On Resistance

Movement and practice - both involve an experience of resistance.

What is Resistance?

Resistance is the force that arises the moment intention does - the intention to move, or to engage in practice.

It doesn’t show up until the intention arises, but as sure as pushing on a wall makes it push back, this resistance appears.

The moment you desired, the universe began pushing back.

It’s not an evil force. It’s just a property of the universe; by other names we might call it inertia, or homeostasis.

Work Through Resistance.

Movement practice gives us a container to work with this abstract idea - to develop the taste to recognize these moments and the capacity to work through them.

Because to grow and evolve, we MUST work through them. There’s no other vector of meaningful development.

When you want to skip a session, the mind will construct so many rationalizations.
These are the voice of resistance, and the trouble is it often speaks in “truth”.

Yes, you are sore.
Yes, you didn’t sleep well.
Yes, the dishes need washing and there is an unread book on the shelf and a full inbox.

All true.

But the mind has a skill for turning truths into self-deception, the most destructive lie.

Because you can modify your practice session.
Because the dishes and books and emails will wait.
Because practicing tired is just as powerful, or moreso.

The Gift of Resistance

Let’s leave the demonizing to the storybooks: in truth, resistance is a gift.

If there was no property of inertia in the universe, lifting weight couldn’t make your muscles stronger.

If there was no property of friction, taking a step wouldn’t move you forward.

And without this resistance, showing up for your session day after day couldn’t transform you.