Impermanence, according to yoga philosophy, is the idea that our world is in a constant state of change. Through our practice, we learn that yoga is a flow where we do not stay in one posture the entire time. Our practice, much like our lives, involves movements, peaks, and valleys. When we are on our mats, this means that even our least favorite pose will eventually end and we may move on to one that feels much more comfortable in our bodies.
Beyond the mat, this can be related to our days of grief slowly transitioning into moments of joy and vice versa. Yoga teaches us to not attach ourselves to either, but rather be present in the moment, knowing that it will most certainly change. Let’s dive a bit deeper to learn how we can appreciate impermanence in good times as well as the bad times.
We cannot discuss impermanence without also addressing aparigraha, or non-attachment. Loosely translated, aparigraha means not taking more than needed. In terms of material things, this can make a lot of sense. We learn at a very early age that greed is frowned upon. But what does this mean in terms of our lives being impermanent?
Consider this personal anecdote
As a daughter, and now mother to 2 young boys, I have struggled with impermanence. My mother used to always say “A son’s a son, until he takes a wife. A daughter’s a daughter all of her life.” This phrase haunts me at times, giving me a sense that one day my boys will grow up and leave me. However, after discovering yoga and learning more about the principle of non-attachment and impermanence, I have come to the realization that my sons are not my possession, but beautiful human beings in their own right. They, on the very day they were born, were no longer mine.
For a long time now, this has brought me a great deal of sadness because I am so overwhelmingly in love with my children, that it pains me to imagine the thought of them leaving me. However, I have learned through my time on my yoga mat to make the intention to be present. Not necessarily because what I have now is something I will one day lose, but to embrace the fact that for this very moment, I have it. If we spend our days borrowing the grief and worries of our future, we lose out on the beauty and peace of our present moment.
On the other end, I have also battled feelings of sadness as it pertains to my young boys growing up way too fast. I find myself longing for the days when they were toddlers and I would walk to the park with them in the stroller. Feelings of sadness pop up as I realize that this is not a stage I will ever live again.
In the same way that I cannot borrow worries from the future, I cannot attach myself to a former version of my existence. If I’m constantly missing their toddler cherub faces, I’m not able to witness fully the wonders of their current selves. I would miss out on my 3rd grader presenting school projects, or my youngest fully believing he’s the best baseball player to ever live.
Tying it all together
All in all, aparigraha teaches us gratitude and mindfulness. We learn to observe, listen, and be present. We are taught to never take more than we need, and in turn, fully embrace all that we are granted in this life. We learn to savor the present moment rather than stealing from the past or future. Researchers and psychologists have termed this practice dispositional mindfulness. In fact, studies show that engaging in dispositional mindfulness consistently can have a positive impact on your mental health.
Learning to love impermanence and to savor the present moment has changed my whole world. It has given me peace and acceptance that I once never had. Coming to terms with the impermanence of this life, has allowed me to let go of what was holding me back and appreciate what I have in this moment.
So, what is it you are holding onto? Is there something in your past that you feel the need to let go of? Or perhaps do you have worries about the future that are keeping you from living your best life today?
The next time you come to your mat, I urge you to let go. Allow your mind to focus only on your breath and how it feels in your body. Let yourself soak in the brevity of this moment and smile for the chance to have experienced it.
