Movement for Real Life
A Monthly Wellness Feature / June 2026
By Petra Lehman-Brauer
Owner – Create Power Yoga
Discomfort is Not Always Bad
Let’s be honest:we don’t like feeling uncomfortable.
Nervous? Just cancel. Bored? Scroll your phone. A tense conversation? Change the subject or walk away entirely. Our culture has taught us that discomfort is a problem to be solved and something we should never have to experience.
But discomfort isn’t the enemy. Discomfort is a sign that we are learning, being curious, and growing.
In yoga, we talk about positive discomfort as tapas (TAH-pahs), a Sanskrit word that translates to “heat” or “discipline.” We experience tapas in the willingness to stay present with sensations that aren’t necessarily pleasant, because we know that’s where change happens. I talk about this as “positive discomfort” in my teaching.
The Problem With Running Away
Most of us are experts at avoidance. We dodge hard feelings, difficult conversations, and distract ourselves from moments of grief or vulnerability. And it makes sense – no one wants to feel anxious, awkward, or uncomfortable.
But here’s the thing: running away from or constantly avoiding discomfort doesn’t make it go away. It actually makes it worse over time. Always avoiding hard feelings or hard tasks can actually increase anxiety and make it harder to cope with life’s inevitable challenges when they do arrive.
The refusal to feel discomfort, it turns out, is often a bigger problem than the discomfort itself.
Discomfort is where we learn
Think about the last time you learned something new. Maybe it was a new craft, listening to another person’s point of view, or even just finding your way around an unfamiliar city. It probably didn’t feel great or smooth in the moment. You might have felt awkward, unsure, or even embarrassed.
But those feelings? That was learning happening. Just like physical growing pains, we literally cannot grow and change without it feeling … uncomfortable.
Practicing discomfort
You don’t need to do yoga to practice tapas. You just need to practice being unsure and/or uncomfortable sometimes. Think of it as discomfort exposure therapy.
Here are a few everyday spots where you can get used to squirming a bit in a positive way:
Staying in a hard conversation. Instead of shutting down or walking away, you notice the tension in your chest and choose to keep listening.
Exploring a new movement. Does that new stretch have a new sensation that tells you you’re doing something,, or is it pain? Is your body unable to do a new movement, or are you psyching yourself out? Trying a new movement is scary, but the more you try, the less scary it gets each time.
Trying something new. Signing up for a class when you don’t know what to expect. Show up despite the “what-ifs.”
Next time you feel the urge to avoid something uncomfortable and hard, try this:
- Name it. Say to yourself: “This is anxiety.” “This is how a stretch feels.” “This is fear.” Just naming it creates a little space to explore more.
- Breathe into it. Notice where you feel the sensation in your body. Your chest? Your stomach? Your throat? Send your breath there – not to make it go away, but to be curious about how you feel.
- Get curious. Wonder: “Maybe X will happen, and maybe it won’t – can I keep going and find out?”
In a world where there’s a product or person telling you that all the bumps of life can be smoothed away (for the low low cost of …), know that discomfort isn’t the scary thing our culture makes it out to be. It’s not punishment. It’s information. Being in discomfort makes us more resilient, and ready to handle whatever hard things lie ahead.
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About the Author
Petra Lehman-Brauer has been teaching yoga to students of all levels since 2013. She owns Create Power Yoga in Rumford, RI, where her mission is to create a space where students feel safe, supported, and empowered in their practice; where yoga isn’t about perfection, but about showing up, exploring, and building a deeper relationship with yourself.
Do you have a question or a Yoga – Health & Wellness topic you would like to see Petra cover? If so, email: Info@EastProvHospitality.com with “Create Power Yoga” in the subject line.
