Negativity Bias and Learned Disuse in Yoga
When we repeatedly avoid poses that feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or beyond our reach, we gradually lose access to them—not because we’re incapable, but because the brain and body adapt to the lack of engagement. Neural pathways weaken. Muscles switch off. What was once a hesitation becomes a habit, and that habit becomes our new normal. It’s not a lack of ability—it’s a lack of opportunity.
This can be worsened by curated social media images and high-performance narratives that prioritise flexibility and aesthetics over function and feeling. They create a kind of learned helplessness—a sense that yoga is only for certain kinds of bodies or abilities. It isn’t.
In yoga, negativity bias often shows up as a subtle inner voice pointing out what we can’t do—where we wobble, where we’re tight, or how far we think we fall short. It’s easy to focus on these perceived flaws, yet this focus distorts reality. We forget to notice the quiet triumphs: the breath that deepens, the joint that moves more freely, or the sense of calm that follows practice.
But negativity bias doesn’t act alone. It has a quiet companion—learned disuse.
Yoga teachers play a vital role here. When we skip essential preparatory work, rush through progressions, or fail to read the room, we unintentionally reinforce disconnection and disuse. Students need permission to explore gradually, to feel into poses without the pressure of performance.
So what helps?
Start small. Stay curious. Build gradually, even if you are an experienced practitioner.
Return to what you can feel, what you can do. From there, more is always possible.
More Insights