Let the Monkey Off the Chain
The final pose of a yoga class is called Savasana or corpse pose. It’s the place where you release everything. You stop controlling your breath and holding your body in poses that may be challenging. You are finally invited to completely let go.
It is there that I learned letting go is the hardest pose of all, and not just on the yoga mat.
We work so hard to:
- make everyone happy
- stay up to date on everything
- be everywhere
- appear like we have it all figured out
- do it all (with a smile)
Even when we are doing things we love, we sometimes push too much or hold too tight. It’s as if we think with sheer will, we can bend the universe and magically design a desirable outcome.
Do a quick check right now. Is your jaw clenched? Are your toes curled? Are you holding your breath? Those are the tiny physical signs of the bigger mental and emotional attempt to control the world, or at least your world.
What if you redirected that world-controlling energy to:
- creativity
- happiness
- gratitude
- hope
- people
- causes
- good work
- laughter
- sleep
If you experiment with this, you will notice that the world will keep spinning and things might even improve, especially your attitude and overall health.
Your outward actions are directly connected with your internal reactions.
If you knew that by simply exhaling you could engage in conversation without thinking about what you were going to say next, would you?
If you knew that by unclenching your teeth you could be ok with starting something before you knew how it was going to turn out, would you?
If you knew that by relaxing your shoulders and uncurling your toes you could begin to grow a business the way it’s supposed to grow, would you?
If you knew that by stretching your fingers and letting go of your tight grip, you could say things like, “I’m sorry.” and “I love you.” more easily, would you?
If you knew that by softening your gaze you could release worry and fear and sleep peacefully, would you?
The truth is, over time you can do all of those things. You won’t let go of everything forever or immediately, but just experiencing the feeling for a few minutes will be enough to encourage more surrender. When you realize that things often go better than you expected when you take your thumb off them, you will trust that things will be ok, even without your universe bending attempts.
There will be times when you think that you are there. You’ll think you’ve completely let go, only to discover a tight grip on your grocery cart when you see the price of spinach or long line at the registers. One day, in my final yoga pose of class, seemingly completely relaxed and unattached, my yoga teacher said, “Come on people, let the monkey off the chain.” and I did. I let go of intensity and control and focus. I melted into the mat … and smiled.
When it comes to letting go, there isn’t an elaborate how to list or instruction manual. Just release your jaw, soften your gaze, breathe … and smile. When you are pulling,prodding, forcing, resisting and holding on for dear life, let the monkey off the chain.
Everything will be ok. Better even.
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18 Responses to “Let the Monkey Off the Chain”
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I love that saying, “let the monkey off the chain.” You must have been beside me on the mat last night because that was my issue too and when I finally released, the monkey went free.
Thank you so much for reminding me again to keep noticing the subtle things we do and how easy it is to just be!
I think it’s so interesting how we hold onto tension without even realizing it.
I have never heard that saying before, and I am so glad to add it to my repertoire. I fear this crease that has developed between my eyes is from years of scowling aka “holding on” instead of releasing. It almost disappears when I smile.
big heavy sighs often help!
I have a hard time with this one. I’m always looking to seem perfect to others. Of course, my health takes the blow on that. Being a Vata, I have a hard time with my monkey mind. I’m anxious and fluttery. I need the grounding practice of corpse pose to come back from flight. Thanks for the post.
just practice enjoying the freedom a tiny bit at a time.
Thanks! I have to remember that this is a lifelong journey. It isn’t ever going to end… I keep on thinking that if I do this, it will be over soon. And then I will be done!
But not so.
This is a beautiful post, one that I needed to read. Thank you!
Love this post. Bottom line is we need to let go in order to have more control. Wonderful words here..
I think this is a hard one for a lot of us. It’s so easy to miss out on other opportunities, when we waste time trying to control the uncontrollable.
Thank you, Courtney. I needed that reminder today. I too have never heard that phrase. I’ll have to do some research on it this afternoon. But I totally get the concept.
So again, sincerely, Thank You!
This is always my favorite part of a yoga practice, and it always reminds me that the earth spins without me.
Does anyone else fall asleep during Savasana? Maybe I let go too much . . .
For some whom this term may be new, Savasna is (Shav Aasan : The pose (assan) of a corpse (Shav))
So interesting when you asked those questions, because I was holding my breath and didn’t even realize it…..Wow! What a revelation. We do so much unconsciously, and we need to remind our selves to “let go”
We also tend to think of letting go so as to be contemplating “nothingness”, but nature always fills empty space randomly with something.
Let the monkey off the chain, but don’t be surprised when a chicken lays an egg where the monkey left a hole. Call it the “quantum chicken” if you like.