How often do you feel yourself hitting your edge, yet you still try to push through?
When I teach Yin Yoga, I often remind my students that in any pose, we go only to our first edge — the initial point of resistance — and we stay there. We sit with what is, and watch how it changes with time.
This is a contrast to our cultural conditioning, which tells us to “push through.”
As I tell my students, this practice isn’t limited to poses on the mat; it applies equally off the mat. In fact, the practice of yoga is simply a practice for real life.
Exhaustion has a way of creeping up on me when I least expect it. One minute, I feel like I’m keeping up with everything, and the next, it’s like I’ve slammed into a brick wall.
This has been especially true over the past few months and recent weeks: first I was dealing with being thrown off my normal ADHD meds, then my grandma had a stroke and died. It’s been a whirlwind.
Anyone would feel fatigued under these circumstances. In the past, I would likely revert to old habits of pushing through to get more done.
But I’ve learned my lesson and try to practice what I teach.
I know that pushing through, even in the name of “productivity,” never ends well. It only leads to irritability, frustration, and burnout. It leaves me in a state where I’m no good to anyone—including myself.
This is where the practice of yin yoga comes off the mat. The reason we push through is to escape the discomfort of what’s really there: the exhaustion, the grief, the feeling of futility. But it’s only by sitting with what arises that we can truly move through it.
Taking the time to rest, even when it feels like I should keep going, is essential for my well-being and for staying grounded in everything I do.
Self-care is a commitment to recognizing when enough is enough. By honoring my body’s need for rest, I can show up better for myself and everyone around me, with more energy, patience, and focus.
It’s good to remember that tomorrow is a chance to start again with a fresh body and a fresh mind.
[…] your body is telling you to stop or slow down, listen. Forcing yourself to push through when you’re emotionally and physically depleted can create a negative association with exercise, […]