UNTIL YOU STRETCH OUT YOU CANNOT HAVE IT

Until You Stretch Out, You Cannot Have It

Lena had always been the type of person who played it safe. She stuck to her routines, avoided taking risks, and never ventured too far out of her comfort zone. She worked a steady job at the local bookstore, lived in the same small apartment she had since college, and kept to a tight-knit group of friends. Life was predictable. Life was comfortable.

But something had always gnawed at her—a quiet yearning, a longing for more, something deeper than the routine she had built. She had dreams she kept hidden away, tucked in the corners of her heart, where they couldn’t be hurt. But the older she got, the more she wondered: Is this it?

One evening, while walking home from work, Lena passed by an old yoga studio she had noticed countless times but never dared to enter. The lights were dim, the windows foggy, and the faint sound of calming music drifted out into the street.

A sign hung at the door: New Beginner’s Class Tonight.

Her heart skipped a beat. She had always been curious about yoga but never thought of herself as flexible enough, disciplined enough, or willing to expose her vulnerability in front of strangers. But something stirred inside her. What if?

After a long moment of hesitation, she pushed the door open.

Inside, the room was warm, with soft lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. A woman with a serene smile greeted her. "You’re just in time for the class. Have you practiced before?"

Lena shook her head. "I’ve always wanted to try, but… I’m not sure I’m flexible enough for it."

The instructor’s smile widened. "Yoga isn’t about how flexible you are—it’s about stretching your mind as much as your body. Let’s see where you are today, and we’ll go from there."

Lena took a deep breath and followed the instructor into the class. For the next hour, she pushed herself in ways she never thought possible. Her muscles ached, and her body trembled in certain poses, but she found herself feeling a strange sense of accomplishment with each small stretch. By the end of the session, she was exhausted but felt more alive than she had in months.

As the class finished, the instructor shared a simple thought that resonated with Lena deeply: "In yoga, we say: Until you stretch out, you cannot have it."

Lena wasn’t sure what it meant at first, but as she walked home, it lingered in her mind. Until you stretch out… She began to understand that the phrase wasn’t just about the physical act of stretching—it was about stretching herself beyond the boundaries she had set for herself. It was about pushing past her fears, her doubts, and the comfort zone she had created around her life.

The next morning, instead of retreating into her usual routine, Lena decided to take a risk. She signed up for an art class she had always been interested in but never had the courage to pursue. She spent time reading books she had always wanted to explore, traveled to places that had once seemed too far away, and slowly, she began to step outside of her comfort zone.

Every time she faced a new challenge, the memory of the instructor’s words echoed in her mind: Until you stretch out, you cannot have it.

Months passed, and Lena found herself living a life she had never imagined. The quiet bookstore that had once been her world was now just one of the many places she visited. She was learning new things, meeting new people, and discovering parts of herself she had long forgotten.

One day, as she walked past the yoga studio again, she smiled. She had stretched herself—both physically and emotionally—and the life she had once only dreamed of was becoming a reality.

Lena knew now that the secret to having the life she wanted wasn’t about waiting for things to fall into place. It was about stretching, reaching beyond what felt safe, and embracing the uncertainty that came with growth. Until you stretch out, you cannot have it.

And Lena was finally ready to have it all.