How we sabotage ourselves

// integrating the strap in four dynamic sequences to open the shoulders

Dear Humans,

Have you ever heard of the Five Saboteurs? I learned about them when I was working in the field of leadership development with The Nebo Company. The saboteurs were developed out of Georgetown University’s coaching program. The idea is that each of us has a blend of five “saboteurs”—or tendencies that sabotage us in our daily lives.

They are:

• Be Perfect

• Hurry Up

• Please Others

• Try Harder

• Be Strong

Be Perfect is all about the desire to control situations. Those with this saboteur have a hard time with mistakes. They tend to be very attuned to detail and dislike when things are unfinished or imperfect. They are hard on themselves if they aren’t perfect.

Hurry Up looks like impatience. This saboteur involves the belief that things should be done quickly, and that it’s easier to just do the thing themself rather than asking for help. They work best under pressure and never seem to have enough time.

Please Others is about making other people happy. They put the needs of others over their own needs. They don’t like to be imposing and they have a hard time saying no.

Try Harder is about working hard. They have trouble knowing when to throw in the towel because they always think there is more work to be done. They think they will succeed if they just “try a little harder,” but they wonder if they will actually achieve success, because the yard stick is always moving.

Be Strong has to do with not wanting to show weakness. They hide their emotions and don’t complain. They might not appreciate when others complain. They appear to have things under control, but they are holding a lot of weight.

Now, you might be reading this and instantly gravitate toward one, or a few, or maybe all of them. That’s the idea. The idea is that we all carry a blend of these, but we typically have more of some.

These are the tendencies that sabotage our happiness in day to day life. It’s not so dissimilar from the Kleshas in yoga. Just like the Kleshas, you could think of the saboteurs as “veils” or beliefs that we hold as true, which cause us to suffer.

My own blend of saboteurs tends to look like ‘Please Others’ and ‘Be Perfect.’ And I’ve been struggling with those two over the past few weeks. Because it’s simply impossible. It’s impossible to be perfect all the time, and it’s impossible to please everyone.

These internal stories, that I have to do well, and I have to be liked, are deeply ingrained, so, when I make a mistake, I tend to be really hard on myself.

I’ve noticed this showing up time and again in my yoga teaching. When I teach a “great” class, I feel great. When I leave the class and I’m not sure it was my “best,” then I ruminate on it. It causes me to suffer.

I’m working on it. :)

But I think the first step is in acknowledging that these stories exist. The first step is understanding what your own “story” is, what your own filters are. Then, once you are clear on that, when you hear those voices creeping in, telling you to just “be better” or “try harder” or “be stronger,” you can at least acknowledge them as just that: voices, saboteurs, ego.

I’m sharing this with you today, my friends, because I want to remind you that we all struggle on this journey. We are “humans having a conscious experience” and “consciousness having a human experience.” And that’s complex.

One of the opportunities in our yoga practice is to simply observe the voices, the stories, the thoughts as they creep in, and ask ourselves: does this serve me?

Is this really me? Is this true? Or is this just the ego, sneaking in, trying to sabotage.

When we can disconnect from those stories, we find freedom. Or, so I’ve been told.

Sometimes it’s easier to disconnect than other times. That’s the journey. That’s the practice. That’s the yoga.

Does this resonate? Let’s chat in the comments

The sequences I’m sharing today are SO FUN! They utilize the strap as a prop all throughout class—using the strap in a variety of unique and creative ways. But the strap isn’t just for flair, it’s also helping students open their chest and shoulders, and giving them something to press against, in order to better engage their shoulder and back muscles, and lengthen through the side body.

I am sharing the Main Flow with everyone, then paid subscribers get THREE more flows: a class opening, a warm up flow, and a mini flow. Put all of those in front of the main flow, and you’ve got yourself a full class. (I’ll also share the peak pose I taught and explain how it links).

Humans, if you are struggling with any of your own saboteurs or stories today, this week, this month, just know that I’m right there with you. This process of growing, unraveling, shedding layers—it’s not a simple one. But it’s worth it. It’s so worth it.

Sending love,

Izzy

Izzy Martens

author, yoga teacher, sequence enthusiast

www.yogahumans.com

@yoga.humans on Instagram

What I Taught in Yoga This Week | April 2, 2025

the write-up

• *ensure your students have their strap folded in half at the front of their mat

• three legged dog

• step right foot to right thumb

  

• grab strap in either hand

• lift to high crescent plunge, strap overhead

• backbend, pull the strap back and open the heart

• thunderbolt variation, hover the belly and reach the strap forward

• twist to the right

• back to center

• warrior III, reaching the strap forward

• one legged mountain, as you transition loop the strap under the back foot

• extended hand to big toe (front) variation with the strap

• extended hand to big toe (side) variation with the strap

• extended hand to big toe (revolved) variation with the strap

• one leg mountain, release strap from foot

• warrior III variation, strap reaches forward

• land in warrior II, with strap still overhead

• reverse warrior, with strap overhead

• power extended side angle, with strap

• extended side angle with bind, using strap

• bird of paradise, using strap

• unwind to wide leg forward fold, bring strap

• lift up halfway, with strap reaching forward

• lift to star, with strap overhead

• goddess, with strap overhead

• pulse and then pulse and twist

• lift to star

• pivot to back of mat

• bend into the leading knee and place strap at back of mat

• take a vinyasa or straight to downdog!

• repeat flow on the other leg to bring you back around!

Join me LIVE! Tomorrow on Substack

Alexandra Cole

is launching new series called “Chart Chats” where she will go live with a fellow Substacker and offer a mini chart analysis based on our topic of the month. These will be informal, 20-30 minute conversations.

April will be all about Wellbeing by Design, and she is kicking things off on Thursday, April 3 with me! Apparently I am a 6/2 splenic projector. (I don’t know what that means! I can’t wait to learn!) We are going to chat about how to optimize my wellness routine based on my chart. Click below to add the event to your calendar!

Three more sequences to open, warm up, and introduce the main flow. In the class opening, we will open this on the ground and then lift up to seated, using the warm up flow we will come into table and beyond—using the strap the whole time. These sequences are really interesting and effective. I hope you enjoy them!