Yoga sutra 1.2, yogas citta vrtti nirodhah, establishes the definition and purpose of yoga early, and clearly, in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the foundational text of yoga. In the very second sutra, in fact, it is stated—yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. This means, simply, that yoga is the state in which the mind is not cluttered with thoughts not based in reality (those are the fluctuations of the mind).

When the mind is cleared of this clutter, it is as if more space opens up creating more room for insight. Thoughts not based in reality can be described as those thoughts about another time and place. If you find yourself thinking about what’s for dinner while in paschimottanasana (seated forward fold); or going over your to-do list during downward facing dog; or wondering why so-and-so said such-and such when in final relaxation, or savasana (and on and on it goes), then you are experiencing fluctuations of the mind.

These fluctuations of the mind are completely normal, don’t get me wrong. But at best, they don’t serve us in the moment and only take away from our present experience. At worst, they get us into a lot of trouble. Many false assumptions take the form of fluctuations of the mind. Take for example driving; have you ever driven home from some place only to realize that you didn’t really remember the drive? It was because your mind was thinking, thinking, thinking—about anything but that in which you were currently engaged.

Yoga teaches us to get out of these thoughts and to go within—to observe; to be, here, now.

As cliché as it sounds, the very practice of being in the moment can bring much clarity and peace to our lives. But how do we access it? Well, it all begins with the breath. Finding a deep breath and letting your attention remain with the breath. The mind will wander, to be sure. But each time you notice the mind has wandered, bring it gently back to the breath, reveling in that moment. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. And see what happens from there.