When You Want to Cancel : the science of resistance

You wake up.

Your body feels heavy.

Your brain is already chattering, offering a hundred reasons why today’s class, or walk, gym day, or journal time isn’t a good idea after all.

You’re too tired.

You didn’t sleep well.

It won’t make a difference, anyway.

... Sound familiar?

This moment when you want to cancel on yourself before the day even begins is more than just laziness or lack of motivation. It’s resistance.

And understanding resistance, with both compassion and clarity, might be the key to meeting yourself more fully this season.

Why We Resist What Nourishes Us

Resistance is a nervous system response, not a character flaw. It’s the body’s way of protecting us from perceived threat. “Threat,” in this case, can mean anything that feels like effort, change, exposure, or uncertainty. Even things that are good for us, like movement or mindfulness, can trigger that protective mechanism.

This is especially true if you’re healing from burnout, anxiety, trauma, or grief.

The brain has learned that doing less feels safer, even if it's no longer serving you.

Neuroscience tells us the amygdala (the brain’s emotional alarm center) can flag even mildly challenging tasks as dangerous if we're already dysregulated. Add in the brain’s tendency to crave the dopamine hit of short-term comfort (like staying in bed or scrolling your phone), and you’ve got a perfect storm: the moment you most need your practice is often the moment it feels hardest to begin.

In Yogic Terms: Tamas and the Pull of Inertia

Yoga gives us language for this, too. In the philosophy of the gunas, tamas is the quality of inertia, heaviness, and stagnation. It’s not bad, it’s just part of the natural cycle of life. We all move through tamasic states, especially during seasonal transitions, hormonal shifts, or emotional processing.

But when tamas dominates, it can keep us stuck. It whispers, “Don’t bother. Stay here. You’ll never change.” And it feels so convincing.

The goal isn’t to fight tamas. It’s to meet it with gentleness and invite just enough movement to shift the energy. Think: cracking open a window, not tearing down the walls.

What If Resistance is Trying to Help?

Here’s a reframe: what if resistance is actually trying to protect you?

That part of you that wants to cancel isn’t bad. It’s scared. It may be remembering past failure, anticipating discomfort, or trying to prevent shame. Instead of bulldozing through it, try pausing and asking: “What are you trying to protect me from right now?” This kind of inquiry is a practice of svadhyaya, or self-study. It invites us to meet our inner resistance with curiosity rather than criticism.

How to Show Up Anyway (With Love, Not Force)

When resistance shows up, here are some ways to push through without pushing yourself over the edge:

• Lower the bar. If the full class feels too much, commit to just rolling out your mat. Five minutes is still practice. Or how about a shorter video from our video library?

• Pre-decide. Lay out your clothes the night before. Pre-book the class. Automate the start so your sleepy brain doesn’t get a vote.

• Use your body as a guide. Before you cancel, place one hand on your heart or belly and take three slow breaths. Ask your body (not your thoughts!) what it really needs.

• Redefine success. Success isn’t a perfect class or deep meditation. It’s showing up for yourself in any small, honest way.

The Bigger Picture: Resistance Will Return

You will feel resistance again. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. In fact, it often means you're growing.

The key is not to eliminate resistance, but rather to learn how to dance with it. To let it be there without letting it decide for you. And to remember that every time you show up anyway, you’re rewriting a story about what’s possible for you.

Try This: A Journal Prompt

Next time you feel the urge to cancel on yourself, pause and ask:

“What am I really needing right now? How might I meet that need with kindness rather than avoidance?”

And if that feels like too much? Just breathe. You’re already in practice.