Minimalism: Finding satisfaction with yoga

Oct 02, 2019

It costs us nothing and even saves time to own less. Why is it still so hard to let go? We keep birthday cards or postcards, small gifts from people who are important to us, or things that remind us of special moments. And before you know it, you have a thousand things lying around.

Even when everything is stowed away, there is never any order that radiates calm. Yoga has already shown you how to create order and peace within. But your surroundings also have an effect on your inner peace. We show you how to bring inner and outer harmony and harmony. With our small minimalism guide, you can also use your yoga skills in the kitchen, in the wardrobe or in other rooms.

What is minimalism anyway?

Minimalism is the restriction to the essential. The term is derived from the Latin word minimus, which means 'the least'. Minimalism refers to a lifestyle that rejects excessive consumption and possession of material things in order to focus on what is really important. Minimalists see this kind of renunciation not as a restriction, but as a liberating feeling, which makes a self-determined, fulfilled life possible.

What does yoga have to do with minimalism?

Yoga is simple:

All you need is yourself and your mat.
You don't have to go anywhere.
You don't need any equipment.
All you need is you and a little space

Yoga teaches us to live in the here and now - the best condition to become a true minimalist. If you can focus your attention on what really matters in that moment, you will more easily see what is superfluous.

Many things that we possess actually belong to the past or a future that has not yet been realized. Maybe it's the worn out shoes that remind you of beautiful journeys, or the origami set that you always wanted to try. Minimalism means letting go of these things to arrive completely in the here and now.

One of the 8 pillars in yoga, the Aparigraha, stands for the lack of desire and the ability to let go. Fear makes us hold on tight. But if we trust to let go, we suddenly feel a feeling of freedom.

In the Yoga Sutras, among the Niyamas (recommendations for dealing with oneself), one finds the term Santosa, which stands for 'lived satisfaction'. Through Yoga one learns to affirm life and to enjoy the things and people in life. Minimalism takes up the idea of appreciation and emphasizes that less possessions lead to more satisfaction.

Another Niyama is Sauca, translated as 'cleanliness'. Sauca can refer to your own body, but also to the environment. If your home or workplace is clean and tidy, this can also be your head. Often the order around us is a reflection of our inner being.

Our 4 minimalism tips

1. start your personal Minimalism Challenge

First you should ask yourself why you want to live minimalistically and why you don't yet. Think about who and what is really important to you in your life. Do you have enough space for these essential contents of your life? Or are you often busy with other things that distract you?

You need a long morning to decide what to wear, change your outfit three more times and still feel like you don't have anything in your closet. This often happens when you have too much choice. Just as overwhelming can be the feeling of not having enough time for friends and family because you still have a hundred things on the to-do list for this weekend.

Find out why you can't concentrate on the essentials and decide which things to put in the foreground and background. In this way it will be easier for you to implement minimalism in the long term.

2. minimalism in the wardrobe - cleaning it out

Since the Marie Kondo method at the latest, mucking out has become the trend again. True to the motto 'I only keep what brings me joy', you can get rid of all things that distract you instead of bringing fulfilment. If you have found out in the first step why less becomes your new more, you can now start with mucking out.

Video: Correct sorting with Konmari

Clear your living space to clear your mind.

The more things you own, the more time you need to sort them and keep them in order. It is best to start small, with a kitchen drawer, a wardrobe or a bookshelf. Take the first item and ask yourself if you use it and if you really love it. If not, he has to go.

The minimalist lifestyle is time efficient and environmentally friendly. To prevent intact things from simply ending up in the trash, you can sell, give away or trade unused things. We find giving away a great solution, because this way you practice Aparigraha, the lack of desire and it is really fun to make others happy.

3. to consume in a minimalist, fair and sustainable way

Minimalism as a lifestyle, emerged as an answer to our consumer mania. After mucking out, one is often tempted to fill the empty space with new things. We buy too much, too often, too carelessly. If something is broken, we simply replace it with something new. If something gets boring, we just buy something extra. But does that really bring us lasting satisfaction? Often it is only a brief elation, quickly followed by the 'want-more-ore-to-haves'. We have forgotten Santosa - the ability to appreciate things.

As difficult as it is to change your consumer behaviour, the minimalist concept is simple. If you buy less often and more carefully, the pleasure will last longer. Then there is the sustainability aspect, which we at LUVIYO take very much to heart. That's why our ultra-strong yoga mats are made of environmentally friendly natural rubber. Thanks to the non-slip material, you even save the towel.

Ahimsa from the Yoga Sutras, stands for a non-violent way of life. This includes consciously buying fair products, starting with the choice of your food and ending with your yoga mat. Did you know that every purchase at LUVIYO benefits elephants in need?

4. minimalism in yoga

Yoga is all about getting rid of distractions. Through yoga you learn to simplify things to create clarity. Excess ballast keeps you from calming your mind and filling your heart with contentment.

Ballast can be mentally but also physically present. Surely you have already noticed that in some places you get into your flow better than in others. Often the peace and order that a yoga space radiates can also relax your inner self.

Regular mindfulness meditation is a great way to give things more appreciation again and to train the focus on the essential. This also helps, by the way, not to relapse and fall into a shopping frenzy.

Live minimalism

With your yoga experience, you already have minimal traits. Now it's up to you to implement the whole thing in other areas of life as well. The best thing to do is to get started right away and start making a list of your favourite and most essential things.

And don't forget your LUVIYO ;)