Social Media is bad! Or is it .. ?
Whilst winter feasting at The Centre on Sunday there was a discussion about the rapid increase in social networking in this digital age and whether people were turning towards yoga as a way to nourish their soul.
The conversation went along the lines of how social media skewed peoples idea of “normal” and how looking at their friends jaunting across the world to beautiful destinations made them feel somehow less than worthy. They then touched on how people were too busy sharing their moments (complete with re-takes and filters) to enjoy their moments.
Whilst I agree with the latter point, I’ll be honest and say most of the conversation went over my head, because I’m one of those “make believe Yoginis” who basically just like to make pretty shapes with their body and do not hesitate for a second before plastering that shite all over social media.
Instagram has a lot to do with my return to yoga and my continuance of a daily practice. The instagram “challenges” I partake in give me the added incentive to make time for me and my mat (or should that be my mat and I?) either way, I spend time breathing, moving and maintaining. Then near the end of my practice once I’m warmed up I’ll give the instagram challenge pose/s a go, some days more successfully than others.
In fact, if it wasn’t for the instagram challenges I wouldn’t attempt (and persevere) with half the poses that I’ve managed to attain through patience and practice so although social media has it’s detractors I think it’s more the end user than the application itself that’s the problem.
No one’s online “brand” exactly reflects their everyday reality after all life isn’t perfect BUT it does have perfect moments. Embrace your moments (and share them later on in the week when you have some down time). 😉
PS – You should definitely read “What I Instagrammed vs. What Was Really Happening, Or My Entire Life Is A Life” for an insight into how “real” what you see online really is. Number 11 literally made me LOL.
Till next time
