It’s funny how the universe likes to send us little reminders, isn’t it? This week, I had a beautiful experience in yoga that reminded me of the power of letting go. It’s something I’ve known intellectually, but today, I felt it on a whole new level.
I walked into class a little apprehensive. My usual instructor is away teaching at a retreat, so I was left with a substitute. I was expecting one of the instructors that I know and have attended many of her classes in the past, but she wasn’t there, it was a new instructor I didn’t know. Thoughts popped up in my head: Will I like his style? Will I be able to handle the class? What if I can’t keep up? And then, who are all these people in the class I don’t recognize – his “groupies,” I jokingly thought to myself.
I found my spot under one of the infrared lamps (a new habit of mine after sweatlodge ceremonies – now, hot yoga feels cold without extra heat). I settled in on my mat, but found myself in my head questioning what this class was going to be like with a different instructor. In this style of yoga, the transitions between poses are slow, and the goal once you get into a pose is to relax and surrender to gravity. Instead of the normal relaxation I feel sitting on my mat before class begins, was feeling unease, and when the instructor’s routine turned out to be different from what I’m used to, it triggered even more nervousness. Then I started to notice that it required even more presence from me. I wasn’t just moving my body through a rountine it knew; I had to be with it. I was being more mindful with the practice than what I had been in recent months. It felt good to be more present.
Then, we moved into a series of poses I had never done before. Some of them were uncomfortable, and I found myself struggling. The thought of surrendering was almost laughable. How could I surrender when my body was crying out in discomfort?
But then, it was like the instructor read my mind. He reminded us: “Breathe into the area that’s feeling the most tension. Breathe into the discomfort.”
It was a simple instruction, but something in me clicked. As I breathed into the tight spots, I heard a quiet voice inside: “It’s okay to let go… It’s safe to let go.”
And just like that, a mantra was born: “It’s okay to let go. It’s safe to let go.”
I repeated it over and over as my body continued to soften and open. With each new pose, I would meet discomfort, breathe into it, and let go of whatever tension I was holding. Each time I let go, I felt my body release, open up, and relax. I was surrendering—not just to the physical discomfort, but to the idea that letting go could actually lead to something better.
And that’s when it hit me, deep in my heart: “It’s okay to let go in all areas of life.”
The realization was sudden, but it felt like a deep truth. To get what I want, I have to let go. Everything I am holding on to—the things I think I must control or keep—are blocking me from receiving what I truly desire. That hit me hard. And it hit me in a way that felt new. Perhaps because I was experiencing it physically, I could understand it more deeply, on a spiritual level.
If I’m holding on tight to something—whether it’s a belief, a person, a possession, or an expectation—my hands aren’t free to receive anything else. A closed hand cannot receive. If I’m so focused on holding onto what I think I need, I miss the chance to receive something better. These were not new thoughts to me, but the way I was feeling it and understanding it was new. I could feel it in ever cell of my being.
And then I wondered: Why do we hold on to things in the first place? Why do we cling so tightly to what no longer serves us? The answer became clearer as I continued to breathe and stretch.
We hold on because it feels safe. Holding on to things—even if they no longer benefit us—creates a sense of control. We think that if we let go, we’ll be left with nothing. We fear the unknown, and the idea of being without something familiar, even if it’s painful, can feel more comfortable than stepping into a space of uncertainty. It’s easier to cling to the known, even if it’s unhealthy, because the unknown can be terrifying.
But here’s the paradox: Letting go is the only way to open ourselves up to more. To receive new things, new opportunities, new experiences, and new ways of being. If I keep my hand closed, I’m not allowing anything else in. I might think I’m holding on to what’s right for me, but in reality, I could be blocking what is actually meant to come my way.
Abundance. Relationships. Knowledge. All of these things require that I let go. To make space. To open myself to the flow of life and all that it has to offer.
The beautiful thing is, if it’s truly meant for me, it will stay. But if it’s not, no amount of holding on will keep it in my life. If I let go of what I think I “should” hold on to, I create the space for something new to come in. Something better.
So I let go. I put it down. I release the tension, the expectation, and the fear. And in that release, there’s possibility.
The more I let go, the more I realize: Letting go isn’t about loss. It’s about making room for what’s next. It’s about opening up to the flow of life, trusting that there’s more for me, more for all of us, if we can just create the space to receive it.
Now, I keep asking myself: What else am I holding on to? What other areas of my life can I release in order to create space for new possibilities?
This exploration isn’t always easy. It requires us to sit with discomfort and uncertainty. But it’s also deeply rewarding. It’s about learning that it’s safe to let go. That it’s safe to release the things that are no longer serving us.
I hope this post inspires you to explore what you might need to let go of in your own life. Maybe it’s an old belief, a pattern, a relationship, or a job. Or maybe it’s just the tension you’re holding in your body. Whatever it is, it’s okay to let go. It’s safe to let go.
If you feel like you need some support in letting go—whether it’s on the physical, emotional, or spiritual level—I’m here for you. Let’s explore this together and create the space for something new to come in.
Because the truth is, the more we let go, the more we make room for the magic that life wants to bring us.
It’s okay to let go. It’s safe to let go. And it’s the only way to create the possibility of more.
