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Many of us who practice yoga do it because we love how it makes us feel. But a sneaky thing can happen when we start to prioritize the thing that makes us feel better. We rush to grab our mats, fill our enormous water bottles, and zoom to class without ever pausing and asking, “Is this what I need?”

And if the answer is “no,” how often do we listen? How often do we allow ourselves to embody, guilt-free, the only posture we actually want to take, which is reclined, on the couch, using a pillow as a prop underneath the knees, gaze fixed on the giant Netflix logo emblazoned across the TV?

After all, yoga is about tending to our needs. And sometimes that means deleting yoga class from our calendars and writing ourselves an imaginary permission slip to blow off our schedules juuust a little bit.

Because having boundaries is yoga, too.

30 (Perfectly Reasonable) Excuses to Skip Yoga Class

If you find yourself in these or similarly inconvenient situations, consider this a sign to let yourself just say no to yoga class.

1. You’re so congested you can’t breathe through your nose.
2. Every single pair of leggings you own is sitting in a smelly heap waiting to be laundered (sniff test, people!).
3. You just scarfed down a burrito.
4. Your knee (or ankle or shoulder or wrist) is aching wildly and you don’t know why—or you do know why and are ignoring it.
5. You’re going more to please (or flirt with) the yoga teacher rather than experience the yoga.
6. You got some seriously troubling news and you need alone time to emotionally process it.
7. You can’t make it two minutes, let alone 60, without sneezing or coughing.
8. You’re so exhausted you could cry (exceptions made for restorative yoga).
9. The class description mentions “gong.”
10. Your friend was just dumped and they asked for emotional support.
11. You’re going to be more than 5 minutes late.
12. Your dog ate your go-to yoga tank.
13. The only class you can make is led by that teacher you secretly can’t stand.
14. There’s a chance you have ANYTHING contagious.
15. Your fave artist’s new album just dropped and you NEED to listen to it ASAP.
16. You’re going only to keep your #yogaeverydamnday streak alive (and you’re actually dreading it).
17. You’d rather stay in bed.
18. You need a good cry more than a good yoga class.
19. You hit too many red lights in a row en route =bad vibes.
20. You get the sudden urge to have a cozy night in and watch a rom-com.
21. Your Uber Eats is running late and you don’t want to  come home to a bag of cold food at your doorstep—or no bag of food at your doorstep.
22. You’re having a lovely conversation with a friend and you don’t want it to end.
23. Your dog gives you that “Don’t leave me!” look as you grab your keys.
24. You’re still recovering from the flu and there’s a chance you’ll need to sprint to the locker room to hurl.
25. You’re in the middle of a gripping novel you just can’t put down.
26. You’re grieving.
27. Inspiration strikes and you need to grab your pen or paintbrush.
28. It’s a beautiful day and you’d rather spend it outside.
29. You’re hungry.
30. You’re just not feeling it.