The Practice Space and Social Media
Most of the bigger decisions I make about our studio's public presentation, intention, and execution consume me. I often research, refer to books, podcasts, or news articles that will help me understand these decisions from many perspectives. This investment of my time feels purposeful. I care deeply about what we do here at The Practice Space and I'm determined to have an impact on our society's relationship to preventative health. It is my life's purpose.
With that said, decisions around social media can be fraught with issues that spark philosophical contemplations. I was recently put into a contemplative tailspin when trying to identify how our new brand can be on social media with integrity. I recently told our branding expert that I felt social media was evil. This opinion was personal and a repercussion of a book I read last summer. Stolen Focus by Johann Hari discusses different reasons outside of ourselves that we are losing the ability to be present and patient with real time. Simple things like reading a book or taking a 90 minute yoga class have become a rare experience. I assume that the author and I would agree that it is hypocritical to use algorithms that sensationalize concepts and images to create an addictive response as a marketing tool for wellness. The primary goal of social media companies is to increase the time a user is active on the application which is a trade-off for time we could be using for real sustainable change in our own lives and the world. Sadly, many wellness influencers are subject to that formula and prioritize their own personal gain on the platform over the progress of their followers. In contrast, I was personally pleased when that book stated the one true benefit of taking a yoga class was the ability to focus and pay attention. In such a scattered world I was excited about this validity to the in-person experience I have spent my life promoting.
Last march I left my personal social media page because I was truly addicted. The amount of time I have regained has brought quality to my most important relationships, resilience to my emotions during hard times, and joy to my practice. There is an increased amount of space in my mind and heart. Acknowledging that time is not renewable and that most evidence shows that social media has been detrimental to important causes and change, I ask the most important question; Why would I engage with my students and staff on such a manipulative and dangerous app that takes them away from their lives and impactful progress???
Two months following a somewhat awkward false start to our brand launch, I had my aha moment and realized how The Practice Space will engage on these platforms. Our vision is to create an embodied community, locally and globally, that will inspire permanent change in our cultural relationship to health. Our platform has an opportunity to be global and to spread the word of resilience and agency. I truly believe that you know what removes suffering, that your body is innately wise, and that regaining agency over your health and happiness is possible. I believe that by meditating, flowing, and simply connecting to your body's existence is the path towards seeing our vision become reality.
I will relentlessly, obnoxiously, and consistently advocate dedication to a real studio experience because that is real. You are real and you deserve time to be with you so that you can understand you and how you can make an impact both with yourself and with the world. I will remind you with my words on our channels, in my blog, and with our newsletters that practicing in community can be magical. Belonging to a community with other humans is as important as food and water. Make the trip, get out of your house, be in space together. You belong here. Anyone interested in living a life of agency and resilience belongs here. It is not an easy path, practicing yoga and pilates can be hard. They are similar to our wave-like life with peaks and valleys, happy and sad, ease and struggle. Our practice purely reflects the complex beauty of our broader tangible existence.
I understand that all of us have moments of disconnected scrolling and because my job is to advocate for you, I will be here kindly nudging you to come back to your practice.
