The last principle in the Niyama I want to discuss is the concept of surrender to the divine. However, you don’t necessarily need to define what you’re surrendering to in order to practice this principle. Whether it’s the universe, spirit, God, or simply a higher force beyond yourself, the essence lies in the act of letting go. The focus is on releasing control over the outcome and trusting that the universe is vast enough to carry what we relinquish.
Surrendering in the Context of Massage
What does surrender mean in massage therapy? It’s about releasing control over the outcome of each session. I’ve touched on this before, and I truly believe this is a matter of setting internal boundaries. It’s about zooming out and seeing the full picture—acknowledging the reality of the session, understanding the science behind what massage does (and doesn’t do) for the muscles, and recognizing that not everything is within our control.
Surrendering is about trusting yourself: trusting that you’re showing up with integrity, staying curious, connected to your breath, and in tune with your hands and the body beneath them. This mindful presence is, in itself, an act of surrender.
Though this principle is last, it’s truly a culmination of all the steps that precede it. Yet, it’s not necessarily the “final” step, because these principles are cyclical. We’re always cycling through them, learning, failing, and trying again.
Surrendering to the Work (and to Ourselves)
While we often speak of surrendering to the divine, I believe that, in essence, we are also surrendering to ourselves. We let go of all the ego-driven stories we tell about who we are, what we’re capable of, what our purpose is, or what we think we should be doing. We surrender these narratives to the work itself.
I love how spiritual leader Ram Dass put it: “Just make the tea.” In his book Polishing the Mirror, he talks about the countless ways we get in our own way by overthinking instead of simply doing the work. Each day, we’re given tasks, relationships, ideas, responsibilities, and jobs—these are all forms of work for our souls.
When the work flows easily, we enter that state of flow. But when the work feels hard, what can we surrender? We can release our grip on the illusion of control and simply focus on the task at hand. Let go, and just do the work.
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