Sh*t your yoga teacher says: “If you think this pose is hard, it’s because it is.”
If you’ve been taking classes at YES for a while now, you know we don’t consider ourselves one of those “trick” yoga studios. However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t teach hard poses.
Whether it’s holding a balancing pose like half-moon or even standing splits, or a deep twist like revolved triangle - the challenge in these poses isn’t a reflection of the lack of whatever skill we thought we needed, it’s because they are f*cking hard to do. The pose itself is innately challenging.
I’d like to go ahead and raise my hand first about how I tend to self-deprecate or even dismiss the fact that I’m fully capable of doing the pose. As a business owner, mom, wife, woman, etc…I am constantly presented with tasks that seem daunting, and it’s so easy to sabotage myself before I even get started. Here’s the difference - saying, “I can’t do it” or saying, “this is going to be hard, but I’m going to try to do it anyway.”
In her book, "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," psychologist Angela Duckworth explores the concept of grit—perseverance and passion for long-term goals. She argues that grit is a better predictor of success than talent or intelligence alone. And what better way to cultivate grit than by embracing the challenge of the hard pose?
Research supports this notion. Studies have shown that facing and overcoming difficult tasks builds resilience and adaptability. Each time we step onto our mats and confront the hard poses, we're not just strengthening our bodies; we're fortifying our minds.
As Rosabeth Moss Kanter said, "It doesn't get easier; you just get stronger." The journey of growth is not linear; it's fraught with setbacks and moments of doubt. But with each challenge conquered, we become more resilient, more adaptable. We carry this resilience with us, applying it to every facet of our lives.
This is also why I love the discussion how how yoga off our mat works. It’s about mindset. The willingness to embrace difficulty with grace and determination. Because life is going to continue to be challenging, and poses will keep being hard.
Embrace the challenge on and off the mat with a “I know this will be hard, but I’m going to do it anyway” and start to see how courageous, capable, and strong you become!