Being Strong on the Inside and Soft on the Outside: A Yogic Path to Resilience and Openness

In Anusara Yoga, there's a beautiful phrase: “Strong on the inside, soft on the outside.” It speaks to a profound truth about how we approach life, ourselves, and others. This principle reminds us that true strength doesn’t come from building walls or hardening our exterior. Rather, it comes from cultivating a deep inner reservoir of strength—one that supports us in remaining soft, open, and connected to the world around us.

The Power of Inner Strength

When we practice yoga, we're doing more than just strengthening our muscles or improving flexibility. We’re developing an internal core of resilience, fortitude, and emotional steadiness. The strength we cultivate within ourselves is more than physical. It's a spiritual, emotional, and psychological wellspring. This internal strength helps us navigate life's challenges with grace, knowing that no matter what comes our way, we have the inner resources to withstand, adapt, and thrive.

Much like in the Bible verse Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon raised against me shall conquer," this inner fortitude assures us that while life may knock us down, it will never break us. Yoga teaches us to trust this internal power, knowing we have what it takes to face anything.

Softening the Exterior

When we connect deeply to this internal strength, we no longer need to create external defenses. We don’t need to harden ourselves or put up walls to protect from potential hurt. Instead, we can stay open, soft, and vulnerable to the flow of life. We become more trusting—of ourselves, of others, and of the universe. This soft exterior allows us to receive life fully, experience joy, and cultivate meaningful connections.

Ironically, this openness requires far more courage than maintaining a hardened exterior. Being soft doesn't mean being weak; it means allowing life to move through us without resistance. It’s trusting in our own ability to digest and process whatever comes our way, rather than bracing against it.

Finding Strength in Letting Go

In our yoga practice, we begin by releasing physical tension in our bodies. By focusing on core alignment and breath, we start to let go of the hardened muscles and patterns that create physical barriers to the flow of energy. The process of releasing tension is not just about the body—it reflects a deeper process of letting go emotionally and spiritually.

Each breath, each movement, is an opportunity to connect with the core of our being—the part of us that knows we are strong enough, that we’ve been through challenges before and emerged stronger on the other side. When we connect to this inner strength, we naturally begin to soften and release our outer defenses. We trust that life is on our side, that we can handle anything, and that nothing external has the power to break us.

Why Do We Build Walls?

In our modern, stress-filled world, it’s easy to feel like we need to defend ourselves. Over time, we develop layers of protection in response to hurt, stress, and fear. We build walls, shut ourselves off, and disconnect from the very experiences that could enrich our lives.

But yoga teaches us that these defenses ultimately do more harm than good. When we build walls around our hearts, we prevent ourselves from experiencing the full spectrum of life’s joys and blessings. By hardening ourselves to avoid pain, we also block love, connection, and growth.

Yoga as the Path to Softness

Through yoga, we learn to unravel these defenses. The practice encourages us to face our fears, insecurities, and emotional pain—not to avoid them, but to move through them with grace. As we cultivate this openness, we realize that our inner strength is enough. We don’t need barriers because we trust that, no matter what happens, we’ll be okay.

It’s a practice of trusting in our own resilience, and when we do, we can afford to be soft. To be open. To let the beauty of life flow through us.

Embracing Life Fully

The greatest gift yoga has given me isn’t flexibility, though I’ve gained that too. It’s the realization that my strength lies not in my ability to harden and defend but in my ability to remain open and receptive. Through connecting to my inner power, I’ve learned that I can drop my defenses and embrace life fully, without fear of breaking.

Yoga gives us the tools to live in this space of openness and trust. It teaches us that we don’t need to protect ourselves from life; instead, we can stay soft, absorb whatever comes our way, and continue to move forward, stronger and more resilient than ever.

This practice of inner strength and outer softness is not just about surviving; it’s about thriving. When we connect to our internal power, we don’t just get through life—we embrace it. So, take a moment today to breathe deeply, connect to your core, and trust that you have everything you need inside of you. You are strong, and in that strength, you can afford to be soft.

Let’s drop our defenses and open to life.