Teachers are out here running “brain breaks” like they’re smuggling attention back into the room. Ten jumping jacks. A quick meditation. A little reset. It’s not magic. It’s just being realistic about the human mind.
Meanwhile, adults walk into practice and act like misery is proof of sincerity. If it isn’t grim, it “doesn’t count.” If it isn’t hard, it “isn’t yoga.” Congratulations. You’ve invented a workout for your ego.
The article says learning should be fun. Yes. Also: play makes learning happen faster. And—brace yourself—having a good time is more fun than not having a good time. So why wouldn’t we want a practice that teaches us more and crushes us less?
This doesn’t mean we turn everything into a circus. It means we use skillful means. Shorter chunks. Clear goals. Built-in breaks. A posture you can actually breathe in. A meditation that doesn’t feel like being trapped in an elevator with your own thoughts.
And it matters who we’re trying to reach. If the method only works for people who already love suffering, it’s not “traditional.” It’s just narrow. Good teachers adapt. That’s not selling out. That’s care.
So take it seriously. Just stop making it joyless on purpose. If second graders get permission to wiggle, you can, too.