If I were writing my own version of the Yoga Sutra (a 2,000-year old guide for the practice of yoga), I would include this bit of wisdom:

In your practice, some asanas will elicit such panicky resistance from your body and/or spirit that they'll make you want to throw up. Do not despair, young yogi, because this urge to throw up is teaching you many things.

First, it'll teach you about your own wonderful instincts. Sometimes the urge to throw up means, "This one is not for you. It is not yet time to stand on your head while in full lotus." You'll learn what this particular nausea feels like. This nausea feels like a big red X.

The more common nausea feels like a big red Uh Oh. It may be difficult at first to differentiate these, but you will learn. The Uh Oh nausea means, "Whoa, Nellie, you have a lot to learn from this pose. Come a wee bit closer. Perhaps this one has to do with the fact that you hate confrontation, or you feel powerless in your life, or you have unfortunately led your entire life with your pea brain rather than your enormous heart."

These urges to throw up and run away screaming should be in the Sutra.

I used to feel the Uh Oh with Butterfly Pose. It's easing, now. I still feel it with all forward lunges. With back bends, I'm not close enough to feel it, but I'll bet it's coming.

When I hit one of these pukey edges, I use a homemade mantra, which is, "I am completely safe." (Not that I have any underlying issues of my own, you understand.)

Have you met these urges to throw up? If not, achhhh, you're just more evolved than I am. Lucky for you. You should write your own Yoga Sutra. We could use your wisdom.

If you have felt the big red X or the Uh Oh, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks to yoga for shining a light on my resistance. Thanks to the spiky flower photographer. Thanks to you, always, for the conversation,

kristin

Dr. Kristin Shepherd is a chiropractor, actor, and speaker (About All Things Wonderful) in North Bay, Ontario.  Join her on the web, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on iTunes.