“You cannot receive until you learn to release.” – Kemi Sogunle

Weekly Focus: Aparigraha (release)

Aparigraha is non-possessiveness or non-greediness. We are reminded by the turn of the season that it is time to release what is no longer needed or no longer our own, taking only what we need. 

Autumn is a time of shedding and release. Plants dry up and die back and the trees drop their leaves. Nature lets go of what she no longer needs, absorbing less and drawing into a space of reserve and simplicity. The world prepares to sleep, to rest, to do less. 

Aparigraha is the fifth Yama or ethical guideline. It asks of us to remove our lust for excess, so set aside our desires to take more than is needed and to soften any gripping onto what we hold. In essence, Aparigraha is a practice of non-attachment and release.

We live in a world rife with over-consumption, longing and maximalism. Our throw-away culture encourages us to buy more, constantly turn over and throw away, but not in the cleansing way of Aparigraha. This Yama asks us to first consider what we need to be taken care of and contented in life, and to not take more than is necessary. This is very obvious on a material level, but it begins with our internal attachments. The ideas we hold about success, happiness and fulfillment feed our mind’s desires but may ignore those desires of the heart. When we try to fill the our internal gaps with external fulfillment we may ultimately find ourselves overwhelmed and consumed while still being unsatiated. 

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the amount of “things” in your life? Do you find yourself struggling to let go of ideas or expectations that feed your external desires? How does it feel when you finally do eliminate and release, be it material possessions or harmful beliefs?

Autumn is the perfect time to find release. As we prepare our physical and internal home for the oncoming colder season, we can use this time to shed the excess and dive into simplicity and inner guidance. 

Passive Pose of the Week: Uttanasana (standing forward fold)

Uttanasana is a standing forward fold that invites release through the body, breath and the mind. Imagine a trap door at the crown of the head opening up and dumping out everything you are clinging onto.

• Being standing in tadasana, mountain pose.
• Inhale and stretch your arms overhead.
• As you exhale, send the arms wide and fold forward.
• Hands may rest on the ground or you can grab opposite elbows.
• Allow the upper body to drape towards the ground and breath deeply into your belly.

A forward fold is a hip hinge. That means rather than folding at our waist we are folding forward from our hips, much like when we sit back in a chair. To help find this concept, stand about 6 – 7 inches in front of a wall facing away. As you fold forward, try to reach your butt back towards the wall, possibly even touching it. You can even have a slighty bend in your knees as you fold to help find this hinge. Can you feel a difference in folding from your hips rather than your waist? Does this impact how far you fold or where you feel stretch in your body? Now try it in the center of the room. Can you still replicate that action here?

Active Pose of the Week: Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog)