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The Weight of Attachment: How Emotional and Mental Clinging Disrupts Balance

Updated: Jan 23

As winter lingers, the frozen stillness invites us inward. Reflection begins in these quiet moments, where we find the courage to release what no longer serves us.
As winter lingers, the frozen stillness invites us inward. Reflection begins in these quiet moments, where we find the courage to release what no longer serves us.

As we begin to anticipate the arrival of spring, many of us may feel a lingering heaviness—not just in our homes and bodies but also in our minds. For me, this heaviness often manifests as emotional eating or holding onto possessions as a form of security. These patterns, rooted in attachment, have been my way of seeking stability in an often unstable world.


Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, teaches us that these attachments—called raga—create stagnation. This stagnation aligns with the Kapha dosha, which dominates during late winter and early spring. Heavy, wet, and sluggish, this season mirrors what we often feel internally.


For someone like me, who has faced significant instability—losing my mother at age 8, moving 43 times, and enduring various traumas, including deeply painful experiences that shaped my early years—attachment became a survival mechanism. I clung to food for comfort and to possessions for a sense of control and safety. While these behaviors helped me cope, they also created imbalance, a concept Ayurveda deeply understands.


In the Charaka Samhita, one of Ayurveda’s foundational texts, it’s written:

“Excessive attachment is one of the three primary causes of mental suffering.” (Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 1.54-1.55)

These words remind us that clinging to anything, even for comfort, can disturb our mind and body’s natural equilibrium.


Releasing the Layers of Excess

Strength emerges when we confront the layers we cling to. Through movement and mindfulness, we begin the process of letting go, one breath at a time.
Strength emerges when we confront the layers we cling to. Through movement and mindfulness, we begin the process of letting go, one breath at a time.

Spring is the season of renewal—a time to shed the layers of physical, emotional, and mental excess. Just as nature begins to melt away the snow and ice and unveil fresh blooms, we too can use spring as an opportunity to cleanse and rejuvenate.


For me, this process has involved recognizing and releasing the attachments that no longer serve me. Whether it’s letting go of clutter, finding healthier ways to cope with emotions, or forgiving myself for the instability I experienced in my childhood, I’ve learned that healing begins with letting go.


Stepping Out of Stagnation

Stepping onto the ice was an act of courage. The winds challenged my balance, the ice sang its song, and in the imperfection, I discovered strength.
Stepping onto the ice was an act of courage. The winds challenged my balance, the ice sang its song, and in the imperfection, I discovered strength.

Breaking free from attachment often requires stepping out of our comfort zones. Stagnation thrives when we remain in patterns that feel safe but ultimately hold us back. Whether it’s choosing familiar foods for comfort, holding onto possessions for security, or avoiding change altogether, these habits can keep us stuck.


Ayurveda reminds us that stagnation—both physical and mental—is a sign of imbalance, especially during Kapha season. To break this cycle, we must invite movement, both literally and figuratively. For me, stepping onto my frozen lake in winter has become a symbolic and literal way of confronting stagnation. The cold, the stillness of the ice, and the unfamiliarity of the experience challenge me to embrace discomfort and find strength in the process.


Stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be dramatic. It might mean trying a new yoga pose, journaling about an uncomfortable emotion, or releasing one small attachment each day. These acts of courage help create the momentum needed to shed stagnation and move toward balance.  


Guided Renewal: Yoga and Cleanse Offerings

Opening to renewal means embracing the present and letting transformation unfold. This is where the journey to balance begins.
Opening to renewal means embracing the present and letting transformation unfold. This is where the journey to balance begins.

I created three offerings to guide you through this process of renewal:


  • Spring Into Balance: Yoga to Release and Revitalize – A six-week yoga series starting March 3rd, designed to help you shed the layers of physical, mental, and emotional stagnation. Through movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, we’ll explore how to let go and embrace balance. Early bird pricing ends February 15th. Use coupon codes SPRINGBALANCE2025PM for Mondays at 6 PM or SPRINGBALANCE2025AM for Fridays at 8:30 AM. Through movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, we’ll explore how to let go and embrace balance.





  • Spring Reset: A Week of Cleansing and Renewal – A guided Ayurvedic cleanse in early April that combines nourishing foods, gentle practices, and daily inspiration to help you feel light, clear, and energized. Use coupon code SPRINGCLEANSE2025 by March 15th for early bird pricing. Click here to learn more and register.


    Bundle options available with the yoga series and cleanse for added savings. Use coupon code SPRING-BUNDLE2025 to save when registering for both the yoga series and cleanse.


  • Spring Awakening Retreat – On March 22nd, join me for an afternoon of renewal. This retreat features yoga, guided meditation, and discussions on seasonal Ayurvedic practices. It’s designed to help you shed winter stagnation and align with spring’s vibrant energy. Early bird pricing is available until February 15th.



These programs are inspired by my own journey of healing and are your invitation to step into spring renewed, revitalized, and ready to bloom.


Practical Tips for Renewal

Nourishment is simple yet powerful. Seasonal, grounding meals are a gift to your body, helping it release toxins and embrace balance.
Nourishment is simple yet powerful. Seasonal, grounding meals are a gift to your body, helping it release toxins and embrace balance.

Whether or not you join these programs, here are a few ways to begin your own renewal journey:


  1. Reflect and Release – Journal about attachments you feel ready to let go of, whether emotional, physical, or mental.

  2. Declutter Your Space – Start small. Let go of one item that no longer serves you each day.

  3. Eat for the Season – Incorporate light, warming foods like soups, greens, and spices to gently awaken your digestion (agni).



Embracing the Journey

The lake mirrors the journey within—a blend of stillness and movement. Balance comes not from perfection but from the willingness to step forward.
The lake mirrors the journey within—a blend of stillness and movement. Balance comes not from perfection but from the willingness to step forward.

Healing is never linear. For years, I struggled with emotional eating, clinging to possessions, and feeling ungrounded after moving so many times. But as I’ve embraced practices like yoga and Ayurveda, I’ve learned that balance is possible—even after years of imbalance.

As the Charaka Samhita reminds us:

“Mental factors like attachment and desires disturb the equilibrium of the doshas and can manifest as physical illnesses.” (Charaka Samhita, Sharirasthana 4.36)

This spring, I invite you to join me in letting go of the weight of attachment—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Together, we can honor the season’s energy of renewal and rediscover balance.


With much love and Namaste,

Jennifer



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