“Surrender is inner acceptance of what is without any reservations. Surrender does not transform what is, at least not directly. Surrender transforms you.” Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now
We ask to let go of the need to control. We arrive on the mat not knowing what the teacher will offer. Maybe we come to class with expectations and they are not met or maybe we end up learning something extraordinary about ourselves. A pose can teach us flexibility and strength but also how we are being in everyday life. When confronted with imbalances or traumas on the mat, we pause and resolutions rise allowing us to transform our relationships to create a more peaceful existence.
When we invite surrender onto our mat we also open up the possibility of discovering it off of the mat. When deep in a warrior two, leg shaking, mind wandering, we must remember to come back to our breath. We must evaluate and ask where we are over-efforting. Where can we soften? How can we conserve energy allowing for a longer hold? So we soften the tongue and relax the face. We ground into the feet and extend through the crown of the head. We engage the low belly while squeezing the front knee open. We allow the shoulders to drop down and extend through the fingertips. We rest deeply into the pose welcoming all sensations. We invite the body to feel and the mind to let go of analyzing. This is a valuable tool that we can access when we find ourselves in challenging situations. See what surrender feels like for you next time you are on the mat and when you step off.
ABOUT AUTHOR SAMANTHA BARRETT
Samantha Barrett is a 500 hr Advanced Vinyasa Yoga Instructor from Bucks County, PA. She received her 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training from Dragonfly under the direction of Alexis Ridge-Simek in 2015. She also studied with Rolf Gates (500hr), Seane Corn, Mas Vidal, Karl Straub, & Maria Garre. Her classes invite the student to explore the body & breath on the mat in a way that deepens awareness, creates flexibility, and awakens true nature. She is a certified Reiki II Practitioner under the guidance of Valerie & Ian Haag and has completed 16 hrs of Thai Yoga Bodywork training from the Vedic Conservatory. She graduated from Temple University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and her passion for teaching has lead her into the light of Yoga.