Yoga isn't always comfortable
Yoga has taught me that growth often begins in the moments of unease, in the poses we resist or the breath we forget.
When Comfort isn’t the goal
Yoga isn’t meant to make you feel comfortable or happy all the time. Especially when you’re new to it. The practice invites deep observation and honest reflection. It can bring up anger, sadness, excitement, or lightness, sometimes all at once.
Beyond the misconceptions
Many people misunderstand yoga as a purely gentle, relaxing practice without right or wrong. Or they mistake it for calisthenics. But true yoga, especially in the Iyengar tradition, challenges both body and mind, and there are indeed ways to do it wrong. The practice can deliver messages that aren’t pleasant. A pose may feel physically demanding or emotionally intense. I’ve had asanas stir fear, frustration, or even pain, sometimes not during the pose itself, but afterwards. Often this was because my muscles weren’t used to the stretch, or my mind resisted something new.
Precision matters
I hear the same from students who first attempt Śīrṣāsana, headstand.Done without guidance or preparation, it can indeed be unsafe, you can get hurt. That’s why careful alignment, patient repetition, precision and clear instruction are crucial. Each pose must be learned gradually and with full attention. Over time, persistence transforms challenge into ease. Strangely enough, the poses we avoid the most are usually the ones we need the most.
The Teacher Who Changed Everything
I still remember my very first yoga class, how frustrated I felt when the teacher offered little direction and moved too quickly. I didn’t want to do it again.
Later, in my first Iyengar class in Vancouver with Eve, everything changed. She was in her sixties, calm, smiling, and deeply grounded. Under her gentle authority, we all practiced with focus and respect. Her presence transformed my attitude toward yoga. I started to have a gentler approach towards my body, and life itself.
More than a decade later, I see how that consistency has reshaped me. I’m stronger,steadier, and my practice continues to evolve.
Always learning
In my own practice, I still make mistakes. Sometimes I rush into a pose, force a movement, or forget to breathe. I don’t always listen when my body tells me to stop or ease off. And that’s okay, it’s all part of the journey.
Teaching moments
When I teach, I try my best to sense what my students might be feeling or needing inthe room. I notice it in their faces or eyes when something feels too intenseor too easy. I love when students feel comfortable enough to share that they’re afraid of a pose or feeling weak. In those moments, I encourage them to try a variation or simply to approach the pose with curiosity rather than judgment.Yoga isn’t a competition or a test, it’s a practice. Mistakes are welcome;progress comes through patience. When nothing else works, I remind them to return to their breath.
In Iyengar yoga, consistency is everything. It helps us confront our fears,strengthen our bodies, and awaken courage. Because yes, yoga requires courage.You have to show up; the rest unfolds naturally. “Trust the process” isn’t just a saying, it’s a truth discovered through experience.
Where the real practice begins
As my mentor Louie used to remind us: Yoga is not a sprint — it’s a marathon. And marathons aren’t always comfortable either.
So, the next time you step on the mat, don’t aim to feel good. Aim to feel, and to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Because that’s where the real practice begins.
Lise is the founder of vayamyoga in Bern, Switzerland.She is a dedicated yoga practitioner and a certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor(Level 1).