While the definition of aparigraha might lead people to think first of worldly possessions in the context of non-attachment, consider the more lofty idea of non-attachment to moments in time.
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If we think about this a little more, we might recognize that we are often so attached to moments behind us or ahead of us, that we lose sight of the moment we are in. Most people can relate to being caught up in rumination over something that occurred yesterday, last month, or last year. We form an attachment to this memory—be it a good one or a bad one. We let it creep in and disrupt our present moment’s contentment and peace without even realizing it.

This same interruption of the present occurs when we become attached to future moments. While daydreaming, future aspirations, goal setting and planning are all positive—when we focus too much energy on moments ahead of us, we might start to feel anxious, antsy, depressed, unsettled or any of the above.

Practicing aparigraha and non-attachment allows us to rid ourselves (at least temporarily) of the pull within us to live in moments outside of the present. We recognize that attaching ourselves to thoughts of the past or future does nothing to serve us in the present moment.

With Valentine’s Day approaching next month, consider, as an example of this practice, how non-attachment to the past or future might positively impact your relationship.

Often times we hear couples speak of the ‘early days’ in the relationship—when the partner was more considerate, attentive, exciting, etc. Maybe this is something you experience when you think about the progression of your own relationship. But how often does this ‘past attachment’ serve us and make our relationship more whole? Feeling attachment to the past forces us to compare our partner and our relationship to mere memories of a different time. It sets an expectation for behavior that might be difficult to maintain after the novelty of a new love has worn off. Even further, as humans, we are growing and changing every day. Living in the memories of your partner from earlier days prevents you from recognizing and appreciating the person in front of you.

This is only one example of how rumination and attachment to the past might be impacting our relationships. The other, more obvious, example is when we become attached to actions of the past that might have hurt us. Even when we have ‘moved on’ from these actions, arguments, etc. we might still be feeling a sense of attachment to the memory. By choosing to let something go in our relationship—we are choosing to practice non-attachment to that memory. We are choosing to become more present oriented.

When we think about attachment to the future in the context of our romantic lives—we might realize the incredible expectations we put on ourselves, our partners and our relationships. Maybe when we think to the future and allow ourselves to live there in our minds, we become attached to the idea of having more money, a bigger house, well-behaved children, or a partner who works less (or more). We might even be placing negative expectations on the relationship without realizing it. Maybe when we think to the future we are expecting to feel disappointed or hurt by our partner—we are expecting to feel let down. Maybe we are waiting for the moment when the relationship falls apart. Any of this future thinking puts unnecessary pressure on the present moment and robs us, yet again, of the contentment and peace we can experience if we take life one present moment at a time.

So think about aparigraha over these next few weeks leading up to the holiday of love. Consider how this concept of non-attachment might serve you in enhancing the connection in your relationship.
 

Mindfulness extends far beyond the brain and the control of our thoughts. When we are being truly mindful, we also open ourselves up to be more in tune with every other aspect of our lives. Being mindful within our own bodies is one area that has amazing benefits.
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Physical mindfulness provides us with an opportunity to check in with our bodies on a regular basis. In doing so, we might notice where we are carrying tension, how we physically process our emotions, how we need to move our bodies to relieve tension and emotions, how our bodies can be a signal to our mental state and how our mental state greatly impacts the health of our bodies.

This acknowledgement moves us from a place of separation in these areas to one where we view ourselves as a unified whole. We realize the intimate connection of each part of ourselves. We develop the capacity to utilize our minds to benefit our bodies and our bodies to benefit our minds—rather than fighting our way out of the negative effects when the two are working against each other.

Here are the two major ways that mindfulness of our bodies can greatly serve us.

1. Using our minds to promote a healthier body
Stress. Enough said. This is a perfect example of how something that begins in our thoughts makes its way into our bodies and manifests itself in different forms. We can experience an increased heart rate, stomach issues, body tension—the list goes on. This only gets worse if we are ignoring our stress. Why? Because we are not allowing ourselves to deal with it, rid our minds of it, and therefore rid our bodies of its effects. Stress is the product of letting our thoughts run away from us. But, when we are practicing mindfulness, we have the opportunity to let go of these thoughts and to shed the attachment we feel to them.
First, though, we have to recognize they are there. When we slow down our busy routines enough to sit in stillness during our mindfulness practice—we give ourselves the space to notice how much stress might be in our thoughts. Once we notice it, we have the power to let it go. We can focus our attention on our breathing. We can visualize a peaceful place and keep coming back to it when our mind wanders. We can utilize a guided meditation. Whatever the method—taking the time to let those thoughts float away allows us to free our bodies as well. We might notice our heart rate coming back down with a few deep, intentional breaths. We might find that our stomach feels less jittery after a few moments letting go of our stressful thoughts. The long term impacts of this practice are transformational for our overall health.

