Tools For Letting Go
In honor of the equinox today I thought I would remain in the theme of letting go. It’s another common phrase that can be thrown around, but it is much easier said than done when put into practice. I have found myself in yoga or meditation classes being told to “let go” only to leave filled with frustration and anger when I wasn’t able to. Or, I left feeling vulnerable and open without the support needed to process it. Releasing the past - whether it be through emotions, relationships, material items… can bring up strong feelings. Becoming aware of these feelings and working through them are important parts of letting go.
These are a few simple tools I find helpful in practicing letting go. These tools can be used together, in a sacred space; they can also be implemented as a resource during a crazy day when you have only one minute and need to release, ground and reconnect to yourself.
Either standing, or sitting, with eyes open or closed, place your feet firmly on the earth. As you inhale, lift your arms to the sky, and as you exhale begin to drop your arms and fold forward, letting your torso drape over your legs. Let yourself do this gently, softly.
As you draw more attention to your breath, start to elongate your exhale. If it feels good, you can count the length of your breath, with the goal of your exhale being twice as long as your inhale. A good place to start is inhaling for a count of two, exhaling for a count of four.
It can be powerful to attach a mantra or intention to this breath. For example, as you inhale saying to yourself or out loud, “I am” and as you exhale saying “safe to let go.” This mantra can be anything that feels meaningful and aligned for you.
All together, the movement, breath and mantra create a ritual that can help you let go while also grounding you when letting go feels overwhelming.
This can become a daily practice you make space for every morning or you can utilise it anytime you feel you need support. Maybe repeating the mantra while you’re donating furniture, folding forward to shift your energy after a particularly stressful meeting, elongating your exhale when you feel yourself trying to hold on to control.
These are gentle yet actionable steps that help you embrace the energy of letting go without even realising it. Despite the simplicity of this practice, it can be quite powerful. It is these subtle shifts and actions we can take that, with intention, which in turn can create ripple effects in our life.
As we begin the transition into autumn, try embracing the energy of letting go by utilising these practices and see how you feel.
