How do you “let go” in a yoga class?
Yoga is the vehicle for which we allow ourselves to disconnect and switch off from the modern world. This seems counterintuitive – to really connect, we have to switch off first! But we have to switch off from distraction, not everything. It’s a bit like when you’re in a noisy room and the TV is on at the same time as the radio – you can’t make sense of either at the same time, but as soon as you turn one down, the other starts to make more sense again.
Modern living, with technology at our fingertips, gives the illusion (in buddhism, this is called moha) that we can have it all. But our brains still haven’t evolved to process multiple events occurring simultaneously. So technology, despite having its uses, can lead us to feel overwhelmed and stressed. In some cases, to ‘keep up’ with the modern lifestyle, we often find ourselves trying to ‘speed up’ and go faster to achieve this, often ending in tears. It feels like stress, depression and burnout are commonplace.
Between 2018 and 2019, there were 602,000 cases of work-related stress in the UK alone, amounting to 12.8 million days of working days lost. In the USA, 96% of employees reported feeling stressed in 2019. The over-reliance on external technology to help us ‘function’ means that we can get so caught up in it all, that we don’t give ourselves enough time to figure things out for ourselves using our innate skills and inner-coping mechanisms.
Technology, despite having its uses, can lead us to feel overwhelmed and stressed.
The regular practice of yoga could help to relieve stress in people. It focuses on breathwork, moving mindfully and the combination of these can help to improve mood. In the body, there are two main states of stress: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is when we are in a higher state of stress – this might be recognised by an increased heart-rate, shortness and quickening of the breath, sweating, feeling hot, a sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach, increased adrenalin and in some cases, increased feelings of anger or fear. The parasympathetic nervous system, by contrast, is often referred to as our “rest and digest” state – this is when we are at rest, feeling calm, breathing isn’t laboured and so on. Yoga has shown to move a person into this parasympathetic response, which can help to promote a calm response to stressful situations. By practising yoga regularly, it becomes easier to self-regulate our stress response, through trained breathing techniques, mindful movement which promotes the release of endorphins, (our natural feel-good chemicals) and focussing the mind away from unhelpful thought patterns.
Related: Try this 15 minute Yoga for Anxiety breathing practice to start feeling calmer instantly.
When we are in this calm state, we can begin to let go of what doesn’t matter, what is no longer important. Is it important that you always sit in the same spot in the staff room at work for lunch? Is it important that your shoes match your hat? Does it really matter what your boss thinks of you on a personal level? Are these not purely conventions and constrictive thought patterns and habits that we have created for ourselves?
By practising yoga regularly, it becomes easier to self-regulate our stress response.
There is a balance to be had here – I certainly would not expect someone to cast off all their worldly possessions without a second thought and go and live in a hermit society. But we can use this idea of non-attachment (or aparigraha in the yoga sutras) to allow us to let go of what we no longer need, what might be holding us back, what might be preventing us from the natural progression of life. It might even allow us to create space for something new. It might even allow us to feel happier.
By understanding that life is a continuous cycle, and that we are only a small part of something greater, by dropping our ego and allowing the light within to truly shine, we can take a step closer to enlightenment, to our internal blissful state. We no longer feel the need to cling to material possessions that will only lead to disappointment and unfulfillment.
So now we understand the importance of letting go (even if it’s just a tiny bit!). But what has this got to do with a yoga class in practice? As a Yogi, consider your feelings and reactions to the following three scenarios:
- You’re in Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward-facing dog), silently scolding yourself because you’ve been doing it for six months and still can’t get your heels to meet the ground.
- You’ve caught yourself staring at a fellow yogi’s mat or leggings and wishing to know where they bought them from, wanting the same or better for yourself.
- You’ve been working really hard in your yoga practice and have managed to hold a challenging posture such as Vrksasana (tree pose) for longer than you usually do.
All these moments can provide us with real insight into our reactions to the physical realm of living. Frustration, envy, or pride can creep into any of these situations, which, if we are not mindful of, can bring us down and make us feel worthless (or temporarily feel better). What would happen if we were not to worry so much about the heels in Adho Mukha Svansana, or took the time to notice our own yoga space and how special it is to us? Or even if we manage to achieve something really difficult, do we see it as mission accomplished or a step to something greater?
Even if we manage to achieve something really difficult, do we see it as mission accomplished or a step to something greater?
So… why not let it all go? (Maybe Elsa really had a point…)
How? Start small. Try to keep your mind awareness on the breath throughout your practice. Your yoga teacher should be able to guide you with this if you find it difficult. Be patient. When you notice your mind starting wonder to “I should…” and “I would love it if…” bring yourself back to the present moment. Take an inhale. And then an exhale. And begin again. Remember that yoga is a lifelong journey, make time to enjoy the ebb and flow, but remember to let go. I promise, you’ll enjoy the experience a lot more!
Related: Yoga for when you haven’t got time
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