Detachment – letting go of expectations

Detachment – this is one of the hardest things to understand. In yoga, detachment does not mean giving up things. It means quieting the mind so that we are not disturbed by our expectations and need to control. We all have expectations, and with expectation comes the risk of disappointment, but without desires, goals, dreams, and expectations, the world would become a very dull place, so yoga reminds us that detachment doesn’t mean letting go of your desires but letting go of your emotional attachment to the outcome. If things don’t turn out exactly as we had hoped, sometimes it can be a blessing. In yoga, there is a saying that means keep your mind in peace and let your hands do your work. This is a core principle of yoga, which means that the mind benefits from stillness, and the body benefits from movement. While the body can be active and engage in the poses or physical work, the mind should remain calm, focused, and undisturbed. The hands, as part of the body, can perform tasks or movement, but the intention and control come from the mind, be it destructive or peaceful. The primary aim of yoga is to restore the mind to a calm and peaceful place free from confusion and stress. This also emphasizes acting without attachment to results. The body (and the hands) do the work while the mind remains centered and detached. So in yoga practice we strive to keep the mind present, breathe deeply, and avoid overthinking. The body performs the movements with the intention of finding strength, flexibility, and balance without the ego’s fear of failure. True yoga work happens when the mind is calm and the body engaged - a balance between movement and stillness. Let’s see if we can find it. Closing reflection Be at peace and love the process of your work without attachment to the outcome, and you will find the joy in doing rather than getting. The primary aim of yoga is to restore the mind to a calm and peaceful place free from confusion and distress. When we do this, the body moves into a place of strength, fluidity and balance while the mind remains calm. True yoga work happens when the mind is still as the body moves – a perfect balance between movement and stillness. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index finger – symbol of the ego. The ego’s biggest fear is losing control — in other words, the fear of being exposed, rejected, or failing in a way that undermines its identity and so we sometimes move in ways without clear intentions. Pull your finger in and place the thumb on top – take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us that the core principle of yoga is that the mind befits from stillness and the body from movement, and when consciously combined, life begins to flow without attachment to outcomes. Here we find the perfect balance between stillness and movement. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace. Doctor Lynn