Stepping outside of your comfort zone
Let your yoga practice help you learn to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable”
I first heard the quote, “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable” back when I was doing exercise DVD’s (remember those??) and was attempting to add yoga to my day. I started with a beginner yoga video produced by Jillian Michaels, a well-known personal trainer in the online exercise world. She was a tough task-master and I have her stern voice imprinted in my mind as she encouraged us not to give in to that little voice telling us “I can’t do that” or “I’m not flexible enough”.
To be very clear, I firmly believe that no one should do anything that causes pain or too much discomfort. You know your body best. But what this reminds us to do is to start reaching outside of our very small comfort zones. Often our desire to stay comfortable stops us before we even try. It’s our brain resisting anything different.
What is a “comfort zone”? When you engage in the same activities, and hold onto the same beliefs, behaviours, relationships and habits (whether or not they’re healthy for you) you create this net of safety around yourself that becomes a comfort zone. Everything outside that circle of safety seems a little scary and you resist going out “there”.
We will do anything to avoid feeling uncomfortable. That’s why people often stay in relationships and careers that no longer make them happy or feel challenging.
There’s nothing wrong with any of this if you are feeling perfectly content and happy with your life. But if you want to grow or change, then unless you dip your toe outside of that safe boundary you’ve created you’ll never get where you want to go.
Getting in touch with and starting to listen to your body is one of the first steps in learning what you are truly capable of. Here are some ways that mind/body practices, particularly slow mindful yoga, can help you take those first brave steps.
Practicing yoga helps you be present. Our brains, left unchecked, habitually go to the past for information about how to live our days. If you’re continuing to tell yourself that old story that you don’t know enough, aren’t strong enough, don’t have enough money, etc. to do what you want, you’ll firmly stay planted in your comfort zone. On the other hand, if you go to the future and start the “what if….” cycle of worry, you’ll again keep yourself stuck. Becoming present is the key, and your practice is key in helping you stay present.
Yoga stretches your body and your mind. When you regularly choose to tune into your body with interoceptive awareness and feel your body and mind stretch, you’ll begin to notice changes in how long you can hold poses and how they make you feel. Your practice will deepen, and with that you’ll develop the awareness that it’s possible to change.
Learn to move your body in new ways. Experiment with trying different versions of the same pose to see how each feels. For example, try child’s pose in the wide-legged version and play with putting your arms in different positions. The brain loves novelty and the best way to make changes in the brain is to offer it new ways to do things. Try adding a mantra or some affirmations to your practice. Moving with intention will help you get more determined.
Use your breath. Play with your inhales and exhales while in meditation or while moving in a yoga flow. Try counting your breath and seeing if you can pause between inhales and exhales. Never strain yourself or “hold” your breath so that you become hungry for air, just play with lengthening and slowing down.
Write in your journal. The best time to write in your journal is just after a yoga or meditation practice. Write down all your thoughts and ask yourself where you are keeping yourself safe in your comfort zone and where you’re ready to try stretching a little. Once you’ve identified a “stretch zone” then it’s time to develop a plan, one little turtle step at a time, to move toward your goal.
Leaving your comfort zone can be really scary and you’ll likely find that you may take a tiny step forward, and then quickly retreat, but I urge you to keep trying. It won’t be easy, but it will be well worth the effort.
Take the journey within, explore new limits, and watch the world open up around you!
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I’d love to hear from you so please send any comments or questions to me at sharon@sharonashtonmindfulyoga.com. Feel free to share this email with anyone else who may be interested.
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