Connecting with our bodies through yoga.

In yoga, we often hear about the importance of connecting with the body — but what does that really mean?

For new students, and even those with a regular practice, this idea can sometimes feel abstract or just out of reach. That connection can shift from one class to the next; some days, I feel completely present in my body, and other days, I find myself moving on autopilot. Yet when that connection is there, it has the power to deepen and transform the entire experience. That’s why I’m pleased to share this thoughtful blog post by our own Susan Knox, who explores what it really means to connect with the body through yoga. Take a moment to read, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Yoga is a practice that brings us into greater awareness of our bodies. Yoga is not just about stretching — it’s a powerful practice for connecting with ourselves in a holistic, mindful way. Through each posture, yoga invites us to see our bodies not as isolated parts that need fixing, but as whole, dynamic systems.

By integrating breath, movement and stillness, yoga helps us to regain control and agency over our bodies. Iris Marion Young* (1990) explored the experience of the female body, noting that we often view our bodies as fragile and ‘in-the-way’, rather than as tools to help us achieve our goals. Instead of focusing on what we want to accomplish, we often find ourselves preoccupied with whether our bodies are functioning as they should. Rather than fixating on what our bodies can do for us, as Young suggested, yoga invites us to shift our focus to what we wish to do through them — to move through the world with purpose, presence, and intention.

As we deepen our awareness and attune to our bodies, we move towards deeper experiences of wellbeing, where we no longer just manage our bodies but nurture them, strengthening the mind-body connection. Through regular yoga practice, we can become more attuned to our bodies and, in turn, more confident in what our bodies can achieve. 

Yoga’s holistic approach offers a strong counterbalance to the illness-focused, biomedical model of health. Yoga helps us see health as something constantly changing, shaped by what we do and how we experience our bodies each day. Grounded in the principles of salutogenesis (the study of the origins of health), yoga offers a refreshing alternative to the narrow idea of health as just the absence of illness.

How does yoga help you feel more connected to your body and confident in its capabilities? Comment below.

1. Iris Marion Young’s work on the body remains relevant not only for feminine experiences but for all gendered bodies, as it speaks to the universal challenges of how we perceive and engage with our bodies in the world.

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Susan is a teacher and a long-time student of the 26+2 hot yoga sequence. In addition to teaching and her day job, Susan is a phenomenology researcher focused on how we experience and interpret the world around us.

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