THE BRUTAL TRUTH ABOUT PAIN IN YOGA
NEWSFLASH: Your Yoga Teacher Might Be Lying to You
And it's time we talk about it.
I'm about to blow up everything you think you know about yoga. Ready?
If your yoga practice hurts, you're doing it wrong.
Period. Full stop. End of story.
I see you rolling your eyes. "But Eva, isn't yoga supposed to be challenging?"
NOPE. That's the biggest myth in wellness, and it's literally destroying bodies.
THE BRUTAL TRUTH ABOUT PAIN IN YOGA
Here's what the Instagram yoga influencers won't tell you: Pain is NOT part of yoga.
I don't care how many followers they have or how pretty their poses look. If you're gritting your teeth through warrior pose thinking "this is supposed to hurt," you've been LIED to.
Pain = Your body screaming "STOP!" Sensation = Your body whispering "Listen..."
There's a massive difference, and confusing the two is why so many people think yoga "isn't for them."
WHY "PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN" IS TOXIC BS
When you force your body into pain, here's what actually happens:
Your nervous system hits the panic button
Muscles clamp down like a vice
Breath gets shallow and stressed
Your body goes into full defense mode
This isn't healing. This is trauma.
And for my fellow healthcare warriors? You're already carrying enough stress. Your body doesn't need MORE punishment disguised as "self-care."
WHAT REAL YOGA FEELS LIKE ✨ ✨
Real Talk..... Yoga should feel GOOD.
Revolutionary concept, right? 🙄
Real yoga is:
Supportive, not sadistic
Adaptive to YOUR body TODAY (not some Instagram ideal)
Grounded in safety (wild idea, I know)
Breath-centered (not ego-centered)
Healing, not harming
The research backs this up: Gentle, trauma-informed yoga therapy actually reduces chronic pain, lowers blood pressure, and improves mobility. All without the medieval torture approach.
MY THREE NON-NEGOTIABLE RULES
In my yoga classes and therapy sessions, I have THREE SACRED RULES that change everything:
RULE #1: Pain is never part of yoga. It should never create pain OR increase pain that already lives in your body. Ever.
RULE #2: No squishy faces allowed. Why? Because if you're making a squishy face, you're holding your breath, tensing your body, or forcing yourself into a version of the pose that your body is telling you isn't right for you today.
RULE #3: If you fall out of a pose, you MUST smile and return. This isn't about perfection—it's about playfulness, self-compassion, and trying again.
These rules create psychological safety where real healing can happen.
YOGA FOR NON-BENDY PEOPLE (AKA REAL HUMANS)
This is my hill, and I'm dying on it: Yoga isn't about touching your toes.
It's about:
Connecting with your nervous system
Learning your body's actual signals
Creating patterns that support YOUR life
Feeling better, not broken
I call it Yoga for Non-Bendy People because it's built for:
Real bodies (not perfect ones)
Real lives (not Instagram lives)
Real stress (not manufactured drama)
YOUR BODY DESERVES SAFETY
Here's your new mantra: "Pain is not part of yoga. My body deserves safety."
Say it louder for the people in the back.
Next time you're in any movement practice, ask yourself: "Does this feel supportive, or does it feel like punishment?"
Choose support. Every. Single. Time. 🧡🧡🧡
That's where real healing begins.
Ready to experience yoga that doesn't suck?
Join the Yoga for Non-Bendy People community where:
Pain is NEVER the goal
Feeling better ALWAYS is
Your body gets the respect it deserves
Squishy faces are banned 😊
Your nervous system will thank you.
