I frequently remind people in my class that he/she should not be feeling pain or discomfort while performing yoga.  But wouldn’t it be great if we could bring that same sense of ease to daily life.  First we need to determine what discomfort feels like.  I believe that so many of us have accepted pain and discomfort as a way of life.  We live by sayings like: “stay strong”, “live strong”, “don’t let anything get in your way”.  So we ignore our feelings of discomfort and keep going.  But what would happen if we recognized discomfort and pain, took pause, allowed ourselves to be curious about the discomfort, and then took action that led to more comfort?  What would our lives be like?

Now I know that many of you have chronic physical pain.  And you have probably tried many, many things to relieve that pain.  Visited doctors, specialists, massage, acupuncture, etc.  I know because I have heard many of your stories.  But I also hear and see the discomfort beyond the physical.  I see the emotional discomfort, I hear the stress and anxiety in your stories.  I see how consumed you are with trying to find answers.  And I see how your mind and body never stops or takes pause. 

The first step in relieving the discomfort, is to PAUSE when you recognize discomfort.  But you also must realize that this discomfort comes at unexpected times.  It is not just after standing too long or sitting to long or after lifting something heavy. 

You may notice discomfort when you hold back from saying something important about how you really feel to someone you love. 

You may notice discomfort after having a difficult conversation with a work colleague. 

You may notice discomfort from the heavy emotional burden that you are carrying.

You may notice discomfort in a memory.

Maybe some of you can notice discomfort in your mind, but many of us only feel discomfort in our bodies.  Pain is pain whether physical or emotional, we can experience it in the same way.  And the effects can be compounded as the discomfort is ignored rather that given attention.

So today I encourage you to take pause.  Take a few breaths.  Create stillness where you can really pay attention.  Allow yourself to be curious.  Take the path of comfort rather than discomfort.

Namaste,

Stephanie