Minimalism: Finding contentment with yoga

Oct 02, 2019

It costs us nothing and even saves us time to own less. Why is it still so hard to let go? We save 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 that are often just lying around.

Even when everything is tucked away, there is still never 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'll show you how to bring the inside and the outside into harmony and unison. With our little 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 do not perceive this kind of renunciation as a restriction, but as a liberating feeling that enables a self-determined, fulfilled life.

What does yoga have to do with minimalism?

Yoga is simple:

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

Yoga teaches us to live in the here and now - the best prerequisite for becoming a true minimalist. When you can focus your attention on what really matters in this moment, you can more easily see what is superfluous.

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

One of the 8 pillars of yoga, the Aparigraha, stands for desirelessness and the ability to let go. Fear moves us to cling. But if we trust in letting go, we suddenly feel a sense of freedom.

In the Yoga Sutras, among the Niyamas (recommendations for dealing with oneself), one finds the term Santosa, which stands for 'lived contentment'. Through yoga, you learn to affirm life and enjoy the things and people you have in your life. Minimalism picks up on the idea of appreciation and emphasizes that fewer possessions lead to more contentment.

Another Niyama is Sauca, translated as 'cleanliness'. Sauca can refer to your own body, but also to your surroundings. If your home or workplace is clean and orderly, so can your mind. It is not uncommon for the order around us to be a reflection of our inner selves.

Our 4 minimalism tips

1. start your personal minimalism challenge

First you should ask yourself why you want to live minimalist and why you do not do it 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 take a long time in the morning to decide what to wear, change your outfit three times and still feel like you have nothing in your closet. This often happens when you have too much choice. Equally overwhelming can be the feeling of not having enough time for friends and family because you still have a hundred things on your to-do list for this weekend.

Find out why you can't focus on the essentials and determine which things should move into the foreground and background. This way it will be easier for you to implement minimalism in the long run.

2. minimalism in the wardrobe - mucking out

At the latest since the Marie Kondo method, clearing out has become trendy again. According to the motto 'I only keep what brings me joy', you can get rid of all things that distract instead of bringing fulfillment. If you have found out in the first step why less becomes your new more, you can now start cleaning out.

Video: Sorting out correctly with Konmari

Clear your living space to clear your mind.

The more things you own, the more time it takes to sort them out and keep them tidy. It's best to start small, with a kitchen drawer, a wardrobe or a bookshelf. Pick the first item and ask yourself if you use it and if you really love it. If not, it has to go.

The minimalist lifestyle is time-efficient and environmentally friendly. So that intact things don't just end up in the trash, you can sell, give away or trade unusedthings. We think giving things away is a great solution, because it allows you to practice aparigraha, or covetousness, and it's really fun to make others happy.

3. consume minimalistically, fairly and sustainably

Minimalism as a lifestyle, emerged as a response to our consumerism. After cleaning out, we are often tempted to fill the empty space with new things. We buy too much, too often, too thoughtlessly. If something is broken, we simply replace it with something new. If something gets boring, we just buy something else. But does that really bring us long-lasting satisfaction? Often it's just a brief high, quickly followed by the 'want to have more'. We have forgotten Santosa - the ability to appreciate things.

As hard as it is to change your consumption habits, the minimalist concept is simple. If you buy less often and more selectively, the pleasure lasts longer. Then there's the sustainability aspect, which we at LUVIYO take very much to heart. That's why our ultra-durable 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 also includes the conscious purchase of fair products, from your choice of food to 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. Because excess baggage keeps you from quieting your mind and filling your heart with contentment.

Ballast can be mental but also physical. You've probably noticed that you get into your flow better in some places than others. It's not uncommon for the calm and order that a yoga space exudes to relax your inner self.

Regular mindfulness meditation is a great way to appreciate things again and to train the focus on the essentials. By the way, this also helps to avoid falling off the wagon and falling into a shopping frenzy.

Live the minimalism

With the help of your yoga experience, you already have minimalist traits. Now it's up to you to apply it to other areas of your life. The best thing to do is to start right away and make a list of your favorite and most essential things.

And don't forget your LUVIYO ;)