No Pain, No Pain

In the early 2000’s I attended my first yoga teacher training and it was there I was introduced to this rule of yoga: “no pain, no pain.” It was a revelation! For many years worked out in the gym and was so familiar with another exercise rule “no pain, no gain.” As a type A personality I took that to mean that I couldn’t reach my fitness goals unless I experienced the pain of exercise, and that it was “okay” for my body to hurt.

Now I know better.

As we continue our series on “Rule of Yoga, Rules for Living,” let’s look at how Yoga approaches pain. First of all, we should remember that pain in life cannot be avoided. In fact, a famous saying from Buddhism is “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.” The Yoga tradition would agree! To live in a body in an uncertain world means that we will most certainly have pain—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The real question is,

What do we do with this pain?

Seeking pain in order to prove a point or garner sympathy is not a skillful way to live. Recognizing that pain is a natural part of life, however, puts us in the right place to be curious and open to whatever that pain is able to reveal to us.

Is it pain from difficult relationships? Perhaps we need to know ourselves better and respect ourselves more.

Does the pain come from not enjoying how you spend your days? It’s time to explore your purpose for being and embark on your chosen path.

Are you in pain because you have misused, abused or misjudged your own body? Back off, breathe, and live within your body’s limited abilities.

All of these are examples of “no pain, no pain,” because when we acknowledge the presence of pain in our life and pay attention to its messages, its ability to cause suffering is diminished or dissolved. And then we are left with more meaningful information for this human journey.

Give it a try today. No matter what form the pain takes, remind yourself “no pain, no pain,” stop, listen, receive. This is just another way that Yoga brings peace to body and mind