When Yoga Doesn’t Calm You Down

One of the biggest myths in yoga is that certain poses are guaranteed to be relaxing. Teachers often recommend postures like legs up the wall to ease anxiety or restore calm. And while these poses may work beautifully for some people, they don’t work for everyone.

I know this firsthand. Years ago, I used to recommend legs up the wall as a go-to for anxiety relief. But the truth is, when I actually tried it, it didn’t really work. In fact, it seemed to induce more anxiety for me. I chalked it up to that there must be something wrong with me or that maybe I wasn’t doing it right because I wasn’t experiencing the peace I had been promised.

This is the danger of prescriptive language in yoga. When we say, “This pose will relax you” or “this will help with anxiety,” we unintentionally set up expectations, and shame, for anyone whose experience is different.

Our bodies carry unique stories, traumas, and nervous system responses. What feels soothing for one person might feel activating for another.

As students, it’s important to remember: there is nothing wrong with you if a pose doesn’t feel the way it’s “supposed” to. Yoga is about noticing your own body, your own signals, and finding the shapes that support you. Maybe that’s child’s pose, maybe it’s a walking meditation, maybe you feel the best in a warrior pose or by simply lying on your back or your side.

As teachers, our responsibility is to create space for exploration, not dictate how our students should feel. Instead of saying, “This pose will calm you down,” we can say, “This pose might feel calming for some people. I invite you to notice what it brings up for you.” That subtle shift empowers students to trust themselves rather than doubting their experience.

Ultimately, yoga isn’t about fitting ourselves into a pose—it’s about finding the poses that fit us.