Yoga: A Technological Breakthrough

Good HealthGood Tech

Written by: Trane West

Views: 63

Living in a world where we are constantly immersed in technology, lines are often blurred as to what reality we live in. We may find ourselves asking where our humanity lies, or how we can prevent ourselves from becoming a product of this ever growing technology. I would love to tell you to just disconnect and step away, take a breather, get some fresh air, but it’s not always that simple. Today many of our livelihoods depend on technology to literally keep the lights on. So the real question then becomes: “How can we best utilize technology to re-connect to our humanity?”

While the possibilities to answering this question may seem endless, I’m here to simplify things with one word: Yoga. Why Yoga? Because yoga helps clear your mind, strengthens your body, and can bring you to a state of being where you feel whole—like a complete person. Yoga is a discipline that offers anyone and everyone a safe place to seek out answers about themselves that we may have never known to ask. Yoga doesn’t discriminate based upon anything, and you can take your practice any direction you like. It’s all your own.

So now you are probably thinking, “Great. Yoga. I’m not really sure how this helps me. I don’t really have time.” Before I continue, let me say that I am a huge advocate for in-person Yoga classes, as there is a certain community there that you just can’t replace. But I’m also a realist. Our lives are busy and we need to squeeze in “me time” when and where we can. Thanks to technology, you no longer need to rush to a class to get your Yoga on. The online world of Yoga has a huge presence—all you need to know is what you’re looking for.

Apps, online videos and tutorials, as well as live, real-time sessions are all easily accessible and offer a wide variety of Yoga options. You can find just about anything you need, and best yet, you are in complete control of when you practice. Now that you’ve been given back the power over your well being, let’s look at what some of these options have to offer.

If you’re looking for peace of mind and more mental grounding, there are some great Apps that allow you to choose the length of time you meditate. Some Apps even help you build an on-going practice, and offer a variety of music and guidance. Digital downloads are also a great option as you can store them on your smartphone or tablet and have them accessible anytime you need them. Another great option, for those with a little more time, is online videos, as they often combine audio with visual. The combination of sight and sound in our meditation can prove to be quite impactful as it touches upon two of our senses versus the one.

Maybe you’ve made up your mind and your head is clear, but your legs could use some stretching. Once again, Apps are a great resource as they offer a variety of options such as HD recorded videos with poses and breakdowns, the ability to design your own personal sessions, and time is on your side as you dictate how long each session is. If you’re not as familiar with the poses of yoga, online videos are a great resource, as they offer a variety of styles for you to choose from. My biggest piece of advice would be that if you’re unfamiliar with a style, try it out. You may find something that truly resonates with you.

If after all these suggestions you still feel yourself in need of something more, try a live one-on-one real time session over Skype. These sessions are as close to a class as you can get without being in a classroom. Real time sessions not only provide you with a tailored experience, but also allow you the ability to ask questions and communicate your needs. You get a very personal experience which can make the whole experience a little more human.

Remember, your humanity doesn’t have to be a thing of the past, no matter how many hours a day you are locked into technology. Use the tools at your fingertips to help guide you to a more balanced life. Create space and time wherever you can to reconnect to you, even if it’s in public. Don’t worry, no one is watching—they’re most likely on their smartphone.

www.TraneWest.com

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