by Deanna Aliano
©Jeffrey
Vock
As I sit here, checking my
email on my computer, responding to a Facebook post on my phone and listening
to music on my iPod, I am reminded of how much life has changed over the past
decade.
It wasn’t that long ago that most people didn’t have cell phones or
iPods, and I can still remember when the Internet was the new big thing. Social
networking hadn’t even occurred to anyone and we actually had to use a CD Rom
of an encyclopedia for research.
Times change and the way we
do things has to change, too. How does all this change and advancement affect
our ancient practice of yoga? I
guess it depends on your perspective.
The internet, with all its
social media sites and continuous distractions, has been touted by many as the
evil downfall of society. It’s easy to get lost in the overwhelming sea of
information and chatter. Marriages have ended, new ways of bullying have developed
and many people have been coaxed online to do things they normally wouldn’t do
in public, all while spending time on the Internet.
But, with all its
negatives, there have been many
positives. Just as bad information is out there, so is good:
· You can go online at
any time and find articles on yoga, both spiritual and physical.
· You can research
religious ideas such as Hinduism or Buddhism, finding out why most
practitioners choose not to eat meat or how they go about their meditation
practices.
· You can research
veganism and find a plethora of recipes and articles on the best ways to go
about it.
· You can even find
support on your spiritual or health-related paths, and friends to chat with and
commiserate with when your journey goes through a difficult patch.
· There are movies to
watch at the click of the button, showing you how others have managed on their
paths.
· There are book
reviews, podcasts and radio shows about every aspect of yoga imaginable.
For some, afraid to venture
into a yoga classroom because they can’t yet touch their toes, this provides a
safe way to start practicing.
On Twitter and Facebook,
there are multitudes of people spreading positive words and photos reminding
you why yoga is so wonderful. Many people post photos of yoga poses, which
leads to inspiration for many yogis, like me, to get to the mat.
Most yoga studios now have
websites, Facebook, and Twitter accounts that you can follow to be reminded of
upcoming classes, events and even just to spread the word of some wonderful
things taking place in the studio. It builds
a sense of community so you
still feel like part of it, even when you can’t make it to class.
It’s really not just the
Internet that makes technology a positive development for yoga. Most yoga
teachers use an iPod to play the background music for their classes; many often
finding new music to introduce to students, furthering the artistic endeavors of
their favorite performers and adding variety to their classes. Some teachers
may keep class notes on their iPad so they can remember to share all the
information in a lecture, or perhaps a reading they thought particularly useful
to the class.
I’ve recently
stumbled across a meditation app that has proved quite useful. The app has a
timer that can be easily set to go off only at the end of your session or at
intervals during your practice. I’ve used it on my own and in classes,
instructing to practice pranayama until the first gong, followed by meditation
after that.
Of course, there are
downfalls to technology. I have witnessed students bringing their phones into
class, hoping to check their email in the middle of a vinyasa flow. It happens
so often that I often wonder if there is a Phonecheckasana…
It’s a distraction, which is something yoga is supposed to help us stay away
from.
One positive thing about
the technological distractions is that there is more of a need for people to
find a physical place to connect... to belong. I believe this is why many yoga
studios are enjoying increased class sizes and repeat business. People crave
that place where they can feel comfortable
in their own skin again, where they feel respected by themselves and
others, free from judgment.
All in all, yoga may
benefit greatly from the changes in technology as long as the practitioners can
find a way to keep it from becoming a constant distraction from their practice.
With the help of all the yogis out there trying to spread the joys of yoga, I’m
sure it will be a wonderful thing!
