Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on a phrase I often hear after my yoga sessions for beginners or after a Laughter Yoga Workshop:
“That was really out of my comfort zone.”
At first, I wasn’t sure how to take it.
Was it a compliment? A polite way of saying “that was uncomfortable”?
Or maybe it meant something had shifted inside — a gentle step toward growth?
When I look back at my own path, my whole life has been about stepping out of my comfort zone, though I didn’t call it that. Being born and growing up in São Paulo is already a challenge. Leaving Brazil was one step further. Learning to live and communicate in another language, in another culture - another one again. Every day brought new moments of discomfort and discovery. But I never thought to label them that way. It was just life unfolding — learning, adapting, embracing.
So now, when someone tells me after a session, “I stepped out of my comfort zone,” I pause. Maybe it’s not good or bad. Maybe it simply means that something new was experienced — in body, emotion, or spirit.
What Science Says About the “Comfort Zone”
In psychology, the comfort zone is described as a state where we feel safe and in control. It’s peaceful — but it’s also where growth slows down.
True learning happens in what researchers call the stretch zone: the space just beyond what feels familiar.
-
Too comfortable → no challenge, no growth.
-
Too uncomfortable → we shut down.
-
A little uncomfortable →we awaken, our brain makes new connections, and transformation begins.
In mindfulness and somatic practices, we often dance in this “stretch zone.” When we breathe, move, or laugh in new ways, the nervous system learns safety in unfamiliar experiences.
Yoga therapy helps regulate the nervous system by balancing the sympathetic (“fight-or-flight”) and parasympathetic (“rest-and-digest”) states through a combination of slow, mindful movement, deep breathing, and gentle poses. This practice promotes relaxation, resilience, and a sense of safety through a “top-down and bottom-up” approach that calms both mind and body — and can be especially helpful for managing stress and trauma.
That’s where healing begins — not in pushing too far, but in gently expanding what feels safe.
Experiencing “Out of My Comfort Zone”
Since moving to Belgium and sharing my sessions here, I’ve noticed that people often use this phrase with a thoughtful smile:
“It was out of my comfort zone… but I enjoyed it.”
At first, I didn’t know what to make of it. But over time, I realized that in Belgium, this expression simply means:
“This was new for me — I’m not used to it, but it touched me somehow.”
Belgians tend to be reflective and modest. They like to understand things before opening fully to them. So when laughter, movement, or emotion show up in a session, it can feel unfamiliar — especially in group or work settings, since I give sessions for companies and organizations during special weeks or team-building events.
Yet even when it’s new or surprising, many appreciate the calm, connection, and playfulness that follow.
Stepping out of the comfort zone isn't a sign of resistance; it's a sign of curiosity and courage. It’s a willingness to explore something different, to meet a new part of ourselves.
And that, to me, is a beautiful form of growth.
Growing Together
Every day brings moments that challenge or surprise us. The invitation is not to avoid them, but to meet them with curiosity.
To ask:
-
What is this moment teaching me?
-
Can I stay with the feeling, even if it’s new?
-
How does my body respond when I allow change?
Maybe stepping out of the comfort zone isn’t about leaving safety — it’s about expanding what safety feels like.
Through yoga, laughter, sound, and movement, we keep learning that beyond what’s familiar lies not fear, but discovery — of the world, and of ourselves.
Ready to Stretch Yours?
Are you still in the fear zone — affected by others’ opinions, finding excuses not to follow what’s calling you, or lacking a bit of confidence?
Come and join one of my yoga sessions!
You’ll move, breathe, laugh, and reconnect with yourself.
You’ll discover that growth can be joyful — and that your comfort zone is much bigger than you think.
Breathing in Inner Space
After the reflection, this month, our new session — “Breathing in Inner Space: Breath and Body Awareness” — is an invitation to explore your inner comfort zone.
Through silence, breath, and gentle movement, we’ll meet that quiet space inside that often goes unnoticed — the space where expansion begins. Each breath becomes a doorway, helping us feel how comfort and discomfort live side by side in the body.
We’ll experience silent meditation, then explore pranayama to deepen awareness and regulation. Through mindful postures, the breath will guide the movements, creating a sense of grounding and spaciousness.
It’s a soft yet profound journey — one that might take you out of your comfort zone in the gentlest possible way, right into the heart of your being.
Add comment
Comments
Great piece - loved the graphic and the Belgian stories!