Forget the yogi in the cave.
Spiritual practitioners often have a reputation for being tech-illiterate. While I know this isn’t true in many circumstances, here’s a short list of ways that technology can actually help connect us more fully to the amazing wonders of yoga and spiritual practice.
1. Meet teachers you’ve never practiced with and try out different yoga styles.
This is probably my favorite of the list. For several years, I practiced almost exclusively to yoga podcasts and downloads. It was a fantastic way to tap into the resources of phenomenal yoga teachers from across the country (and across the globe). Yoga downloads, podcasts and streaming video give us the opportunity not only to take class with teachers that we’ve heard about, or that others have recommended, but it also gives us a chance to practice new styles of yoga right in our living room.
Downloading great classes onto our laptop, iPad and other devices makes our yoga mobile and puts the power of our practice back into our hands. If we’re tied up at work and miss yoga class, no problem, because class starts anytime we want. Also, we can find classes that are the perfect length and level. It’s all at our fingertips. With the advent of awesome websites like Yogadownload, YogaGlo and Ihanuman, there’s never an excuse to miss our practice. It’s virtually there, 24/7.
2. Interact with yogis you’ve never met.
It’s a digital world out there, and for the digital yoga gal (or guy), there are a plethora of places that yogis are starting to interact with each other and share some dialogue. The yoga news spreads quickly via yogi-specific outlets for interaction like the beloved Yoganonymous and Whereismyguru. These are places where the yoga community comes together to discuss teachers, causes and news, and share insights and support.
If you want to know where the best workshops are this weekend, the Yoganonymous newsletter will let you know, and the Where is My Guru weekly radio will keep you up to date on exactly what’s happening in the yoga world. You can even connect to the Bali yogi scene on Yogitimes.
Facebook and Twitter posts keep you apprised of which of your favorite yoga teachers are going to be where and which yoga charity they’re raising money for at the moment. It’s all happening online, and when we get into it, we actually get a lot out of it.
3. Get advice on yoga you never thought to ask.
Turns out yogis are awesome writers. And the other great thing about that is they’re bound to write about our favorite topic: yoga. When they do, you can learn things about the practice that you never knew. Kino MacGregor will teach you how to harness your Ashtanga yoga power on elephant journal. Kathryn Budig will show you how to juice yourself raw on MindBodyGreen and Elena Brower will turn your attention toward the greater good on her Huffington Post blog.
It’s a free world full of free information just waiting to change your consciousness. There are great teachers taking the time to post, write and educate via the net.
It is crucial to make yoga accessible. We can do this with technology. There are lots of outlets where yogis can practice, share and learn information. Take advantage of what the digital age has to offer. I’ll look forward to reading your latest Twitter post soon!
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