Yoga to Release...

As we move into this last part of the year, we might start to think about the intentions we want to set for ourselves throughout Autumn and Winter. Part of the intention-setting process is to consider what it is we might want to release or “let go” of. 

This act of releasing or letting go, is about clearing space to open ourselves up to engage and connect with our inner wisdom. From here, we can access a deeper connection to who we truly are, and what we really want for ourselves and our lives. Ultimately, by being able to release, we can begin living from a place of truth that is all our own and not someone else’s. 

You will often hear Yoga teachers (myself included) use the phrase “let go” a lot throughout your yoga class. But do you know what it really means? Perhaps it causes some confusion, or even irritation towards your Yoga teacher for asking you to do something that feels so difficult, or that you’re just not ready for right now. It can feel as if it diminishes or simplifies what you might be experiencing or feeling at the moment. 

But it is not intended in that way at all. The instruction to “let go” is designed to encourage you to feel a sense of release - be that physically, mentally or emotionally. To help you towards a sensation of shedding and ridding yourself of those thoughts and feelings that are no longer serving you. This might not mean to ‘relax’, but rather to completely surrender to your emotions or thoughts in full. Being 100% present with what you’re experiencing, and diving deeply into yourself so that you can understand what is happening for you, and what you need to do to release it.

For example, I had a moment a few days ago where a comment from a stranger about the size of my baby bump just tipped me over the edge. I felt so heavy with uncomfortable emotions that I’ve been working to heal for some time, that I just needed to release how I was feeling. I posted a long, personal story on Instagram, and got so many replies of love and understanding, and also admiration for speaking out, that it made me feel so much lighter and enabled me to let go of the stickiness of my negative feelings. 

I think we have all experienced that feeling of heaviness at one time or another, and often we step into a yoga class carrying that sensation with us. Our mind might be racing with thoughts about finances, work, relationships or something else that is just weighing us down.  So we find ourselves simply going through the motions while distracted, stressed and unfocused. 

But we also know that Yoga is so much more than the physical practice, and that we are not just the skin, bones, senses and thoughts we’ve stepped onto our mats with. The whole point of yoga is to unite us with one-another, and with a “higher-consciousness” or “the Devine”. Understanding this can provide us with the realisation that our physical bodies and our thoughts do not define us - we can therefore more easily release the things that we cling to and believe to be true, when in actual fact they are not. When we are able to realise that we are part of something bigger, we are no longer held back by limiting beliefs, repetitive thoughts (about work, to-do lists, what we look like, etc.) or even desires for our practice to look a certain way. We can simply just “let go” and allow ourselves and our practice to unfold in the way they’re supposed to.

Releasing and letting go are not something that will happen instantly. Part of releasing is the process we take to get there. Think about a challenging pose you suddenly managed to crack - when you finally “get there” it is often because you’ve learned to see the exploration aspect of asana as equally valuable to the goal itself. You’ve released the need to “achieve”, and surrendered to the process.

​In this way, I know full well that releasing and letting go is easier said than done. Being able to surrender to the process means becoming vulnerable, and allowing yourself to be open, raw and unedited. Context and timing of course matter - for example, when you get caught up in a heated “discussion” with a loved one, you may say things you don’t really mean, but when you approach things in a calm manner and sit down and have a conversation, it can be much easier to release what you need to without causing hurt to the other person. 

So be mindful, stay calm, and remember that there’s no rush when it comes to releasing “stuff”. Take one thing at a time, remembering that being in a state of physical relaxation will bring you closer to a clearer mind, and it is from this place that we can start to realise what it is we need to let go of. 

Namaste
xxx

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