The Power of Daily Practice: Part 1
In our fast-paced, distraction-filled world, the ancient concept of Sadhana—daily spiritual practice—offers a profound antidote to the chaos of modern living. Derived from the Sanskrit root "sadh," meaning "to accomplish" or "to achieve," Sadhana represents more than just routine; it is the deliberate cultivation of our highest potential through consistent, disciplined practice.
As the teacher B.K.S. Iyengar succinctly defines it, "Sādhanā is a discipline undertaken in the pursuit of a goal." This goal is nothing less than the realization of our true nature—what Patanjali outlined in the Yoga Sutras as the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind and the establishment of the seer in their own essential nature.
The practice of Sadhana is not a modern invention but an ancient prescription. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali systematically laid out the path of spiritual development, emphasizing that consistent practice (abhyasa) combined with non-attachment (vairagya) forms the foundation of all spiritual progress. This timeless wisdom recognizes that transformation requires both dedication and surrender—the willingness to show up daily while releasing attachment to specific outcomes.
A dedicated practice—whether it's a traditional 40-day Kundalini sadhana or any committed daily ritual—becomes a powerful catalyst for breaking through old patterns, cultivating positive habits, and opening ourselves to new potentials. This is not only about physical postures or breathing techniques; it's about the fundamental transformation that occurs when we consistently show up for ourselves with dedication, awareness and love.
The Foundation of Transformation
Himalayan Institute founder Swami Rama wisely taught, "All sadhana is meant to purify the mind and make the mind one-pointed and inward so it can be directed toward the center of consciousness within the inner chamber of your being. Physical growth is in the hands of nature; mental growth and spiritual growth are in your hands."
This profound insight reveals the true purpose of daily practice. We cannot control the fact that our bodies age or change—that process belongs to nature's wisdom. But the cultivation of our mind and spirit? That sacred responsibility rests entirely in our hands. Daily practice is not about perfection—it's about showing up for this inner work, day after day. And the mental and spiritual growth will inevitably have a positive effect on our physical nature.
My own journey with Sadhana began when I finally released the burden of perfectionism that had kept me from consistent practice. My life changed for the better when I began to show up on my mat every single day, no matter how short or long the practice was. When I released the expectation that a daily practice had to look like a full 60 or 90 minute yoga class, and it could be as simple as 10 minutes of organic movement with breath awareness or quiet meditation in nature, I finally was able to commit to a daily practice.
What I discovered is that daily consistency with intentional awareness was the most important ingredient. The beauty of Sadhana lies in its cumulative power to purify and focus the mind. Like water slowly carving through stone, consistent daily practice creates profound and beautiful changes that dramatic, sporadic efforts simply cannot achieve. Each day we practice, we lay another stone in the foundation of our awakened consciousness, gradually directing our attention toward that luminous center within.
The Sacred Commitment: Discovering Yourself Through Daily Practice
When we dedicate ourselves to consistent practice—whether through a focused 40-day Kundalini sadhana or any committed daily ritual—we embark on a journey of personal transformation that touches every aspect of our being. Dedication to daily practice leads to greater physical vitality, mental clarity, and emotional resilience. More importantly, it helps us break through the limiting patterns that keep us small and opens us to the vast potentials waiting to unfold within us.
In my own experience, what the daily practice looks like can change with the waves of life experience, the time available to practice, and being open to whatever feels inspiring on any given day. As I let go of what a perfect practice should look like, and just showed up each day as I was, I began to get to know myself on a whole new level. This self-knowledge has been the root of my spiritual growth.
This sacred commitment to ourselves becomes the foundation for how we move through the world. As teacher Kia Miller beautifully expresses, it is "this ritual of centering ourselves within our SELF that enables us to walk through life with an open heart and with grace." Daily practice has given me the time to reflect on the fact that each new day is a new opportunity, a new beginning, and offers an intentional start to my day.
The practice becomes both anchor and wings—grounding us in our authentic nature while freeing us to respond to life from a place of wisdom rather than reactivity. Through consistent Sadhana, we develop the inner resources to meet whatever arises with presence, compassion, and genuine power.
We must approach our practice with fresh eyes and genuine enthusiasm, attending to the inner experience with the same curiosity we might bring to exploring a new country for the first time. This perspective transforms daily practice from obligation to adventure, from routine to revelation.
The Discipline That Develops Inner Strength
There's a paradox at the heart of Sadhana: through discipline, we find freedom. As Swami Rama reminds us, the purpose of all spiritual practice is to purify the mind and make it one-pointed, able to turn inward toward our essential nature. By committing to daily practice, we free ourselves from the tyranny of scattered thoughts, fluctuating emotions, and the endless mental chatter that pulls us away from our center.
This understanding aligns perfectly with Patanjali's teachings on abhyasa—the sustained effort required to establish stillness of mind. Just as we develop physical muscles through consistent exercise, we develop the capacity for sustained attention and inner stability through daily practice. Each time we choose to show up despite resistance, laziness, or doubt, we strengthen our spiritual will and expand our capacity for transformation.
The discipline of Sadhana is not about forcing the mind into submission, but about gentle, persistent training. Each time we return our attention to the breath, the mantra, the green of the forest, or the present moment, we strengthen our capacity for one-pointed awareness. This focused attention becomes the key that unlocks the inner chamber of consciousness where our true Self resides.
Old habits, as any practitioner knows, can be tenacious! This is why Iyengar's definition of Sadhana as "discipline undertaken in the pursuit of a goal" is so powerful—it acknowledges that meaningful transformation requires discipline and sustained effort over time.
The Power of Committed Practice: 40 Days of Transformation
The tradition of 40-day practices, particularly in Kundalini yoga, recognizes this sustained commitment. A 40-day sadhana is not merely about repetition; it's about creating the conditions for breakthrough by maintaining unwavering focus on our spiritual objective.
I completed my first 40-day sadhana in 2020, amid the lockdown of the pandemic. While I had sustained a daily practice for several years prior to 2020, dedicating myself to 40 days of the same practice each day was eye-opening and expansive. The experience was so transformative that I now regularly integrate 40 or 90-day practices into my own sadhana schedule.
In this concentrated period of dedication, we might discover that our greatest obstacles to growth are not external circumstances but internal patterns of resistance, doubt, and habitual thinking. The magic of a committed practice period lies in its ability to reveal and dissolve these patterns. In the first days of a 40 day Sadhana, for example, I often feel enthusiasm and excitement for this new thing. As I progress though, resistance often arises—the voice that says I don't have time, that the practice isn't working, that I should try something else.
This is precisely where the transformative power lies. By continuing to show up despite these internal voices, we develop genuine spiritual will and begin to break free from the patterns that have kept us stuck. Whether through a formal 40-day commitment or simply the decision to practice daily for an extended period, we create a container strong enough to hold our transformation. In this container, old habits lose their grip, new patterns take root, and we discover potentials within ourselves that we never knew existed.
Continue reading Part 2 (to be posted 6/28/25) to explore how Sadhana extends beyond formal practice into daily living, transforms our relationship with obstacles, and creates ripple effects that touch the world around us.
If you are ready to explore starting a daily practice, begin by checking out the schedule on my website for live classes or workshops to join me in person. I also offer access to videos of classes, which are the perfect way to practice daily. Subscribe to my newsletter for updates and access information - Contact .