Surrender Isn’t Giving Up—It’s Letting Go (And Trusting You’ll Land Somewhere Good)

Last week, a friend called me, overwhelmed and feeling hopeless about a situation she couldn't control. After a long chat, it hit me: she didn’t need another to-do list or a pep talk about “pushing through.” She needed to surrender. Now, before you picture her dramatically throwing her hands up and declaring defeat, hear me out.

Surrendering isn’t giving up—it’s more like letting go of that death grip we tend to have on life. Enter yoga’s eight-limb path to liberation. The second limb is called niyama, and the final niyama in that limb? It’s Ishvara Pranidhana, which is all about surrender. Makes sense it’s the last one, right? After you’ve done all the things—self-purification, seeking contentment, transforming yourself, and diving deeply into self-study—the only thing left is to let go and trust.

But don’t think this means slacking off. We’ve got lives to live, families to take care of, and jobs to do (thank you, hustle culture). Surrender doesn’t ask us to stop showing up—it asks us to show up without clinging to control. It’s about doing the work while allowing life to flow as it will.

Sure, letting go of control feels uncomfortable—okay, downright scary—but it’s necessary if we ever want to free ourselves from the anxieties, fears, and worries that creep in. Ishvara Pranidhana calls on us to embrace our softer, more intuitive side and let the winds of life take us wherever they may. Spoiler alert: those winds might just take us somewhere better than we could’ve planned.

The Yoga of Surrender: Let’s Talk Poses

When I think of surrender, the pose that immediately comes to mind is Savasana—also known as Corpse Pose. Yep, you heard me right: we’re talking about lying down and letting go, literally preparing the body for death (or at least a well-deserved rest). It’s the ultimate surrender after all that hard work—whether it’s breathing exercises, meditation, or asana (yoga poses). And trust me, Savasana seems easy, but as anyone who's done yoga knows, it’s one of the toughest. Once the body is still, the mind is ready to throw a tantrum—cue the fidgets. The trick is calming your nervous system enough to stay still and present.

For a practice focused on surrender, I like to start with Child’s Pose (Balasana). It’s a great way to immediately signal to your body and nervous system that it’s time to calm down and let go. With your head lowered and body folded close to the floor, you can almost feel the stress melting off you.

Then, to ground yourself for the day ahead, nothing beats Warrior II. It’s that familiar, stable standing pose that says, “Yep, I’m ready for whatever life’s about to throw at me.” But even warriors need a break, and that’s where Savasana comes back in. Whether it's at the end of the day—or heck, the middle of the day—find a piece of floor, lie down, and just let go.

How to Surrender, Yoga Style

Ready to give it a try? Here's a quick guide to savasana for those moments when you need a break from it all:

1. Find your spot: Lie on your back, legs extended, arms wherever they naturally fall.

2. Get comfy: Let your feet fall open, palms up, and fingers relaxed.

3. Close your eyes and breathe, letting your breath find its natural rhythm.

4. Relax: Focus on your breath, or if that’s too much, just pick a body part to check in with. Eventually, try to let even that go.

5. Rest for 5-10 minutes (or longer if the universe allows). Pro tip: A blanket under your head or over your body is a game-changer.

   
   

If you want to explore more about surrendering through yoga (or just need an excuse to hit the mat), check out my YouTube channel for practices that guide you through letting go—one breath at a time.

Because sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is rest, release, and trust the winds of life.

Click HERE to join me on YouTube for this 36-minute "Surrender" flow, or choose something that fits your mindset today. Subscribing, liking, commenting and sharing are all things that will help the channel to grow and to reach more people with free yoga practices that can help you to surrender.