Creating a home practice

In Yoga Sutra 1.12, Patanjali explains that to reach a state of yoga one must cultivate both practice (abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya). Practice and detachment are the first two tools that Patanjali offers to help us to create a deeper connection with Self. They are like two wings on a bird; you can not have one with out the other. In other words, practice alone is not enough to get you to your goal, you must also create the discipline of letting go of the habits that are standing in your way.
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For example, if you are wanting to start a regular home yoga practice, you have to make the effort and time to do it (abhyasa), which may mean giving up on that extra hour of sleep, or skipping a late night sipping wine (vairagya).

Looking at abhyasa and vairagya as the two wings on a bird you see one is moving towards the goal; the second is clearing the path of obstacles. If you are committed to your goal and your practice, then giving up what is in your way will not feel like an enormous struggle.

​The more committed you become to your daily yoga practice, for example, the more you will see the positive changes in your life – the easier it will become to let go of sleeping in or that glass of wine before bed. The more I have become connected to my practice (abhyasa) the easier it has been to let go of that which no longer serves me. It has been a dance instead of a struggle.

​It took me years to figure out how to establish a home practice; I have picked up many tools and ideas along the way. I love teaching and sharing what I have learned in hope of inspiring others to create a home yoga practice. It is in this practice that we truly are able to study ourselves (svadhyaya), and transform in deep and profound ways.