“It is the preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.” ~Henry David Thoreau

Finishing up the Yamas, which is the first spoke in the wheel that is the Eight Limbs Of Yoga, we arrive at Aparigraha. Traditionally translated as nonhoarding, it can be considered as not being possessive when it comes to material items, our bodies, and our thoughts.

When I think of hoarding, my mind jumps right to a garage that's filled to the brim with stuff.  I speak from past experience on this one.  But it isn't just a crammed-full house that you'd see in an episode of Hoarders.  In this example, Aparigraha speaks to having a lot of material possessions in general – think: more cars, clothes, and even pets.  Whether or not the items are put away neatly or shoved into a closet, we know that the more stuff we have, the more stuff we have to maintain.  

One of the simplest ways to implement Aparigraha is to stop buying unnecessary items.  When we stop buying things for the sake of buying, or purchasing things that we'll only use a couple of times, not only do we clear up space in our homes, but we also make a bigger impact on the planet.

Think about how good it feels once you've cleared out your garage or hall closet.  This Yama encourages us to literally do just that, as well as figuratively clean out our inner stuff.  Let's explore the internal aspect for a minute.  

When you were a little kid, you were likely taught some things by your parents or teachers that would be considered outdated in a more modern and evolved society.  Things like religious beliefs, gender roles and identification, and physical expectations come easily to my mind.  When we take some time to listen to others' differing opinions while detaching ourselves from our existing personal beliefs, that's where the growth magic happens.  

We hold on to these antiquated beliefs out of fear.  But imagine how incredible it will feel to release that fear altogether as you evolve into a brighter version of yourself.  Aparigraha allows us to let that stuff go, creating space for healthier, higher-quality options.

It gives us the opportunity to release that which isn't actually ours.

The principle of Aparigraha can also be applied to conversations.  When one person is dominating the convo and not giving the other person the opportunity to speak, what should be a natural back and forth is instead selfish and ego-based.

Additionally, controlling other people when there is a difference in power, like a parent/child relationship or an employer/employee situation, is yet another example of where we can shift the dynamics and instead apply Aparigraha into our daily lives.

As you can see, there are many aspects to Aparigraha.  It's not just limited to your junk drawer or a messy room.  Take a few minutes to think about what ways you can implement this Yama into your life.  And if you need some help, sign up for my Rituals For Longevity program.  I give you easy-to-implement tips and tricks on how to help clear out your life from the inside out.

Coming up next in our exploration of the Eight Limbs of Yoga will be the Niyamas.  While the Yamas focused on ways we interact with others, the Niyamas turn the spotlight more towards ourselves.