Embracing Discomfort—Training Your Brain and Body for Resilience
The way I see Hatha Yoga, and the way I teach it, is pretty simple: It’s the practice of deliberately doing difficult things, on purpose, and while you’re doing them, learning to meet the difficulty without fighting it. It’s not about forcing yourself through pain, but about developing the ability to stay steady and find some sense of ease, even when you’re under pressure. That’s been one of the most important lessons yoga has taught me, not just on the mat, but in life.
Because the truth is, life will absolutely throw some hard times at you. Illness, heartbreak, loss, none of us are getting through this life without taking some hits. And those external challenges are often outside of our control. But the inner noise? The stuff we do to ourselves, the negative loops we replay in our heads, the junk we consume, the people we keep around who drag us down, the way we talk to ourselves — that’s the part we can influence. That’s the part yoga helps us face.
The old texts talk about suffering, but in today’s language, I prefer calling it dissatisfaction or ‘dis-ease’, that sense of being unsettled in your own skin. And here’s the thing: the fact that you can even feel that sense of dis-ease is a gift, because it means you know something’s off. It means you’re awake enough to want something better. That sensitivity can hurt, but it’s also a doorway.
Before I found meditation and yoga, my way of dealing with that discomfort was to numb it. Drugs, alcohol, meaningless relationships, anything to take the edge off. And of course, numbing doesn’t fix anything. It just buries the problem deeper until it starts leaking out into every part of your life, making everything heavier, messier, more overwhelming. When you spend all your energy avoiding the truth, you leave yourself no energy to actually change it.
That’s where Hatha Yoga comes in.
Hatha Yoga is a path to clarity. It’s about deliberately leaning into challenge, not to punish yourself, but to strengthen your ability to be with your experience, without running from it. It’s a practice of training your body and mind to hold steady, not just when things feel good, but when life gets heavy.
Yes, there are times your practice will be a refuge, a calm place to land when your mind’s a mess. But if yoga is working the way it’s meant to, it’s not about escaping reality or floating off into some spiritual cliché. It’s about building the courage and resilience to face your reality, especially when it’s uncomfortable, especially when it’s messy, and staying present through it all.
Where’s The Science?
Florida International University neuroscientists have shown that controlled physical stress, from challenging the body physically, actually reprograms our pain receptors, teaching the brain to perceive discomfort as opportunity, not threat (FIU Study, 2024).
Why It Matters
Mental Toughness: Each intentional dose of discomfort expands your “tolerance window,” so life’s unexpected stressors feel more manageable.
Pain Management: Shifting perception can reduce chronic pain by altering neural pathways.
Empowerment: Mastering small challenges carries over into confidence at work, home, and on the mat.
How to Practice
Intensity Intervals: After a yoga flow, add 3–5 “all-out” body-weight yogi -squats or push-ups at 80–90% effort. Notice the heat build, then breathe through it.
Mindful Pause: When discomfort peaks, pause your movement, close your eyes, and note the sensations in your body without judgment.
I have used these techniques with my own practice and others I teach, and hey work.
Join me in class this month to sample these ideas in a controlled, safe and accessible space. Everyone can join, just commit to yourself and the mat and reach out for details of my new class schedule.
Thanks for being here,
Stuart