The ancient wisdom of the Yoga Sutras teaches us that practice and detachment in yoga are the two essential tools for calming the mind and living with greater presence. In this blog post, we’ll explore what these concepts really mean and how to apply them in daily life.
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali offers timeless wisdom for cultivating a calm and balanced mind. If you’ve read my previous blog post on the first sutra, you already know that the ultimate goal of yoga is inner harmony—to bring our mental and emotional frequencies into alignment. (If you haven’t, check it out here.)
Now, in Sutra 1.12, Patanjali gives us the key to this harmony:
1.12 Abhyāsa-vairāgya-ābhyāṁ tan-nirodhaḥ
“The fluctuations of the mind are stilled by practice and detachment.”The foundation of mental stillness, according to Patanjali, lies in practice and detachment in yoga.
That’s it. No fluff, no mysticism—just two core principles: consistent practice and genuine detachment. But what do these words actually mean in real life? Let’s unpack them.
Understanding Practice in Yoga: The First Step to Mental Clarity
1.13 Tatra sthitau yatno-‘bhyāsaḥ
“Practice is the effort to remain steadily in the present moment.”
This isn’t just about yoga poses or meditation sessions—it’s about being awake and grounded in reality. Practice means bringing your full awareness to the here and now, over and over again.
1.14 Sa tu dīrghakāla nairantarya satkāra-ādara-āsevito dṛḍhabhūmiḥ
“Practice becomes firmly grounded when continued for a long time with sincerity and dedication.”
There’s no shortcut here. It’s about consistency, authenticity, and showing up even when it’s hard. This idea is echoed in modern psychology—especially in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—which also emphasizes mindful presence and acceptance of what is.
What Detachment in Yoga Really Means and Why It Matters
1.15 Dṛṣṭa-anuśravika-viṣaya-vitṛṣṇasya vaśīkāra-saṁjñā vairāgyam
“Detachment is freedom from craving what we’ve seen or heard—freedom from desire.”
This isn’t about apathy. It’s about letting go of expectations, fears, and emotional attachments that disturb our peace. Detachment allows us to see things clearly, without being clouded by wishful thinking or resistance.
1.16 Tatparaṁ puruṣa-khyāteḥ guṇa-vaitṛṣṇyam
“The highest detachment is freedom even from the fear of death or bodily desires.”
At its deepest level, detachment means recognizing that you are more than your body, your thoughts, or your circumstances.
The Modern Relevance: Mindfulness + Acceptance
If this all sounds a little abstract, let’s bring it down to earth. The concept of practice and detachment in yoga becomes especially relevant when we’re faced with real-world challenges. Whether emotional, physical, or mental, these situations call for presence and release. These principles are not just for monks or spiritual seekers—they’re tools for everyday mental health. In fact, modern therapies like CBT, ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and mindfulness-based stress reduction all build on these same ideas:
- Be fully present with what is.
- Let go of unhelpful thoughts, desires, or fears.
Let’s look at a few real-life scenarios:
- You’re late for work and stuck behind a slow driver.
- Your landlord has given you notice to move within six months.
- You’re navigating complicated rules during a pandemic.
- You’ve been diagnosed with a chronic illness.
- You just discovered your partner was unfaithful.
Each of these situations stirs emotions, judgments, and fears. But yoga teaches that the first and most important step is acceptance—not passive surrender, but clear-sighted acknowledgment.
How to Apply Practice and Detachment in Yoga Daily
1. Acknowledge Reality
Accept what is, fully and without resistance. You don’t have to like it, but you can’t argue with reality. The more you fight against it, the more suffering you create.
2. Feel Your Feelings
Don’t suppress your emotions. Anger, grief, fear—these are all valid. Think of your emotions like a small child throwing a tantrum. They don’t need to “get their way,” but they do need to feel heard. Your job is to be the compassionate parent: present, patient, and accepting.
3. Shift Perspective
Once you’ve made space for what is, you can begin to respond rather than react. For example:
- Stuck in traffic? Use the time to listen to a podcast or audiobook you’ve been meaning to enjoy.
- Stuck at home? Use the solitude to write, paint, or learn something new.
- Facing job uncertainty? Trust that this challenge may open up new paths—ones you can’t yet see.
In the Words of My Teacher
Through consistent practice and detachment in yoga, we learn to trust life’s unfolding—knowing that each challenge holds the potential for transformation.
My teacher, Marianne Jacuzzi, once said:
“There is a rightness to everything, even if it does not appear to be so in the moment.”
This doesn’t mean we deny suffering. It means we learn to trust the process—and use every experience as a stepping stone toward greater peace and clarity.
Final Thoughts: Inner Peace Is a Practice
Balancing the mind is not a one-time event. It’s a daily choice to return to presence, to let go, and to trust life. Whether you follow the path of yoga, psychology, or simple self-reflection, the principles are the same:
- Practice being here, now.
- Detach from what you cannot control.
- And above all, embrace your humanity with compassion.
More of my offerings:
- Previous Blog Post on the Yoga Sutras
➤ If you haven’t, read the introduction to the Yoga Sutras here. - About me
➤ Want to know more about my background and yoga journey? Read more about me here. - Courses on Vedic Philosophy
➤ Would you like to learn more? Find a course here - Vedic Counselling
➤ Meet me for personal counselling in my Souls Space Sessions
Yoga Sutras Full Translation & Commentary
Swami Satchidananda’s Commentary (Integral Yoga Institute)
https://integralyogateachers.org/yoga-sutras-of-patanjali/
➡️ A respected, accessible translation used in many yoga teacher trainings.
Psychological Context:
- CBT Overview
➤ What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? (APA) - Mindfulness and Mental Health
➤ Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Mayo Clinic)
Science Meets Spirituality:
- Science Behind Meditation and Brain States
➤ How Meditation Affects the Brain (Harvard Health)