Why "Good Vibes Only" is Toxic

If you've heard heard "good vibes only" from a yoga teacher - or seen it on merchandise, social media, etc. - you're not alone. When I first started practicing, I heard that phrase, or a variation thereof, over and over. I felt like yoga practitioners were supposed to always be happy. They made me feel like I couldn't feel anything negative, or, at least, I couldn't express it. I understood it as though a yoga class was meant to be completely separate from the outside world, and that you were not supposed to carry any feelings other than joy into the room with me. 

Over the years, I've learned that not only is this not true, it's toxic messaging. The phrase "good vibes only" falls into the category of Toxic Positivity. This is different than thinking positively or trying to buoy a friend. Focusing on the good has plenty of value, and there are plenty of studies that show how beneficial things like positive affirmations are for you. As Pamela B. Rutledge Ph.D., M.B.A. says in this article, "there’s always value in a positive outlook, but when it’s “only,” it becomes toxic" (paragraph 1). When we deny feelings of sadness, pain, and struggle, we deny part of our lived experiences. It's denying part of you. Learning to approach difficult emotions in a productive manner is important, but ignoring them only deepens the pain. 

A yoga class can be a place where you can bring in all of yourself, including your emotions. Once I started to move past the "good vibes only" schtick, I started to use my practice as a chance to process how I was feeling. I found that often I could really let go, rather than suppress. I have cried in yoga classes more times than I can count. Breathing deeply has allowed me to process emotions without even always realizing it. When I ask you to set thoughts of things that don't serve you outside of the room (something you have likely heard me say), I am not asking you to be free of emotions. I'm only asking you to take a break from focusing on things like planning dinner, worrying about that meeting you have tomorrow, or thinking back to that jerk who cut you off on the road on your way to class. And remember, yoga is not just poses. Yoga extends beyond the studio space, so even if you take a break from what you are feeling while you are doing Warrior II, that doesn't mean yoga is not there to help you process all of your feelings.