Resolutions, Release, and the Art of Letting Go

Inspired by Faith Salie’s reflection on CBS Sunday Morning

As we enter the new year, many of us find ourselves contemplating resolutions. Faith Salie provides an intriguing perspective, drawing inspiration from the Latin root of "resolution" - resolvere, which means to loosen, undo, or release. This etymology encourages us to consider: what if our resolutions focused less on tightening our grip on goals and more on mindful release?

The Anatomy of Holding On

In yoga anatomy, we often observe how emotional tension manifests physically in our bodies. Stress and anxiety can create what we call "holding patterns" - areas where muscles remain chronically contracted. These patterns commonly appear in:

• The jaw and facial muscles (where we clench against uncertainty)

• The shoulders and neck (where we carry and hold our burdens)

• The hip complex (where we store deep-seated emotions)

• The hands (where we grip our "white knuckles" of worry)

These physical manifestations of holding on mirror our psychological tendency to grasp tightly to the past or future, what the yoga tradition calls abhinivesha - our instinctive clinging to life and fear of letting go.

The Wisdom of Letting Go

The yogic tradition offers profound wisdom about letting go. The concept of vairagya (non-attachment) teaches us that true freedom comes not from controlling everything but from loosening our grip on outcomes. This isn't about giving up or becoming passive; rather, it's about creating space for new possibilities.

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes kleshas—the mental afflictions that cause suffering. Among these are raga (attachment) and its opposite, dvesha (aversion). Our tendency to cling to what we desire and reject what we don't creates tension in both the body and the mind.

Practical Applications: The Marriage of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Understanding

How might we practice this art of mindful release? Here are some approaches that combine yogic wisdom with contemporary understanding:

1. Conscious Breathing: The breath is our most immediate tool for releasing tension. When we exhale fully, we physiologically activate the parasympathetic nervous system, our body's "rest and digest" mode. This creates what polyvagal theory describes as a state of safety, allowing both physical and emotional release.

2. Progressive Muscle Release: Rather than forcing relaxation, we can apply what yoga calls pratipaksha bhavana , which means cultivating the opposite. This can be done in the physical body by fully engaging muscles and then consciously releasing them. This helps us recognize and release chronic holding patterns.

3. Mindful Movement: Gentle, flowing movements (vinyasa) combined with breath awareness can help us observe where we hold tension and practice conscious release. This might include:

   • Cat-Cow flows to release spinal tension

   • Gentle joint rotations to release articulation points

   • Slow neck releases to address upper body holding

   • Hand and foot exercises to practice literally "loosening our grip"

4. Meditation on Impermanence: The Buddhist concept of anitya (impermanence) reminds us that everything is in a state of constant change. Reflecting on this truth can assist us in letting go of our attachment to fixed outcomes and embracing the flow of life.

A Different Kind of Resolution

Maybe our resolution this year could focus on undoing instead of doing—on releasing rather than acquiring. This could mean:

• Loosening our grip on old stories that no longer serve us

• Releasing judgment about how things "should" be

• Creating space in our bodies and minds for new possibilities

• Allowing ourselves to see things we've "never seen before"

The Paradox of Letting Go

There's a beautiful paradox in this approach: often, when we stop gripping so tightly, we find what we were seeking all along. Just as a tight muscle needs to release before it can strengthen, sometimes our goals are better served by loosening our hold on them.

In the words of the Tao Te Ching, "By letting go, it all gets done." This ancient wisdom aligns perfectly with our modern understanding of the nervous system and body mechanics - that release often precedes positive change.

Moving Forward

As we enter this new year, let us draw inspiration from both ancient wisdom and contemporary writings. Instead of adding more to our already full plates, we might focus on creating space through intentional release. By doing this, we may discover that we can navigate gracefully through whatever the year holds, our white knuckles relaxing into open palms, ready to embrace new possibilities.

By doing this, we might find ourselves more capable of navigating with grace through whatever the year brings, transforming our white knuckles into open palms eager to embrace new possibilities.

Through this practice of mindful release - loosening our grip on both past and future - we might discover something remarkable: time seems to slow down, allowing us to settle more fully into the eternal now. In this space of conscious presence, we often find exactly what we've been seeking all along.

YogiAnatomy offers workshops and training programs integrating traditional yoga wisdom with modern anatomical understanding. Visit our website to learn more about our evidence-based approach to yoga education.