Letting Go
I am in a season of change, in the thick of an ending and on the cusp of a new beginning. Nature reflects this same season. The leaves turned shades of brown, red, orange, and yellow, and then the trees let go. On the forest floor they all have gathered and the vibrant hues collectively faded to muted browns and grays. This newly laid bed of leaves will be the fertile ground where in a few months new life will spring forth. As I navigate life’s complexities, I find comfort in turning towards nature’s wisdom.
My leaves have been changing colors for a while now. I’ve been witnessing the bright sweetness that comes before the fall. The way in which, when you know something is temporary, you appreciate it more. It is the savoring of the last bite. It is the last spritz of a discontinued perfume. It is a cuddle with your child on the brink of their teenage years. This time serves as a reminder, to let love in.
It is easy to get lost in the monotony of the day to day. To lose touch with the magic and love that is present in every moment and every thing. This is the beauty of impermanence. Impermanence gives life its meaning and its depth. This is why in Yoga at the end of posture practice, the final pose is Savasana or Corpse pose. Similar to nature, the Yoga mat can always be seen as a metaphor for life. Savasana offers an opportunity to consciously experience and surrender to “death.” Just as Savasana is never missed, the trees never skip a winter and decide to hang onto their leaves. For they know in letting go they lay the fertile foundation for the next iteration of life to be born.
In ignorance to death there’s a loss of the capacity to truly live. In ignorance to the acceptance of loss itself there can be no receptivity. When life brings something to love it is inherent in accepting it that one day there will be a letting go. The trees do not weep once their branches have become bare. They know each season of love will always rest at their core. I trust that in embracing both love and loss, there’s an opening into a new beginning. Jane’s House will always be a part of the love at my center and through this transition I am curious to see the vibrancy of the new leaves that will blossom for us all.
“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.”
-Rumi
Before discovering yoga, Ashley Schroeder had been practicing alternative contemplative practices such as mediation and journaling, and her professional experience is in the fitness space with a specialty in corrective movement for longevity. She completed the 200hr teacher training program at Jane’s House in 2024, realizing the Yoga was the marriage of all of her passions! Today, Ashley skillfully teaches to carry on the lineage and to share her passion for spirituality and philosophy, while integrating the intelligence of corrective movement. She enjoys writing from the heart and contributes to the studio’s blog as well.