What is Sadhana?

The word Sadhana is often defined as our yoga practice(s). In the West, we spend a lot of time defining yoga terms, which is different than embodying them. The indigenous practice of yoga is still very new to our modern society and is sought after because of its benefits.

I like to define Sadhana as taking something ordinary and making it extraordinary. Sadhana refers to something we do every day but we do not take it for granted. How often have you established a routine only to lose ground because it became "too routine?"

One example of Sadhana is praying before a meal. We take something we do daily and make it sacred in prayer.

In our yoga practices, Patanjali, the author of The Yoga Sutras, tells us how our sadhana should look and feel. He claims that we should practice for a long time, without interruption, and with a mind that continues to release attachments. (Yoga Sutra 1.14)

How often do we do this with our daily routines? Speaking for myself, the more I practice something, the more I typically get constricted around the activity. I become attached. It becomes part of my identity, and I lose sight of the embodiment and openness.

How can we keep our practices and our beginner's mind?

Do it for someone you love or through a connection to your Higher Power. Every day we come to our mat is like on granule of sand on the beach. Always maintain your beginner's mind and never lose your peace.