#InstaYoga Like Nobody's Watching

Word on the street is that yoga isn't meant to be a spectator sport. One of my teachers likens the mat to a front porch and gently reminds the class to "stay on your porch." Yoga is an individual practice best accomplished without comparing ourselves to those around us.

What about Instagram yoga? Staying on the porch or strutting past the neighbor's porch? Full Disclosure: I post yoga pix. [See The (Papa)razzi Part]. I don't post Instagram pix in general and not "Instagram Yoga"" pix in particular--i.e. the OMG, circus-y, stylized, heavily hashtagged #thinhotchickinbikiniamazinginversionarmbalanceposeeverydamndayinexoticlocale30dayschallenge photos.

These photos are not actually selfies, unless the posers are so flexible they can snap the pose at its peak and remain intact. Mostly, they are amazing portraits of beautiful people looking young, thin, sexy, playful, hip, bendy, talented, coordinated, skilled, strong, and fit. People love these pix, seeing awe and finding inspiration, or hate them, seeing narcissism and finding inadequacy.

Is the Instayogi staying on the mat just capturing the practice and possibly the sense of discipline, accomplishment, and joy by putting it out there? Is she throwing shade on your mat ? Do you judge the pose, the person, and/or yourself?

When you look at a photograph, you can't always know the mind of its subject or the intent of its taker, but you can always take away something. Sometimes, you are getting the vibe and sometimes you are projecting. While I am capable of thinking "that bitch is totally dissing my body and my inversions" when I see a yogi with killer abs handstanding on The Eiffel Tower, I can also think "wow!"

Whether it's implied or inferred, when I see a circus pose hashtagged all to hell with #yogaeverydamnday, #strikeapose #30daychallenge #21daysofyoga  #poseaday #yogababe #yogabutt, #blahblahblah, I feel sad. This is coming from someone unafraid to bust a tag, and yet I sense lonely wistful, at times, desperate vibes.

Circling back to the metaphor, the Instayogi isn't tryna be a badass and step on your mat, she's trying to be affirmed. I feel it's not always a play for followers and free swag.  It's a variation of "if a tree falls in the forest...." It's often a fear that if you do a 30 day pose challenge on your porch, did you really do it if none of the neighbors saw. It's not a ploy for attention, it's a prayer to be seen. The more advanced the pose, the more true the affirmation?

Try the porch, Instayogi. Try a pose. Try a challenge. Try a practice. On your mat. See how it goes. Dance #InstaYoga like nobody's watching.