10 Steps to Help You Let Go of Fear in Your Yoga Practice

Take a moment to reflect on the very first time you tried doing yoga. When you first stepped onto your yoga mat, odds are you quickly realized that if you were going to embrace this whole “yoga thing,” you were going to have to let go. And what we really mean: letting go of fear.

This is something that you had to remind yourself each and every time you stepped onto your mat. No matter if you’ve practiced yoga once, or more times than you can count, this practice of “letting go” is something you continuously need to do. Otherwise, fear can creep in and get in the way.

Whether it’s fear of falling out of a pose, not being able to do a pose, or something beyond the yoga room you can’t seem to shake, it’s important to understand how to release and empower yourself.

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Here Are 10 Steps to Letting Go of Fear in Your Yoga Practice:

Step 1. Identify

Ask yourself what your fear is, and then say it out loud. Whether it is I am not flexible enough, or I will fall and break my head . . . acknowledge it. Once you are able to acknowledge and vocalize it, you will feel a shift in your body which will help you get past the fear altogether.
 

Step 2. Evaluate Your Fear

Assess it. I know I am not the only one who over-exaggerates my fears. Ask yourself, is this rational? Better yet, ask yourself, Do I want to overcome this? Your answer is most likely going to be a resounding yes, which means that letting go is already underway.
 

Step 3. Understand Failures

As a perfectionist, I understand that addressing failure can be difficult. Accept that you are only human, and therefore, you will occasionally mess up. It is perfectly okay to fall out of a pose. What really defines us is how we get back up from falling.
 

Step 4. Journal

In times when you cannot find the words to speak about your fear, write it down. Take the first words that come to mind after your yoga practice and jot them down – this is your raw emotion. Journaling after every yoga practice allows you to express yourself and also track your progress.

Plus, documenting your progress is incredibly inspiring, which will empower you to push past your fear.
 

Step 5. Share Your Authentic Self

When I first began yoga, I kept hearing phrases like, “drop your fear,” or “let go of your fear.” I had no clue what anyone was talking about, until I was able to drop my own wall. This taught me that letting go of my fear really meant sharing my true and honest self with my practice and the world.

It’s fear that holds us back from showing the world our unique and authentic selves.
 

Step 6. Visualize

Picturing success will help you train your mind and body for achieving your goal. Seeing success mentally helps you stay calm and focused. It helps to combine your five senses with your mind in order to imagine, visualize, and thereby manifest with as much detail as possible.
 

Step 7. Practice, Practice, Practice

The more you practice yoga, the more comfortable you become with your mat and the art of yoga. With more practice comes confidence in poses like balancing or inversions that may create a sense of fear at first . . . but keep going! When you push through, on the other side lies freedom!!

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Step 8. Have Faith

Believing in yourself will help you face your fear. In times of doubt, whether it is on your mat or elsewhere along your journey, having faith helps create a little voice inside that becomes your biggest cheerleader. Faith and confidence in yourself will inspire you to keep moving forward.
 

Step 9. Confront Your Fear

The only way to conquer your fear is to simply face it. Remember to confront fear at your own pace, honor your feelings, and take action with confidence. Fear is like a predator, so you have to stand tall and show that you are brave enough to face it. Facing it will immediately diminish it.
 

Step 10. Celebrate!

Fear creates a heavy weight on our shoulders. Once we overcome a fear, it feels as if a huge weight has been lifted. Remember that celebrating every victory, regardless how small, counts as a step forward. You’ve worked hard and you’ve shown real courage, so now is your time to shine, rejoice, and bask in your power and accomplishments!

Overcome Your Fears: 5 Ways to Stop Letting Fear Dictate Your Life
 
 

You Got This! Let’s Get Over Your Fear in Yoga

There you have it – ten ways to let go of fear in yoga – and your life in general! Remember that your yoga teachers and fellow yogis are great resources for support and encouragement when you begin to doubt yourself.

Always honor yourself, enjoy the journey, and shine bright! You are too radiant to let your fear get in the way of achieving what you want.