Aparigraha: The Healing Art of Letting Go

Megan H.
Sep 27
2 min read

This piece is the fifth article in my series on the yamas, the guiding principles from Patanjali’s eightfold path of yoga. Each yama offers a doorway into deeper harmony with ourselves and the world around us. In this article, we explore Aparigraha, the practice of letting go, and the healing it brings when we learn to soften our grip on life.

Aparigraha is the last of the yamas in Patanjali’s eightfold path of yoga.

The word carries the sense of not holding on too tightly, of living with an open hand and heart.

It reminds us that life is always moving, always changing, and that peace comes when we stop clinging and allow things to flow.

When we live with Aparigraha, we begin to see how much healing comes through letting go.

Emotional Lightness

Every time we release what we no longer need, our hearts feel lighter.

Whether it is an old memory, a grudge, or the idea of who we thought we should be, letting go lifts weight from our spirit and gives us more room to breathe.

Mental Clarity

Aparigraha clears the mind the way opening a window clears a stuffy room.

We make space for fresh thoughts and insights, and with that space comes a quiet sense of freedom.

Freedom from Fear

When we learn to soften our grip, we realize we are steady even as things shift around us.

This recognition eases fear and reminds us that our wholeness does not depend on what we hold.

Deeper Presence

Grasping pulls us out of the present moment.

Letting go brings us back.

Aparigraha roots us in the here and now, where our energy can settle and our healing can unfold.

Healthier Relationships

In love and friendship, the more we try to hold tightly, the more strain we create.

Aparigraha opens a path to connection that is grounded in trust, respect, and space for each person to grow.

Physical Ease

Excess weighs on the body, just as it does the mind.

Simplicity supports vitality. When we release what is extra, our bodies feel lighter, more energized, and more at ease.

Aparigraha is a reminder that healing often happens in the release.

When we let go, we discover we are held by something greater than the things we cling to. There is a deep peace in trusting the flow of life, and a quiet joy in realizing that we are enough just as we are.

The weight of a depressive blanket and rumination can really drag us down. Let's lighten the load, achieve mental freedom, become more deeply present and cultivate healthier vibes for a better way of living. Like an annual leaf falling from a tree, we are allowed to let go when the seasons change. Without effort and without struggle. Just let go and be.

Much love, Meg