Most of us struggle with discomfort, physical, emotional, and spiritual, in ourselves and in those we love. At best, we may try to hold space for it, but find it draining or eventually need to “tap out,” and at worst, we collapse under the weight of it. You want to learn how to be with pain and discomfort in a more expansive way because you sense that there could be freedom on the other side.

This is a practice John taught live at the May 2019 Embodied Men's Leadership Intensive in Mount Shasta for training yourself to be with discomfort without collapsing.

Maintaining the Systema Breath practice (inhaling through the nose and exhaling through pursed lips, as if blowing out a candle), come into a horse stance - toes pointed straight forward, legs in a 'chair' with knees bent to the end of the toes (You will be sitting directly on your legs and not in an actual chair), chin parallel to the ground, navel pulled in, sacrum tucked, and arms straight overhead with biceps by the ears. Perfect the pose and retain the breath. The breath is your priority. Stay grounded and connected through the breath.

You will start to notice, as you become uncomfortable, that you may want it to end. You may develop negative thinking or collapse into your pain. Practice feeling out beyond yourself. Allow your awareness to get wide. Open your eyes if that feels good to you. Bring the texture of "I am here." The practice closes with a meditation on freedom.

If you want to expand your capacity to be with pain and discomfort, this 14-minute practice will open a pathway.

Disclaimer: Although anyone may find this practice to be useful, it is made available with the understanding that we are not engaged in presenting specific medical, psychological, emotional, sexual or spiritual advice. Nor is anything in this practice intended to be a diagnosis, prescription, recommendation or cure for any specific kind of medical, psychological, emotional, sexual or spiritual problem. Each individual has unique needs and this practice cannot take these individual differences into account. Each person should engage in a program of treatment, prevention, cure, or general health only in consultation with a licensed, qualified physician, therapist or other competent professional. Any person suffering from a sexually transmitted disease or any local illness of his or her sexual organs should consult a medical doctor and a qualified instructor of sexual yoga before practicing the sexual methods described in this practice.