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What is freedom in the mind?

Non-attachment could be one way to describe it.

One way to answer is in the yoga sutras: I: 15 where it describes being “…free from craving for objects seen or heard about is non-attachment.”

I have heard people voice concerns that non- attachment sounds like a lack of caring or connection. But this description certainly shows that non-attachment is about not having a knee-jerk reaction when seeing or hearing about something.

If you watch tv and they describe chocolate cake – do you then feel you need chocolate cake? This is attachment. We can start that simple.

Just noticing when that reaction occurs about people, places, food, other objects can be a great step. If you are compelled to react in some way, then you are not really free. You can learn to let it go, though. You can begin to think about it first and decide whether you will act or not based on what will be helpful to you or other people.

It is just a matter of interrupting the reaction.

This is actually how yoga works, naturally. As we practice asana, and meditation more and more, we begin to notice little things like when we are holding our breath. We start realizing that just because everyone is having steak at the restaurant, we don’t really have to. We might have yoga class in less than an hour, and that would make us uncomfortable. We begin to notice subtle scents of flowers in an office, or the vibrant blue in someone’s coat and appreciate it. Having more and more frequent experiences like these is sort of inevitable.

Of course, we can also apply effort towards non-attachment and practice.

It is really up to you in each moment to decide how you want to direct yourself, and your attention.

Pose of the Day: Happy Baby Pose

Yogic Concept of the Day: I can decide to notice small things that I enjoy and quick reactions. Each time I notice or become aware of moments like these, I am practicing yoga.