The Power of Letting Go in yoga and in life

In the All Around Yoga book club our chosen August read was John Purkiss’ The Power of Letting Go. I completely forgot to organise a discussion. Life got in the way in the best possible way, because I was completing and gaining my master’s in digital marketing. That feels like a lesson in letting go. Sometimes we set something down so we can give our full energy to what matters most in that season.

Purkiss explains that when we let go, life begins to flow. We stop clinging to how things should be and we make space for intuition, clarity and ease. Yoga is a beautiful way to embody this. Below I have mirrored the stages from the book with simple practices you can try on the mat and in daily life.

Be present and enjoy each moment

Presence is the doorway to letting go. On the mat, begin by feeling your feet or your seat, notice your breath, and let your attention land in your body. Off the mat, take small mindful pauses during the day. Notice a cup of tea, a patch of sky, the rhythm of your steps. Enjoying a single moment fully loosens the grip of what came before and what might come next.

Let go of the thoughts that keep you stuck

Thoughts can loop and tell old stories. In practice, when a thought arrives, label it gently as thinking, return to your breath, and feel the sensation of the posture. You do not need to argue with the mind. Allow thoughts to pass like clouds. Choose one kinder thought to anchor your attention, such as I am here now or I can soften.

Let go of the pain that runs your life

Emotional pain often sits in the body. When you notice a tight jaw, a clenched belly or tense shoulders, meet the sensation with curiosity. Breathe into the area for a few rounds, and on each exhale imagine softening a little more. You are not forcing release. You are allowing it. Over time the charge behind the feeling lessens and you build trust in your capacity to feel and heal.

Surrender and tune in to something wiser than the thinking mind

Surrender is not giving up. It is letting yourself be guided. In savasana, place a hand on your heart and ask a simple question, What would support me now. Be willing to listen. The answer might be rest, a walk, a nourishing meal, or one honest conversation. When you surrender the need to control every outcome, life often meets you with the next clear step.

A simple letting go practice

Before your next class or home session, choose one thing you are ready to set down today. It could be a worry, a habit, or an old story. Keep it in mind as you move. With each exhale, imagine your grip loosening. At the end, sit quietly and ask, What feels lighter now. Write a line in your journal or simply notice the shift.

Closing thoughts

Although our book club did not meet this time, The Power of Letting Go could not be more timely. Letting go is not perfection. It is a patient, daily practice of presence, softening and trust. On the mat and in life, it creates space for freedom.

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