Why Stillness Feels Uncomfortable—and How Yoga Can Help You Reclaim It

Why You Might Struggle with Silence and Stillness

If you've ever felt restless in meditation, fidgety during Savasana, or like you just can’t sit still—you’re not alone. Stillness can be deeply uncomfortable, especially if your body has been wired to see silence as a form of punishment rather than peace.

Whether you’re exploring yoga for stress relief or learning how to meditate for the first time, this article will help you understand why stillness feels difficult—and how yoga can gently rewire your relationship with quiet.

How Childhood Shapes Our Relationship to Silence

Many of us were taught early on that stillness equals discipline. Maybe you were told to “be quiet” in school or “go sit still” when you were upset. In these moments, silence didn’t feel like rest—it felt like rejection, or even shame.

Research supports this. Childhood development experts like Dr. Bruce Perry have shown that when silence is enforced as punishment, it can activate the body’s stress response. Over time, we may associate stillness with discomfort or even emotional threat.

As adults, we carry these imprints with us—especially when we try to meditate, slow down, or find calm. It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong. It’s just that your nervous system hasn’t yet learned that stillness can be safe.

The Consequences of Avoiding Stillness

If you’re constantly filling your day with noise, scrolling, or staying busy just to avoid being alone with your thoughts—you’re not alone. Many people who struggle with anxiety or chronic stress report feeling unsafe in silence.

But without making space for rest, our bodies and minds begin to burn out. Sleep gets disrupted. Stress builds. Our patience wears thin. We feel disconnected from ourselves.

The good news? It doesn’t have to stay this way.

How Yoga Can Help You Rewire Your Nervous System

Yoga and mindfulness offer a gentle way to rebuild your relationship with stillness. By connecting movement with breath, yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of your biology responsible for rest and recovery. This creates a foundation of safety in your body.

A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that regular yoga practice reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), improves emotional regulation, and increases tolerance for stillness. It becomes easier, over time, to simply be.

You don’t need to force yourself into long meditations or sit cross-legged in perfect stillness. Start small. Let your body learn that it’s safe to slow down.

3 Ways to Reclaim Stillness Through Yoga

Here are three practical ways you can begin building a new relationship with stillness:

1. Start with movement

Instead of jumping straight into meditation, begin with a few minutes of breath-led movement. Try a simple Cat-Cow or a few slow rounds of Sun Salutations to ease your nervous system.

2. Shift the story

Notice your internal narrative. If stillness feels challenging, gently remind yourself: “I can do this. I am choosing rest.”

This affirmation, repeated during yoga or meditation, can slowly shift how your body responds and encourages the value of stillness, silence and rest. I recently read a quote that said ‘the reward for resting is the manifestation of your dreams.’ Read that again and let it sink in.

3. Create a daily ritual

Even one to five minutes a day of intentional stillness can create a huge shift. Sit, close your eyes, and breathe. Let your body begin to associate silence with calm, clarity, and connection.

THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU—You CAN DO IT

I’ve witnessed this transformation in countless students and in my own practice. People who once told me, “I can’t sit still,” now find themselves looking forward to quiet. As a parent I try to model silence and stillness as a gift for my children—no longer a form of discipline, but of self-care. I let them know daddy’s going to sit quietly for a few minutes and ask them to play quietly while I sit. It’s quite a fascinating and rewarding experience.

This is the power of yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Remember they are all part of the same path. We don’t just stretch your body. We stretch your capacity to be with yourself—gently, patiently, and with compassion.

Try This One-Minute Stillness Practice

If you’re ready to begin, here’s a simple exercise:

One-Minute Stillness Practice

  • Sit comfortably with your feet grounded or cross-legged.

  • Place one hand on your chest, the other on your belly.

  • Inhale through your nose for 4 counts.

  • Exhale slowly through your mouth for 6 counts.

  • Repeat 5 times.

Even one minute can shift your state.

Final Words of Wisdom:

Stillness isn’t something to fear. It’s something to come home to. Through yoga and breath, you can transform silence from something you once avoided into a powerful source of clarity, calm, and connection.

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