Practicing Non-Attachment: Reflections from the Yoga Sutras and Freediving

In the past few weeks and months, I’ve been looking a little bit into the philosophy of yoga, the Yoga Sutras. There is one sutra in particular that I feel especially drawn to — one that I need to practice and learn from more profoundly.

Vairagya — The Art of Non-Attachment

In Sutra 1.15 of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali introduces the concept of non-attachment, or vairagya. It is translated as:

"Freedom from attachment comes from the cultivation of indifference to the objects of pleasure or pain, by training the mind to remain undisturbed in all circumstances."

*Note: I wouldn’t recommend reading the original Yoga Sutras if you're new to yoga philosophy. Instead, start with a well-regarded interpretation — for example, B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on Yoga. There’s also a great YouTube channel from Yogic Gurukul run by Anvita Dixit that explains each sutra one by one in an easy-to-understand way.

This may sound complex, but at its heart, it means finding peace and contentment without constantly needing something else. Life is in constant change. When we understand and accept this, we can celebrate life without clinging to things too much.

It can be as simple as the relationship we have with coffee. Do you enjoy coffee without needing it? Can you be content without it? The same principle applies to everything — even relationships. We can love deeply, yet not become so dependent on another person that we feel we cannot live without them. A healthy relationship is a gift, a shared joy — but ideally, both individuals are whole and independent. They know how to meet their own needs, without making the other person responsible for their happiness.

Practicing Acceptance

Another angle to practicing this sutra is acceptance — accepting your reality as it is. From that point, we can begin to act, to love what we’re doing, and to learn from it. It doesn’t matter how much better we think others are. It’s about appreciating our own path.

Being present and aware of our current reality is essential. Many of us are constantly striving for something ahead, without acknowledging where we are. Don’t get me wrong — it’s important to have goals and visions. But the goal is not the solution; it’s just a direction. We can only get there when we allow things to unfold at the right moment and time.

A Lesson from Freediving

In freediving, I see this a lot. Many athletes try to take shortcuts to reach their goals. They overtrain, lose patience, and compare themselves to others on social media. But this often leads to burnout — mentally and physically — with very little actual progress.

Sometimes the solution isn’t more effort, but a shift in perspective. If you’re struggling with equalization, for example, maybe the answer isn’t more deep dives, but more training on land. Maybe it’s better to go to the gym or practice relaxation in shallow dives instead of repeatedly pushing for depth and ending each session with frustration.

We’re so conditioned to chase success, to measure ourselves against numbers and achievements. But vairagya invites us to look deeper, to honor our present reality, and to let go of ego-driven outcomes.

Beyond the Numbers

People often see my freediving and focus on the number — the depth I reach during peak periods. But believe me, I don’t just jump off the sofa into cold water and dive deep. It’s taken years of dedication and practice.

For me, freediving is not about the number. It’s about the feeling — the silence, the freedom, the connection. It’s something anyone can access, regardless of age or fitness, with the right guidance.

Right now, I’m diving far shallower than my personal best. I’ve removed the mask in lake freediving to simplify and purify my practice. It feels like starting all over again — like beginning the sport from scratch. But I’m listening to my intuition. I’m trusting the process, detaching from the pressure to perform.

And honestly, I don’t know if I’ll return to my personal best this season. And that is okay. Accepting that opens me up to learning from where I am — not from where I think I should be. It’s incredibly liberating.

Yoga Is for Everyone

Just like in yoga. Some people tell me, “Yoga’s not for me, I’m not flexible.” And I say — that’s not what yoga is about. Not at all. But that’s a topic for another blog post.

An Invitation

This blog is simply an invitation — to reflect on something you might be too attached to. Just think about it for a moment. The first step in making any change is awareness.

Stay with your calling, no matter what others say or do. Believe in yourself. Practice with patience, love, and relaxation. It will guide you where you need to go.

Ultimately, this path — whether in yoga, freediving, or life — is about letting go. Letting go of the ego. Enjoying the process. Trusting the journey.

Sources

• B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga. Paperback – January 1, 1979. A classic guide offering interpretations of the Yoga Sutras, along with detailed instructions for asana practice.

• YouTube Yoga Sutra Series by Yogic Gurukul, Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.15 - How To Practice Yogic Detachment | Yoga Teacher Training | Anvita Dixit