When we think of “letting go”, certain associations may come up… surrender, forgiveness, acceptance, non-attachment. All of these terms sound challenging. And they are – at first. Luckily, with long-term consistent practice, we can gradually allow our minds to relax. This will work wonders both on our yoga mat, as well as in everyday life. How did we end up so caught up in our minds? And what can we do to return to effortless living?
Let’s make it clear: “letting go” is not a quick fix.
The longer the process of getting there, the greater chances the results will stay. Long-term.“Letting go” is a generally underrated part of yoga. The truth is, if only do the yang part of the practice, we will not reap all the benefits of yoga. We are so used to living in a results-oriented and competitive system, that we forget the importance of rest. It’s crucial for integrating all the work we put in during the active part of the practice. That’s why Savasana is considered an asana, just as much as a downward dog!
Surrender to Life
This is just one way of letting go – but what about the others? Let’s take surrendering. This of course applies also to the yoga pose. It means to quit trying to change things and get rid of expectations of what should happen. So often, yogis get lost in the chase for “making the perfect asana”. Where such a thing does not exist. The perfect asana is the one that serves us best on this day. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go all the way (and feed your ego). Just trust your body – it knows what feels good.
“You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting the natural state.”
How does this apply to life? Well, we humans like to expect a lot from life and others. We expect people to be kind, to love us back. Or return favors. And then we get hurt because of these expectations. The ancient oriental practices, such as yoga or Tao, remind us to stay in the observer’s position. Let go of judgment and how things should be – because that leads often to suffering.
Learn to Be Like Water
Instead, we can be like water and flow smoothly over obstacles. Leaving our emotions untouched and maintaining that inner peace we crave. We may begin to notice, with time, that life is happening to us and… if we put some effort into knowing who we REALLY are, life will attract all the right things. Yes – that means happiness too!
So, what can you do to learn to let go?
Meditate daily.
Create a daily routine, where after waking up, you spend some time meditating. Of course, the longer the better. But even a short period works wonders.
Practice yoga daily.
During your practice try to keep the witness consciousness. What does that mean? Keep in mind that you are steering your body and thoughts, so do your best to de-attach yourself from them and relax into the poses. Imagine your thoughts are like clouds passing over a clear sky.
Take up journaling. Spilling your thoughts out each day, helps make sense of your daily experiences and emotions. By some magic means, writing what you are going through, helps accept and release most mental blockages.
Get to know yourself.
How sure are you of who you are? Most of us need years to peel away the layers of our being that belong to our parents or society (if we even become aware). This takes quite some self-exploration. Questioning how much certain activities make us happy – can work wonders.Try plant medicine.
Yes, this is for the brave ones. And there are many controversial opinions on this subject, however, it is proved to help people let go of attachments, and free themselves.
Letting go is not a walk in the park, but definitely manageable for those who seek it. We need to realize that we are so much more than just the physical body and the mind. When we do, we can stop letting our emotions control us. And, we can work through physical pains we took for granted. Surrendering to who we truly are will bring us peace, joy, and abundance – just be patient.
- Written by Michelle Prygiel
