Definition

Pronunciation: ahb-YAH-sah

Also spelled: Abhyaasa

Practice; repeated effort; discipline

About Abhyasa

Abhyasa is persistent practice - the repeated effort to establish the mind in stillness. Along with vairagya (non-attachment), it is one of the two essential means for achieving yoga. Abhyasa is the active component: the disciplined engagement with practice.

Patanjali specifies that abhyasa becomes firmly grounded when practiced for a long time (*dirgha kala*), without interruption (*nairantarya*), with devotion (*satkara*), and with right attitude (*adara*). This means decades of dedicated practice, not weeks or months.

Abhyasa is not about forcing or straining but about consistent, loving return to practice. Each time the mind wanders, we gently bring it back. This patient persistence, maintained over years, creates the mental grooves that eventually lead to stable concentration and meditation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Abhyasa mean?

Practice; repeated effort; discipline

Which tradition does Abhyasa come from?

Abhyasa is a key term in yoga.

How is Abhyasa used in practice?

Abhyasa is persistent practice - the repeated effort to establish the mind in stillness. Along with vairagya (non-attachment), it is one of the two essential means for achieving yoga. Abhyasa is the active component: the disciplined engagement with practice.