Does the Practice Help Me to Let Go?

Written By Paul Menard

I attended the Gentle Flow and Release class with Michelle Eastman at Karuna recently. The practice was not what I was used to and got me thinking. By breaking up the usual practice, my mind and body were able to let go of established norms and structure that can, at times, hold me back from release. .

Patanjali says that there are five things that get in the way of relaxing the mind, making it almost impossible to see our true selves. These 5 things (the klesas or impediments) include abinivesa, also known as clinging. Some translate this as clinging to life, but it is more of a clinging to our pleasures and pains, which Ravi Ravindra calls this a “clinging to the status quo.”

When we wrap up our day and get home, what are we clinging to? When we wrap up work or chores? When we lie down for bed? What are we clinging to? If you look close enough, you will recognize that there is always a clinging. A clinging to something that happened at work. Clinging to something that was said to us. Some things that we deem good. Some things that we deem bad. Both can structure our ego, solidify beliefs, and create automatic unconscious responses; keeping us locked in the prison of past and future.

So how do we release it?

Michelle’s class was so interesting because it was not about building a structure to push further or increase understanding through scaffolding instruction. Instead it was an exploration in breaking down, and shaking loose the clinging in the body. The rules of engagement were not stringent, but were an invitation in play and surrender. This was approached with the encouragement of asana and release techniques of self shiatsu.

Here are some points of reflection that I would like you to think about as well:

  • Am I approaching my practice in a way that cleans out the cobwebs and surrenders the clinging to status quo?

  • Do I come to the same few poses? In the same order?

  • How does my current practice help me to accomplish or limit release? Not just in the body, but release from the bindings of mind AND body?

You deserve some release. Come to the weekly Gentle Flow and Release class at Karuna and enjoy the practice of letting go.

Gentle Flow and Release
Tuesdays | 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Upstairs Studio

Paul Menard