It’s back-to-school time where I live. This morning, I noticed more cars passing outside, a familiar sign that routines are beginning to shift. For many of us, this season brings changes to our daily schedules.
I am someone who finds comfort in routine. I like to plan ahead and follow my plan. So, when my routine changes unexpectedly, I can feel unsettled. It is almost as if my body resists adapting to the change.
Resistance is the act of fighting against, opposing, or trying to stop something. Sometimes it appears in the body, and sometimes it arises in the mind.
When a Push Becomes Too Much
I often notice physical resistance when I take a high-intensity fitness class. I enjoy the instructor’s energy and encouragement. It can motivate me to keep going. But if I am already at my edge and working hard, one more push can bring me close to my breaking point.
Perhaps the intention is to help us discover that we are capable of more than we think in our head. Yet there is a difference between gently exploring our limits and forcing ourselves beyond what we can safely hold.
Resistance can also be mental and emotional.
I once worked on a team project with someone who was new and wanted to change the way we handled things. The rest of us felt threatened by the proposed changes, as if we needed to defend ourselves. Trust, cooperation, and harmony began to fade, and our progress slowed considerably. The experience was mentally draining for everyone.
Finding the Edge
In yoga, I often invite students to explore their edge. The edge is where we meet resistance with awareness. It is a place where we can pause, breathe slowly, and stay curious about what we are experiencing.
The edge is the sweet spot of the practice—not completely comfortable, but still steady and manageable. It is not about pushing ourselves all the way to the breaking point. When we force the body or mind beyond its limit, something may eventually snap.
Experiencing resistance is not necessarily a bad thing. It is part of being human. Resistance often appears because the body and mind are trying to protect us and help us feel safe inside. Instead of treating it as something to overcome, we can receive it as a signal to slow down, pause, and listen.
The edge is where the struggle can begin to soften.
Listening Instead of Forcing
On the mat, an instructor may suggest a posture or movement that does not feel right for your body. You may immediately notice tension or resistance. Rather than blindly following the instruction, you can slow down and adjust the posture until it feels more supportive.
When you find an alignment that allows you to feel steady, breathe freely, and use the right amount of effort, then you have found your edge. You are no longer fighting against your experience. You are listening, responding, and becoming more connected to yourself.
Perhaps this is what resistance can teach us. Not every obstacle needs to be pushed through. Sometimes we simply need to pause long enough to find a gentler way inward and forward.