Release and Surrender
Release and surrender: can deep forward bends help you let go of control? Meg McCraken leads a gentle Hatha yoga flow to quiet the mind and body.
About this video
To find peace when life feels overwhelming, we must learn the art of release and surrender. In Season 1, Episode 6 of From Survive to Thrive: Practices for Everyday Wellness, Meg McCraken guides you through a gentle Hatha yoga flow designed to quiet a restless mind.
This 45-minute level 1-2 Hatha yoga for letting go focuses on deep forward bends and long, steady exhales to help move prana (energy) through the body. By working with the vayus, or internal winds, this somatic release yoga practice encourages you to drop beneath the surface of daily stress and cultivate radical trust. Whether you are seeking a yoga practice for emotional release or a dedicated yoga for stress relief and surrender, this Meg McCraken yoga session offers a supportive environment for surrendering to the present moment.
In this practice, we explore how physical postures can serve as a gateway to mental stillness. Forward bends naturally draw our attention inward, encouraging a quiet, reflective state that helps soothe an overactive nervous system. By pairing these postures with long, conscious exhales, we signal to the body that it is safe to let go of stored tension. Using props like a blanket, block, and strap allows you to fully support the physical body, reducing the need for muscular effort so you can focus entirely on the internal experience of letting go. This somatic approach allows us to work directly with the nervous system, transforming our relationship to stress and resistance.
Practices for Deep Release
- Grounding Forward Bends: Learn how to use passive forward folds to soothe the nervous system and release physical tension in the spine and hips.
- Prana and the Vayus: Explore how focusing on the subtle winds of the body can help direct energy, allowing you to empty, open, and receive with grace.
- Seated Meditation: Conclude your practice with a quiet meditation centered around the evocative poem "If You Knew" by Ellen Bass.
Prepare your space with a blanket, block, and strap, and begin your journey of release and surrender.
About this series
In this series, through asana, pranayama, and meditation, we will experience each of the five Vayus, the five winds of life, and blossom into our true being by incorporating these Vayus into our everyday life.