The most important aspect of letting go is to
notice. Notice where you feel it in your physical body, and notice how
good it feels when you just let go!
Apiragraha,
the fifth of the Yamas means not grasping, but for the sake of
simplicity lets just say the art and act of letting go. Easier said
then actually practiced. I remember the very first time I felt this
peace that comes from a practice of letting go. It was in the early
days of my yoga practice and I was in a Nia class. The routine called
for us to reach to the earth as tho we were scooping up and then extend
our hand in an expression of letting go. She gave us the visual of
scooping up a butterfly and letting it go.My
daughter was in the process of leaving for college and my older son was
in the midst of his life struggles that I had no control. It was at
that moment as I reached to scoop up that butterfly that I imagined
myself scooping up my son with my right hand, my daughter with my left
and watching, In the words of one of my favorite recording artist, In
the moment I was able to relax ~ let go ~ release ~ and surrender ~ relax, let go release and surrender
And for a moment, all was well! It was beautiful.It
is a western thing, striving for and always wanting more, having more,
doing more and being more. We are bombarded by the media with
billboards, radio, TV and print advertisement telling us that we are not
thin enough, rich enough, pretty enough, have enough. And we cannot
just blame the advertisers, look at our schools, our neighbors, not to
mention the burden we place on ourself.Never
is this more present then in many a power yoga class. Students unable
to stay present on their mats, aiming and striving to be in a pose the
way their neighbor expresses the asana. Wearing the latest greatest yoga
pants or sporting the newest thing in yoga mats! Then you have the
teachers pushing to go further, extend further as they selectively give
attaboys to a select few in the class. It
is easy to talk about letting go in terms of forgiving, we hear that
intention often enough and for the most part get that forgiveness is a
practice, but what about setting an intention to let go of the idea that
I am not enough. Everyone
carries around baggage, negative energy, excess weight, obsessive
thoughts that drag us down, drain us of energy and are nothing but an an
obstacle to our happiness. Guess what? It is a choice, you can
continue to cling to the familiar or you can LET IT GO. It is possible
but it is a practice, and often it is a long process of letting go over
and over and over again.Today
as you approach your mat, notice one thing, (all be it there may be
many) that you are clinging to. Observe the story, the thought, the
unproductive mantra you recite to yourself over and over and over.STOPNotice
yourself clinging to the thought or thoughts and begin your practice
today allowing it to go away. You may find you have to do this over and
over and over. The most important aspect of letting go is to notice.
Notice where you feel it in your physical body, and notice how good it
feels when you just let go! If you find the familiar distractions
popping up in your practice, pause a moment in the asana and let it
pass. The practice is not in stopping the thoughts but in not getting
hooked by them. Letting them go.As
you prepare to leave the mat, set an intention to continue to observe
your thoughts, notice the negative thoughts you would like to silence.
Try to replace all the should s with I could. What do you need to do
or could you do to keep the chaos out and maintain joy.?See you on the mat! Humsrelease, let go, surrender, ease, allow, be,peace, joy, intend, stay present, forgive, enjoy, flow, move, breath, soft, aw, The Yamas, the foundation of your yoga practice and the first of the 8 limbs of yoga. There are 5.
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Categoriesasanabalance breath chakra injury karma, meditation patience perception practice touch yoga yoga alliance yoga, accountability |
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