When Rejection Walks into the Yoga Room 

September 8, 2025

The other day, something unexpected and uncomfortable happened during one of my yoga classes. A student walked into the room, looked at me, and almost instantly turned around and left.

That was it. No explanation. No words. Just a glance, and then the sound of the door closing.

In that moment, I froze. My mind rushed into overdrive:
Did I do something wrong? Was it the way I looked? Did I say something last week that upset her?

I laughed at myself later, but in the moment, I felt devastated. The heaviness lingered for hours, then days. I couldn’t stop replaying it. That quiet little voice inside whispered doubts: Maybe I’m not cut out for this. Maybe I don’t belong at the front of the yoga room.

But with time — and with practice — I began to see it differently.

The truth is, there’s no way to be liked by everyone. No matter how kind you are, how much effort you put in, or how pure your intentions, there will always be someone who doesn’t connect with you. And that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It simply means you’re human, and so are they.

This brought me back to one of the yamas in yoga philosophy: aparigraha, often translated as non-grasping or non-possessiveness. We usually think of it in terms of material things, but it applies just as much to emotions and relationships. When I cling to the need for approval, I suffer. When I let it go, I feel lighter.

The practice, then, is to release that tight hold — to stop grasping for universal acceptance. Instead, to trust that those who are meant to share the practice with me will come and stay. And those who aren’t, will walk out — and that’s okay.

Of course, knowing this doesn’t instantly erase the sting. Our nervous system reacts to rejection like it reacts to physical pain. So I turned to the breath.

One pranayama that helped me was Nadi Shodhana, alternate nostril breathing. It balances both sides of the body and calms the nervous system. After just a few rounds, I could feel my mind soften, my chest loosen, and my perspective shift. It reminded me: rejection isn’t the end of the story. It’s just a moment, one breath among many.

So if you ever face rejection — whether in a yoga room, at work, or in your personal life — maybe try sitting down, closing your eyes, and practicing a few rounds of Nadi Shodhana. Inhale through one side, exhale through the other. Let the breath teach you what it always does: things come, things go, and you are still here.

Rejection will always sting. But yoga teaches us how to stay grounded, how to let go, and how to move forward — breath by breath.