There could be no truer maxim than that we should ‘listen to our body’: To tune in to the signals our body is giving us and adjust our efforts accordingly; to not blindly do what we’re told to do, but to do what is right for us; to not be driven by our mental ambitions and override our current physical capabilities… Not as easy as it sounds, but is it that simple?

That depends on how we learn to ‘listen’. The concept of listening to our body can easily be reduced to doing what feels good. What feels good will very likely be allowing the old patterns to comfortably dominate. This is ‘listening to our bad habits’, because our bad habits tend to offer the most comfortable and convenient choice.

To transform ourselves, to clear out the bad habits, doesn’t always feel good, sometimes it’s confronting, but it brings the best rewards. It’s hard work. Yet, learning the skills to evaluate correct action brings us into profound contact with ourselves and can equip us to bring change in all aspects of our lives … from the tight neck or quick temper we might be able to evaluate the source and eliminate it’s hold on us.

As BKS Iyengar has said: “ The conundrum of the body is the starting point in yoga from which to unravel the mystery of the human existence”