As a yoga teacher, I often find yoga-related inspiration outside of my yoga practice that has relevance in yoga. This morning was one of those instances. While waiting for my turn on one of the squat racks, I observed a behavior that is relevant in modern yoga today: videography and privacy.

 

As I waited for my turn on one of the squat racks for 30 minutes, one girl set up her camera, recorded her set, watched it, edited it, and repeated it, followed by a 5-minute session to take the perfect selfie in the mirror of her butt. A total of 30 minutes without consideration for anyone else in the crowded gym nor the privacy of other gym-goers. 

 

As a yoga teacher, I firmly believe that we create a safe space for students to practice and be within themselves through breath, awareness, and movement. My obligation as a teacher (as well as the studio's) is to ensure that everyone has a place to practice without the chance of showing up on someone else's social media page, whether it be another student's, the teachers', or the studios'.

Suppose one feels the need to validate one's yoga practice. In that case, the obvious solution is to practice somewhere alone or in a setting where everyone has provided explicit permission. At that point, record the entire thing and post whatever you like. There are plenty of options where the privacy of others is respected, and you can still let all your followers know you did yoga. Seems like a win-win for everyone.

 

As yoga teaching professionals, it should be our responsibility to relay this etiquette information to students and abide by it ourselves. As a yoga teacher, I have never given permission for my image or voice as I teach to be used anywhere else. As a yoga student, I have also never provided that permission, yet I can count instances where my likeness has shown up in a studio's and other student's social media feeds.

 

Now, I know this may be a source of income for so-called "influencers," which is fine. You do you! But again, do it on your own. There is a time and place that does not violate everyone else's right to practice in a safe space, free of the worry they will be background fodder in some "influencers" effort to promote themselves.

 

I have been asked why I don't photograph or video when I teach as a way of promotion, and my response is always the same. "They are not my images to share." When I teach a yoga class, it is not about me but about holding space for every student who shows up. Yoga is sacred to some. Yoga is private for others. While we may be in a public class, we will never know the inner work any individual puts forth, so it is not our right to use other’s journey for self promotion.

 

As yoga teachers and students, we sometimes have to let go of our ego and ask ourselves, "What is our intention behind why we feel the need to share?"