Understanding Discomfort: A Journey Toward Healing and Connection
- Vikky Santana
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Why Discomfort Happens
There are moments in life when something that should feel comforting… doesn’t.
A hug. A hand reaching out. A gentle touch. Even kind words or a tender gaze can stir up a reaction we didn’t expect—tension, anxiety, even discomfort.
And the first question that usually pops into our minds?
What’s wrong with me?
But here’s the truth most of us were never taught: There’s nothing wrong with you. There’s something speaking through you.
The Body’s Memory
Our bodies are brilliant. They store not just physical memories, but emotional ones too. That means even the most beautiful, innocent gesture can press on an old bruise you didn’t know was still there.
The body remembers being abandoned. It recalls being held too tightly or not at all. It remembers the pressure to perform and the pressure to keep it together. So when softness shows up, it doesn’t always know what to do with it.
This is especially true if you’re someone who has spent your life in a role—teacher, healer, parent, space-holder. You’ve given safety. You’ve been the anchor. But allowing yourself to receive safety? That might still feel foreign. Anything unfamiliar—even if it’s good—can feel uncomfortable.
Embracing Discomfort as a Sign of Life
So no, the discomfort isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a sign of aliveness. It’s your nervous system saying, “I need a moment to catch up to this.”
Yoga teaches us how to listen without judgment. When on the mat, we meet resistance with breath. We don’t force. We don’t flee. We feel. This same practice applies in everyday life. If connection feels tender, let it. Stay curious. Stay kind. Don’t rush to fix it.
Questions for Self-Reflection
Ask yourself:
What is this sensation teaching me?
Is this an old fear showing up in a new moment?
Can I sit with this without making myself wrong?
Healing doesn’t always look like ease. Sometimes it looks like awareness, like noticing the tremble before the trust. And that noticing? It’s sacred.
The Complexity of Emotion
Whether it’s a physical touch or an emotional one, you are allowed to feel complex things. You are allowed to have boundaries and longings. You are allowed to take your time.
True connection—the kind that heals—isn’t rushed. It’s chosen. Moment by moment. Breath by breath.
Remembering Your Worth
You’re not broken. You’re learning how to be held. And that’s a practice too.
Transformative Power of Yoga
With 37 years of practice and 14 years of teaching, I’ve spent my life unlearning the fluff and relearning how to make yoga work for real bodies.
I’m not your average yoga teacher—I curse, I keep it real, and I believe in honoring tradition while making yoga practical and powerful. My mission? To teach you how to build poses from the inside out, ditch the performative nonsense, and actually feel your practice.
Whether you’re a student or a teacher, I’m here to help you move smarter, breathe deeper, and push the f*cking mat away.
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