In physics, inertia is an object’s tendency to stay still unless acted upon by a force.

In Yoga philosophy, we call it Tamas – one of the three qualities of nature.

Tamas is slow, heavy, dull, sleepy. It’s the foggy brain, the unwashed hair and wearing pyjama pants all day.

It’s not laziness. It’s not failure. It’s just…stuckness.

In nervous system language, it’s part of the Freeze response – the body’s primal reaction to overwhelm.

When your system has been in stress-mode (fight/flight) for too long, it can shut down completely to conserve energy.

It’s not weakness, laziness or lack of discipline. It’s biology.

It’s not a mindset problem.

It’s not a motivation problem.

It’s a nervous system needing LOVE, not lectures.

This might sound strange coming from a Yoga teacher, but I don’t always feel like doing Yoga either.

Especially in winter.

Or when I’m tired.

Or when I just want to slump on the lounge.

But here’s the truth: I NEVER regret doing it.

And I ALWAYS feel better after, even if I only do a few poses.

The best way to overcome inertia and come out of the freeze response is to start small (we don’t need more overwhelm).

Instead of doing a 60-minute Yoga class, just sit on your Yoga mat and do ONE pose for a minute.

Sometimes we adopt this “all or nothing” approach, and we mistakenly think that if we can’t do a full hour class, then it’s not worth doing anything.

That’s just not true.

Two minutes of Yoga is better than nothing.

It doesn’t need to be complicated.

Simple movements in time with the breath work best for a nervous system stuck in freeze.

Think:

  • lying on your back and rolling your knees side to side like windscreen wipers
  • cat and cow with your breath
  • gentle rocking back and forth from child’s pose to gentle plank

If I waited until I felt motivated to do Yoga I would have done TWO sessions in the last year.

After my mastectomy, I had problems with my sternum, collarbones, spine and skull – I was in constant pain and had a severe headache most days.

I had NO motivation to do anything.

But I remembered that SOMETHING is better than nothing.

And that nothing changes if nothing changes.

Motivation is unreliable. It comes and goes.

Instead, I made sure to leave my Yoga mats rolled out (I have three, one in my office, one in the bedroom and one in the lounge).

And every time I walked past my Yoga mat, it was a loving nudge to get back on my mat.

There was no pressure to do anything.

I think half the battle is just getting on the mat.