2. Using our bodies as a tool to clear our minds
The flip-side of this is that we can also use our bodies as a tool to clear our minds. Yoga is a perfect example of how we can do this. Another method is to practice a body scan or a progressive muscle relaxation exercise. In any of these examples, we are using our bodies as the avenue to take a break from our thoughts. In a yoga practice, we are focusing on our breathing, we are paying attention to the different muscle groups we should be working in every pose, we are trying to keep our balance and we are working to do each pose correctly.

In order to do all of this effectively, we need to come away from our steady stream of thoughts for a while. If we don’t, our practice suffers and we notice immediately. We might fall out of a pose, engage the wrong part of the body and feel the pose differently, etc. This practice allows us a physical way to approach mindfulness. We have to embrace the present moment more fully because it is the moment in which we are moving and engaging with our body. This same concept applies to body scans and progressive muscle relaxation. In both of these practices, we are shedding our attachment to our thoughts in an effort to tune into the body more fully. In body scans, we focus all of our attention on different parts of the body as we move through our scan. We send our mental energy into those body parts—maybe we visualize the energy in those parts or notice where we feel tight or loose. In progressive muscle relaxation, we move through each body part and consciously contract and release the muscles within. By doing so, we focus on each body part—one at a time—which allows us less mental space to overthink and become lost in our thoughts. Using the body as a tool to gain control of our minds might be the most tangible way to practice mindfulness for some.

All in all, the mind and body are incredibly linked in a mindfulness practice—focusing on one will ultimately benefit the other. Think about which approach feels like a more appropriate place to start for you. In a short while, you might see that choosing either approach brings you inner peace and relief from the effects of negative thoughts and emotions.

Balancing poses can be a continuous struggle in our yoga practice. Some of us have attended classes focusing on balance and tried the techniques for achieving better balance, but still feel like this is an area for growth in our practice. 
 
One thing might resonate with you about balance is to follow these steps: clear your mind, find a focal point in the room and breathe. 
 
Clearing the mind is always the hardest part. Standing still without the accompaniment of wandering thoughts can feel like an impossible feat. 
 
However, when the mind takes off on a train to a destination of distractions, you lose the connection to the body. When you lose that connection, you are more likely to ignore the simple adjustments, movements, or shifts that your body is subtly making to throw you off balance, causing you to fall out of the pose. 
This principle applies in our lives as well. When our minds are too cluttered to pay attention to the intricacies of the present moment, we lose our ability to stay tuned in-- to notice what is throwing us off balance and disrupting our equilibrium. 
 
Too much of anything isn't good for the soul (work, play, exercise, TV time, food, the list goes on). Life is a balancing act. When it tips too far in one direction, we need to be aware and bring it back by readjusting, inserting, or removing whatever threw us off in the first place. 
 
However, it is difficult to know and understand what adjustments need to be made if we aren't paying attention, if our awareness and our senses are overwhelmed with yesterday's events or tomorrow's to do lists. 
 
So on our mat we practice balance.  
Here are three balance poses to integrate into your practice as you work on clearing your mind, focusing on your dristi (gaze) and breathing. 
 
1. Tree Pose
From a comfortable and grounded standing position, rotate the right foot to the side and rest the heel of the foot on your left ankle. You can stay here to begin the practice of balance. If you would like more of a challenge, bring the sole of your right foot to your left calf. Finally, if you want the most challenging variation of the pose, you can bring the right sole of the foot to the left thigh, ensuring it is resting above the knee cap. Once you find the spot most comfortable to you, you have the option of bringing your hands into prayer, reaching them above your head, or out to the side in a 'T.' You can then repeat on the other side. 
 
2. Balancing Table
Coming to all fours on your mat, move into a table top position—ensuring your shoulders are directly above your wrists and hips are directly above your knees. Once you find this comfortable, begin my lifting your back right leg up behind you, forming a straight line from torso to right foot. Flex the right foot and feel free to remain here. If you want more of a challenge, engage your core and lift your left arm up in front of you to challenge your balance further. This often seems less challenging than it is, and it requires many muscle groups to balance effectively. Once you have finished on one side, repeat on the other side. 
 
3. Warrior III
Warrior III is a more advanced balancing pose (for a les advanced version, follow the steps with a chair in front of you for support to assist with balance), but might be the one your body needs to truly put your balance to the test. You can access this pose most comfortably from a warrior I pose. From warrior I, rotate your back foot toward the front of the mat and walk it in a little closer to your front leg. From here, hinge at the hips, allowing the back foot to gently lift off of the mat as you find your balance. Ideally, you want your hips squared off and facing forward and your body in a straight line from your torso to your lifted back toes. Again, you can use whatever arm variation feels most comfortable to you. Then, you can repeat on the other side. 
 
As you grow in your practice, think about balancing poses. Think about how difficult it is for you to clear your mind and just be present. How might practicing balancing poses be helpful on and off the mat? Give thought to the areas of your life that need more balance and how this practice can serve you in clearing your mind enough to notice.  
 
Namaste