For most of my life, I held onto control like a compass, believing that if I planned enough, prepared enough, or structured things just right, I could steer my life exactly where I wanted it to go. Control made me feel safe—it gave me a sense of stability in a world that often felt unpredictable.

But then, life threw me into a moment where control wasn’t an option. I was going through a divorce, a transition that unraveled the plans I had so carefully constructed. Suddenly, the life I thought I had mapped out no longer existed, and I was left facing something I wasn’t prepared for: uncertainty. At first, I resisted, trying to keep everything together. But the harder I gripped, the more exhausting it became.

And then, something shifted.

I let go. Just a little. Then a little more.

It wasn’t instant. It wasn’t easy. And it was messy at times. But with each moment of surrender, I started to feel something unexpected: freedom.

That freedom showed up in ways I never imagined. In movement. In laughter. In rediscovering the parts of myself I had hidden behind the illusion of control. I had spent so many years sheltering the world from my quirks, my silliness, my full, authentic self. And as I slowly let go, those pieces of me found their way back.

And somewhere in that process, Rising Goddess Fitness was born.

I didn’t start RGF with a mission statement. I didn’t have a perfectly polished vision. I just knew how freeing it felt to move without restraint, without expectation. I knew how it felt to let go and to trust myself. And I wanted others to feel that too.

As time unfolded, the studio’s mission became clear: 

Awaken Your Authentic Self.

Let go of the things that hold you back—whatever they are. The self-doubt. The fear. The weight of expectations. The belief that you’re not strong enough or ready enough or enough in any way. Let them go and connect to the version of you that’s been there all along, waiting to be set free.

At RGF, I see this every day. I see it in the student who giggles at themselves after a wobbly attempt at a move. I see it in the one who finally trusts their body enough to go upside down. I see it in the moment a student walks through the doors after a hard day and gives themselves permission to just be.

Letting go looks like this.

It looks like trust. It looks like movement. It looks like stepping into the unknown and realizing you’re stronger than you ever thought possible.

And just like my journey, it’s not a one-time thing. It’s a cycle—a constant awakening and reawakening. Because as we move through life, new challenges arise, and new versions of ourselves emerge. The practice of letting go isn’t about never feeling fear, doubt, or uncertainty again. It’s about choosing, every day, to release what no longer serves us and to step boldly into who we are becoming.

So, what does letting go look like for you?

💙 Michelle