After 7 Years Away, I Returned to the Practice That Built My Discipline—Here's What Happened

For 10 years, I was mildly obsessed with Bikram yoga. 90 minutes in a 105-degree room, no music, just staring at my sweaty switching poses at the instructor’s command. For some it sounds brutal, for me it was transformative.

It cleared my head. Built discipline. Healed my body. Calmed my nerves. Created community. And honestly? It also released a lot of body issues being forced to confront yourself in the mirror for that long.

Then I stopped. About seven years ago, right around when I started my business. I can't pinpoint exactly why or when—it just... faded away. I replaced it with walks outside (helped that we got Lyle, our rescue Westie), which are meditative and quite frankly doesn’t take as long, but it still strikes me as odd that something so rooted in my weekly schedule so simply disappeared.

This year it’s felt like I've struggled with consistency and discipline. I’ve been distracted more easily where I used to have good focus. Projects I could crank out in a day have languished. It seems like it’s taking me longer to do, well just about everything. Even a productivity course on flow state couldn't stick as a routine. Everything has felt harder, slower, more frustrating. Classic entrepreneur anxiety, right?

So naturally, I decided to distract myself with... a Bikram class.

Two days of excited anticipation. Early morning hydration prep. The moment I walked into that familiar studio, I felt peace. The instructor remembered my face: "Welcome home," he said. I almost cried.

I stayed in the room. Modified when needed, but completed all 26 poses twice. My body remembered. My mind cleared. My exhales sounded more like moans (sorry, neighbor on the next mat), but I loved every second.

It reminded me: I'm capable of more than I think. I can do hard things in community. I can focus when guided. I can be disciplined when I just show up and do the damn thing.

Here's what I'm thinking: There are cycles to everything in life and business. After seven years away, maybe this mind-body connection is exactly what I need as my business enters its own new growth phase.

So here's my question for you: What practice did you abandon that once served you powerfully? What would happen if you brought it back now? Is it relevant to your growth today or have you found other techniques that are better for this next version of you?

As entrepreneurs, we are often drawn to “the next new thing”. We are reminded “what got you here won’t get you there”. And yet…what if there are seasons where what once worked for you, works once again? In the week since I started back on the mat, my thoughts are once again focused, my daily priorities are getting completed, I’m looking forward to the next class and I am calmer knowing I’m headed in the right direction.