Let It Go!

Nell, my nine year old daughter had a good cry last night, letting all the stress of the past school term slide down her face. Sometimes we need a good cry, to release and to let go. The build up of working hard, concentrating, being well behaved and disciplined needs to be released like a whistle from an old fashioned boiling kettle. As a parent, I cherish these moments. I watch out for them - the solemn face appearing before bedtime, her slumped shoulders and quivering lip. I ask her if she's okay and the tears come. It usually happens at the end of a long school term, when the tiredness takes over. I give her my full attention and I listen, making sure that all her emotions come out, always asking “Is there anything else you would like to tell me?”

My yoga practice has brought my attention to the importance of letting go. Not being scared of having that good cry, having that loud vent. When we don't release, the emotion and stress just keeps on building and growing inside of us. If it can't escape, it will eventually start to cause damage. Yoga helps us to release, to let go. The most rewarding thing as a yoga teacher is when I get to witness a student finally relaxing, finally understanding how to let go physically in their bodies. We do need to practise this. It doesn’t seem to come naturally to many of us.

When was the last time you let go? Are you holding on right now? Is there tension in your shoulders? Do you have any aches and pains in your body? If so, then it’s time to release. It may be a hot bubble bath, a yoga practice or a good cry or a chat with a friend. We all manage our stress in different ways but we must give it the opportunity to escape. For me, it's a yoga practice, for Nell it's a good cry and a cuddle from Mummy. What is it for you?

Namaste Laura x

#inflowyoga #metime #yoga #alittlebitofmetime