Did you know aging and trauma are inevitable—but feeling stiff, restricted, and in pain doesn’t have to be?

"What we lived through is living in us." - Rupi Kaur

photo credit: Jean Francois Brabant

So people turn to YOGA when they feel stiff.

Mostly traditional yoga. And by design this kind of yoga as one goal: strengthen and prepare the body for Samadhi and Kundalini Awakening.

For 10+ years I have been a dedicated practitioner of this style of yoga, emphasizing the discipline through mindful repetition and committed practice.

But one day, when I found myself overwhelmed by nervous system dysregulation, dealing with a whole lot of issues as a diasporic woman of colour in the west, I realized I needed something more.

Something that placed less emphasis on repetition, control, discipline, and rigid forms.

Something that would help me tap into the innate healing capacity of my body, and trusting this body as an embodiment of the story of my life and the imprints of my trauma, both big and small.

Let's dive in to the question of: Why Do We Feel Stiff?

What actually limits your range of motion (ROM)?

Studies show that ROM is influenced by several factors:

1. Muscle & Fascia – ~41% (the biggest piece of the puzzle!)

• Muscle tightness: Overactive, shortened muscles restrict movement.
• Fascial restrictions: Stiff, dehydrated fascia creates resistance, making movement feel stuck.

2. Joint Structure (Bone & Cartilage) – ~10-15%

• Your bones and cartilage create natural limitations—some movements just aren’t in your anatomy.

3. Tendons & Ligaments – ~10%

• Ligaments (bone-to-bone) and tendons (muscle-to-bone) provide stability but can also limit flexibility.

4. Skin – ~2%

• Scar tissue and thickened skin can restrict movement.

5. Nervous System & Stretch Reflex – ~35%

• Our nervous system can tighten up our body to prevent perceived injury.

But Do You know What Yoga Cannot Change?

Your Joint Structure Is Set – No matter how much yoga you do, your anatomy is your anatomy. The shape of your bones and joints won’t change with stretching.

Tendons & Ligaments Can’t Be Stretched – Unlike muscles, these connective tissues have minimal elasticity. Best we can is to strengthen the muscles around them to improve support and stability.

So What Are You Missing?

Here’s the kicker—around 30% of what we call "muscle" is actually fascia. That means if you’re only focusing on muscle stretching (like in "Yang" yoga or most workout modalities), you’re missing a huge part of the equation. That's probably why you're seeing limited progress with your exercise routine, and lower mobility with age and injuries.

What Can You Do?

💡 The game-changer: Fascia Fitness

Fascia Training - Keeping our fascial web hydrated and supple means better movement, fewer restrictions, and less stiffness

Nervous System Regulation - Tight muscles aren’t always short—sometimes, they’re locked in tension because your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode.

Speaking of Nervous System...

More often that those big "T" trauma like war, natural disasters and life-threatening accidents, those everyday things—neglect, criticism, cultural shock, discrimination, heartbreak, separation, or burnout— quietly shape how we show up in our lives and in our bodies.

And often, we think we’re fine…because everybody gets this…

But our nervous system may be saying otherwise ->

And This Is How Fascia-Focused Somatic Yoga Complete The Picture