What is Surrenderwork
Surrenderwork is a discipline without form – a space to return to self – a door to another way of knowing – for creativity to flower. A simple structure inviting NOW. Make space – let go!
PERSONAL PRACTICE
Peaceful Mind
Soft Body
Brightly Awake
Fully in Life
Good Sleep
Power & Energy
Focus
PARTNERED PRACTICE
Alice & René
Metal and Wood
Yin and Yang
Exploring Bodymind
Clearing junk – letting Life in
Learn Online
Join our free online course or step right into the 8-week Surrender Project, to uncover your original self and cultivate a deep practice of letting go into life.
Find Events
Join us for an intense experience at one of our live workshops to develop your personal practice and learn partnered surrender work.
SURRENDERWORK REFERENCES
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can anyone do this?
Yes, anyone can do this practice. There are no limitations regarding age or physical ability.
Can I hurt myself doing this work?
Sometimes strong movements arise and people fear they will injure themselves. On rare occasions, people may incur minor bruises but we have never heard of serious injury arising from surrenderwork. Stiffness sometimes comes up too, but this might happen when there are no outer movements at all. So, although it is possible to hit yourself against a hard object or find yourself with a stiff neck, 99.9% of the time, if you surrender, your system seems to know what it is doing.
I get pain after the sessions; is this normal?
It is common to experience pain after a session. This might happen a day or two after a practice and does not normally last for more than three days. This is because the body stores emotional and physical traumas. In surrender, the system starts to self-regulate. Old traumas begin to come to the surface and these are experienced as physical, and sometimes mental, aches and pains. Sometimes old illnesses and injuries reappear as layers of armour and numbness drop away. It can seem like a backward step but it is actually uncovering injuries that never properly healed.
I got a bad cold after surrender; is it related to the practice?
It could be. As your system wakes up and starts to re-sensitise, toxins come to the surface and this might show up as a cold. This is fairly common. Some people celebrate strong reactions to the practice as they see it as getting rid of rubbish! This can be a useful way to see it.
How often should I do it?
You can do surrender practice when you like. There is no rule. You might do it every day for a while and then want a break and come back to it when you feel the desire. Once you are familiar with the practice, you can follow your sensitivity and do it when you would like. Alternatively you can set it as a regular practice and discipline.
How long should I do my practice for?
This is up to you. We recommend that you practice for a minimum of 10 minute and a maximum of 90. Alternatively, you can allow the practice to guide you. It will come to a natural end which you will learn to recognise.
When in the day should I practice?
Any time but best not on a full stomach as free movement will be restricted. It is also very good to do in the evening as an end to the day.
My mind gets very active during the practice; is this OK?
Sometimes movement takes the form of a busy mind. Nothing to do; let it be.
Should I surrender to something?
It is good to surrender to something higher than yourself; this works for many people. This could be God, the Divine, Truth, your higher self.
Can I combine surrender with something else?
You can do surrenderwork before another practice such as sitting meditation or yoga. It can free the mind and body and make these practices easier. But it will not work to combine them because surrender is surrender and focus is something else.
What benefits have you seen yourselves from doing this work?
I have seen huge benefits over the years. The biggest initial change was to realise, at a deep level, that everything in my life is connected. I have also understood how much I have lived an idea of life rather than life itself; the difference is enormous. I also experience greater trust and expansiveness. The surrenderwork has shifted my perception and emphasis. On a health level, I have found that physical problems change and resolve and my mood shifts. It is like a complete reboot of my system. In general I am much more laid back these days and more open to life and people, less critical of myself and others and generally a whole lot easier to be around. (Alice)
I find my mind wandering during the practice. Is this OK?
The great thing is that, in surrender, there really is nothing to do. Anything could happen: you could have a busy mind, you could have quiet, you might move, you might be still. In any case it is okay. Within the frame of surrender, stuff happens, stuff does not happen. We are not trying to do anything with or to it. We are not pushing it away or letting it go. Whatever happens, happens.
I get bored during the practice. Is this normal?
Boredom is a common phase. Like other stuff arising, there is nothing to do when you are bored, there is just boredom coming up.
I just go to sleep and miss the practice!
If you are tired, then you will probably sleep at first when you surrender. This is restorative; trust your system. It might happen for weeks or months, but simply continue to surrender.
I sometimes get the spontaneous desire to finish the practice early. Should I follow this impulse?
If you have set a time for your surrender practice continue until this time is up, even if a thought about ending comes up.
If you are doing the practice until it comes to a natural end, then you should end it when it seems to be the right time.
Nothing happens, am I doing something wrong?
Nothing happening is normal. Actually there is a lot happening. Your heart is beating, your lungs are breathing you, your cells are all doing their thing. Nothing happening is a thought. Leave all expectations behind.
Should I put my focus on something in particular during the practice?
Your mind will probably want to find a focus and try to surrender. But in surrenderwork there is no focus. There is only surrender.
How do I surrender?
Frame the practice with the exercises; then surrender. This can seem strange at first but stay with it. There really is nothing to do; send your willpower on holiday.