The Art Of Letting Go (Even Just A Little)

Life can feel like a whirlwind, can’t it?

School runs, meetings, WhatsApps flying, that never-ending to-do list…
We rush from one thing to the next, juggling work, family, expectations, and all the invisible mental tabs we’ve got open.
And in the middle of it all, we’re trying to hold it together.

We cling to the roles we play — the capable one, the organised one, the strong one.
We grip tight to outcomes. Timelines. Who we think we should be.
It’s no wonder we feel stuck, overwhelmed, or just… tired.

But what if that constant gripping — to control, to identity — is exactly what’s weighing us down?

Take a breath.

Not a short shallow breath — a proper one.
Like we do in class.
The kind that fills your whole body. That drops your shoulders. That reminds you: you’re here, and you’re OK.

Let me ask you:
How often do you breathe like that when you’re not on the mat?

We have to breathe anyway so we may as well do it properly all the time.  Here’s what I’ve learned (and keep learning):
The breath isn’t just air in and out.
It’s not just oxygen and carbon dioxide.
It’s information.
It’s communication.
It’s life force.

For me, breath has become a key to understanding what’s really going on beneath the surface.

As someone with autoimmune conditions, I’ve had to become very tuned into my body. And one of my clearest signals? My breath.

When my breath starts to rise up into my chest — not the big, juicy belly breaths we practice together — that’s usually a sign.
A sign that inflammation is flaring. That my nervous system is shifting gears. That something inside is on high alert.

The breath becomes a mirror, showing me what’s happening before I even consciously know it.

So I listen. I breathe. I soften.
Not because I’m trying to be ‘zen’ — but because it helps.
Because it works.

And here’s the thing: these tools aren’t just for people with health issues.
They’re for everyone.
We’re all carrying something — stress, uncertainty, busyness, pressure — and the breath is the one thing that’s always there to bring us back.

Yoga isn’t about being flexible or calm all the time.
It’s about paying attention. It’s about letting go.
Letting go of control. Of perfection. Of the constant need to be doing.

And maybe, just maybe, making space for something gentler to move in.

So this week, here’s your invitation:

Choose one moment a day — just one — to pause and take three mindful breaths.
Not shallow chest breaths.
But deep, conscious, grounding breaths.
Feel where your breath goes. Notice how it shifts your state. Let it teach you something.

And if you feel like sharing what you discover, I’d love to hear it. We’re all walking this path together — one breath at a time.

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