I recently subbed a gentle yoga class at the studio where I teach. Two of my regular students, who usually like more vigorous flow came to class. They know my style of gentle is still going to give them movement.
But because of the mix of students in that class, I was more gentle than usual.
Even though I gave options for how to make the practice more intense for anyone who wanted, I was worried they might have felt it wasn’t enough.
After class, they said it was perfect for what they needed that day. They were sore from a hard workout the day before and the practice I offered helped them move in a way that felt nourishing.
Cultural conditioning about “no pain, no gain” can lead us to dismiss gentle movement as “not enough.” As if the only worthwhile practice is one that leaves us depleted and dripping with sweat.
In fact many people falsely believe that sweating is a sign of a “good workout,” even though you can sweat merely by being in a hot room.
Given this context, it’s easy to dismiss gentle movement with a “why bother?” attitude.
I catch myself in this mindset too — if I’m not going to go hard, why even get up off the couch?
But gentle movement serves a purpose beyond just “taking it easy.” Those lighter days help maintain the rhythm of your routine when you might otherwise feel like doing nothing. They keep you connected to your body and your practice. A gentle practice can also be a good form of active recovery, as my yoga students recognized.
Sometimes the power move is knowing when to dial it back.
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