This week in the cabin, we explored a little yoga philosophy alongside our physical practice. I very briefly introduced the teachings of Patanjali and the Yoga Sutras, written around 2,000 years ago. These teachings aren’t about poses — they’re a guide to living well in the world: how we behave towards others, how we treat ourselves and how we navigate life.
One of the most well-known definitions of yoga is from Patanjali – he describes it as“stilling the fluctuations of the mind.” Fluctuations are the constant chatter of the mind – the thoughts, worries, reactions and distractions that come and go all day.
Our physical practice is wonderful for helping to calm the thoughts (it’s hard to think about work when you’re trying to balance on one leg in Tree Pose!). Throughout the class, we move, we breathe and for a moment everything quietens. We feel amazing and then we step back out into the world… and all the things that create those fluctuations are still there. Which is why the physical practice is just one part of yoga. The philosophy gives us tools to carry that sense of calm into everyday life.
Aparigraha: The practice of letting go
The area we focused on was Aparigraha which is often translated as non-grasping or non-attachment. It’s about letting go… of expectations, of things we can’t control, of things we cling to that don’t truly serve us.
On the mat…
It can look like letting go of the idea of a “perfect” pose. There is no perfect shape, no gold standard your body has to meet. We all have different bodies which means one person’s Triangle might look very different to the next.
Off the mat…
It might mean letting go of things in your life that bring unhappiness, sadness, anger, frustration or jealousy. That could be:
- A friendship
- A job
- A commitment
- Or even just the clutter in your home
How we practised this in class
In our standing flow, we repeated a sequence three times on each side.
Round 1: We kept things accessible keeping our toes on the floor in Tree Pose, back toes on the mat in Warrior 3 and top hand on the hip in Triangle (our “teapot” arm)
Round 2: The invitation was there to maybe hover the non-planted leg or take the hand up to the roof in Triangle – only if you wanted to
Round 3: An option to challenge yourselves further – again, only if it felt right for you
Throughout all three rounds, I stayed with the most accessible options to remove the pressure to copy what the teacher is doing, and instead ask: What do I actually need today?
It was so interesting to see how many people chose to stay with the simpler variations and how, by removing the pressure to ‘go further’, the mind could relax and find a little more stillness.
Redefining “progress” in yoga
It’s so important to remember that modifications are not a sign of weakness – they are not just for beginners, they are not for people who are “less strong” or “less flexible.” In fact, choosing a modification can be a sign that your yoga mindset is deepening – that you’re listening, tuning in and practicing with awareness rather than ego. As a teacher, I love seeing when people choose to take modifications.
We closed the class with a question…
Could you practice Aparigraha by letting something go?
A situation, a habit, a pressure, an expectation, a friendship? Something that, if released, might create just a little more space and a little more stillness in your life. And often it’s only when something leaves, that something better arrives.
Michelle x
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