Returning to Practice
As summer begins to wind down, many of us notice a familiar rhythm. We’ve traveled, celebrated, filled our calendars, and tried to make the most of long days with family and friends. August often feels like a bridge between seasons. Even with the fullness of summer, many of us begin to feel called back to our practice, seeking a little more steadiness, a little more space, and a chance to reconnect with ourselves.
अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः॥१.१२॥
abhyāsa-vairāgyābhyāṃ tan-nirodhaḥ
"Through practice and non-attachment together, the fluctuations of the mind are stilled."
In the Yoga Sutras (1.12), Patanjali defines abhyasa as ” sustained practice, consistent effort” Abhyasa is the steady commitment to return. It is the consistent practice of coming back to the mat, to the breath, and ultimately to ourselves. vairagya is then defined as non-attachment, freedom from clinging – meaning that without non-attachment, we can lean to far into obsession with the outcome. If we wanted to summarize this yoga philosophy in a playful way, we might call it “Two Super Simple Steps to Stilling the Mind.”
Practice consistently without attachment.
Repeat.
Simple… but not always easy.
The Balance of Effort and Ease
Of course, Patanjali doesn’t stop with practice alone. In Yoga Sutra 1.12, it explores how a steady mind is cultivated through both abhyasa and vairagya.
If abhyasa is a wholehearted effort, vairagya is the willingness to let go. It is releasing attachment to outcomes, expectations, and the stories we create about what our practice should look like.
Without vairagya, our effort can become another achievement to chase. We begin measuring ourselves by how often we practice, how flexible we’ve become, or whether we’re progressing quickly enough. The very practice meant to steady the mind becomes another place where the mind creates expectations.
This teaching invites us to explore the balance between effort and ease. Some days we naturally lean toward discipline, while other days we crave softness. Yoga reminds us that both are necessary.
B.K.S. Iyengar described these principles as two wings of the same bird:
“A bird cannot fly with one wing. In the same way, we need the two wings of abhyasa and vairagya to soar.”
This idea also echoes another foundational teaching in yoga: sthira and sukha. Sthira offers steadiness, while sukha offers ease. Just as every posture invites us to balance stability with spaciousness, our inner practice asks us to balance effort with letting go.
Looking Beyond the Pose
So what does this look like in everyday life?
When we talk about yoga, we often speak about the physical experience. We share how pranayama helps us feel more open or how a particular class leaves us feeling grounded. But one of yoga’s greatest teachers isn’t what your body is doing. It’s what your mind is doing while your body is practicing.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking:
“Why is this side tighter?”
“Why can’t I reach my toes?”
“Everyone else seems more flexible than I am.”
“I should be better at this by now.”
These thoughts are often where the inner practice begins.
What Is the Practice Teaching You?
One day recently after a restorative yoga class, a student asked me,
“I don’t understand how everyone else can reach their toes or place their forehead on a block in a seated forward fold. What’s wrong with me?”
It’s a question many of us have asked in one form or another. We naturally compare ourselves. We wonder if we’re doing enough or making progress fast enough.
What if, instead of measuring the pose, we became curious about the thoughts that arise while we’re in it? What do they reveal? What habits of mind do they point toward? What happens when we continue practicing without needing every pose to look different than it did yesterday?
Perhaps the deepest part of Paschimottanasana isn’t how far your hands reach. Perhaps it’s noticing the comparison, the impatience, the frustration, and the stories your mind creates.
Abhyasa reminds you to keep showing up.
Vairagya reminds you to let go of what you think the outcome should be.
The effort teaches you about yourself. The non-attachment allows that learning to become wisdom you can carry with you in other areas of life.
Taking Flight
As you move through this month, perhaps your practice isn’t about becoming more flexible or accomplishing something new. Perhaps it’s about returning with sincerity, again and again, while holding your expectations a little more lightly.
The effort teaches us to return… and the letting go teaches us to trust the process.
Together, they become the two wings that allow us to move through practice, and through life, with greater steadiness, presence, and freedom.
About the Author
Shayla DiTolla is the Marketing Director for Asheville Yoga Center and a 200-hour yoga teacher. After completing Asheville Yoga Center’s Teaching from the Heart Yoga Teacher Training in 2024, her passion for yoga grew into a deeper commitment to living with purpose, continuing to learn, and creating meaningful connections with others. She enjoys exploring how the teachings of yoga can help us navigate everyday life with greater awareness, compassion, and presence, and hopes her writing encourages others to return to their practice with curiosity and an open heart.
