About two weeks ago, I was folding my laundry while my boyfriend Tyler was completely engrossed in a YouTube video. He paused it and said, “Come here, you have to watch this.” He showed me a clip of an interview from the Joe Rogan Experience, featuring Navy SEAL David Goggins describing what he calls the 40 percent rule. It’s a pretty simple rule — whenever your mind tells you that you are completely done and unable to go any further, you are actually only 40 percent depleted. Your mind gives up before your body does. The rule explains that no matter how tired or done we may feel, there is always an untapped reserve of energy and motivation that we can tap into. The interview is lengthy, but really interesting and inspiring.
Since I watched the video, I’ve been thinking about the 40 percent rule during my yoga practice and workouts. I even watched it unfold in my classes. When I instructed my students to enter into side plank, vasisthasana, each student took the standard posture with straight legs and ankles aligned, top arm raised toward the ceiling. These students are all experienced and often begin to raise their top leg in side plank without instruction, but they had just gone through a challenging series of poses and were undoubtedly feeling low on energy. I then simply instructed, “Challenge yourself to raise your top leg, even if it’s just for one second.” Every single student in the class raised their top leg for at least five seconds. At this point in class, they had gone through the most challenging poses, we’re super sweaty from the heat in the studio, and just about ready to enter the cool down stage of class. But they all did it. I watched them surprise themselves as they tapped into that energy reserve and go even further. It’s amazing to watch what you can do when you get out of your head and just go for it.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve challenged myself to go above the limits my mind sets for me. When I think it’s impossible to hold a balancing pose for one more second or to do one more push up at the gym, I tell myself, “40 percent rule.” And then I can do it. I’m not sharing this to encourage you to overwork your yourself; I am an advocate for listening to your body and taking rest when it needs it. But when your body feels good and you’re in that part of yoga class or your workout where it starts to get tough, and you think, “I can’t do it. I’m done.” Remind yourself of the 40 percent rule. Push through the barriers your mind sets for you and go for it — just a few more seconds or a few more reps. Next thing you know, you’ve motivated yourself to tap into your strength and you go even further than you ever imagined. Our bodies are much stronger than we give them credit for; let go of the limiting thoughts and step into your power.
You are capable of so much more than you can even imagine. Think about a really challenging time in your life. You probably couldn’t imagine how you were going to make it through, but look at you now. You’re still here and you’re stronger for it. Be your own motivation. Next time you are struggling through an exercise or yoga pose, think about all that you’ve made it through to get where you are today. If you can survive the heavy and heartbreaking in life, you can survive physical challenges. Tap into your inner strength and remember the 40 percent rule. You got this.
x,
Morgan