Most Popular Ayurvedic Products for Beginners
  • The Story of Durga & Navaratri
  • Morning Sun Yoga to Energize Your Day
  • What’s a good alternative to black tea?
  • Adaptogens for Energy

Stay aware with PIOR Living

Email Subscribe

Know about our exclusive recipes, specials, and offerings.
+ as with our products, no junk ever

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
digital marketing
Copyright © 2021 · Dreamzen, Inc. & PIOR Living. All Rights Reserved.
Contact |Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Trademarks | Copyright | Disclaimer
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT