Why Most of Us Are Out of Tune
Let’s be honest: most of us are rubbish at listening. Properly listening. We nod, we throw in an “uh-huh” or a “yeah, yeah,” but inside, we’re thinking about what’s for dinner, the email we forgot to send, or whether we locked the front door. Our attention is yanked in every direction, and we wonder why we feel scattered, drained, and disconnected.
Yoga, in its traditional form, is a practice of listening. Not just to words, but to energy, breath, body, and the wisdom that’s been buried under years of noise. And when we learn to listen—deeply, fully—something shifts. Life becomes richer, more meaningful. We stop reacting, start responding. We find our rhythm.
The Noise We Live In
Let’s get real. The world we live in rewards distraction. Social media, constant notifications, a million and one opinions thrown at us daily—our attention spans are shot. And yet, we’re starving for connection, for truth, for something real. Listening is how we get it back.
But here’s the kicker: deep listening isn’t just about paying more attention to other people (though that’s part of it). It’s about tuning in to yourself—to what your body, your breath, and your intuition have been trying to tell you for years. The good stuff, the real stuff—it’s already there. You just have to stop drowning it out.
What Yoga Teaches Us About Listening
In traditional Tantric Hatha Yoga, listening is not passive. It’s active, embodied, and transformational. Every posture, every breath, every moment on the mat is an opportunity to sharpen your ability to pay attention.
- Your body is speaking—are you listening? Every ache, every sensation, every tight muscle is sending you a message. Ignore it, and the body will shout louder (hello, injury, burnout, exhaustion). Tune in, and you start working with your body rather than against it.
- The breath holds the truth. In Tantric Hatha, breath is not just something we “do.” It’s a bridge to deeper awareness. How you breathe reveals how you live—shallow and fast? You’re probably scattered and stressed. Deep and steady? You’re in a different flow. When we listen to the breath, we change the mind, the nervous system, and our entire state of being.
- Silence is not empty—it’s full of answers. We fear silence because we associate it with awkwardness, loneliness, or lack of stimulation. But in Yoga, silence is sacred. It’s where the real wisdom is. It’s where transformation happens. The moment you stop filling the space with noise, you start hearing what actually matters.
How to Train Yourself to Listen (On and Off the Mat)
So, how do we get better at this? How do we stop skimming the surface of life and start really tuning in?
- Slow Down. Sounds simple, but it’s the hardest thing for most people. Rushing through life numbs us. Slowing down forces us to feel, to hear, to notice.
- Try this: Walk slower. Eat slower. Move slower on your mat. See what happens.
- Practice “Soft Focus.” Instead of forcefully concentrating, try relaxing your focus. Ever noticed how the harder you try to remember a name, the more it escapes you? Listening works the same way. Let your awareness expand, not contract.
- Try this: In your next conversation, drop the need to respond quickly. Just absorb what’s being said. See how it changes the interaction.
- Breathe like it matters. Your breath is a direct line to your nervous system. Learn to listen to it, and you’ll learn to regulate your entire being.
- Try this: Every hour, pause and take five slow, conscious breaths. No phone, no distractions. Just breath and awareness.
- Get comfortable with silence. If silence makes you antsy, good. That means you’re on the edge of something important.
- Try this: Set a timer for two minutes of complete silence each day. No music, no distractions—just you and whatever comes up.
Listening as a Form of Generosity
Here’s where it gets interesting. Listening is a gift. When we truly listen—to ourselves, to others—we give space for something real to unfold. And that’s rare. Think about the last time you felt deeply heard. It changes things, doesn’t it? It makes you feel seen, valued, understood.
So, ask yourself:
- Where in my life am I not listening— to my body, my breath, my intuition?
- Who in my life needs me to listen more deeply—to be fully present, without trying to fix or rush in with my own thoughts?
- How would my practice, my relationships, my entire experience of life change if I truly learned to listen deeply?
Your Practice This Week
On the mat, this week is about refining your attention. Notice the subtleties. The micro-adjustments. The way breath moves through you. And when you roll up your mat, don’t stop there. Take this skill into your life. Listen. Fully, deeply. And watch what happens.
Ready to Deepen Your Practice?
If you’re looking for a way to stay connected to your practice beyond the studio, the Yoga Local App is your new best mate. It’s more than just classes—it’s a space to explore the deeper layers of yoga, whenever and wherever you need it. Download it, dive in, and start tuning in.
Because the answers you’re looking for? They’ve been inside you all along.
J X
