Do Yoga Selfies Help Or Hurt Your Yoga Practice?

Written by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health  • 

I know a friend who is so fat she takes selfies with Google Earth.

*Only if she ever did yoga*

Alright. Let me cut the crap and come straight to the point.

The other day I changed my Facebook display picture to something I had never envisioned even in my wildest dreams – me doing yoga in a yoga class.

And the next day I was the most popular person in my office; even more than my boss (hope he isn’t reading this). People were entangled in a web of wonder. ‘How on earth could you do that?’ – One of my friends asked.

Only then did I realize the impact a selfie can make. But hey, is clicking selfies while performing yoga useful? Or downright useless? The mere question hit me like a truck. And I hope it does to you too. (Not literally, though)

A Brief History Of The Yoga Selfie

Like most crazes flooding social media, this trend of yoga selfie was also started by celebrities.

  • Hilaria Baldwin (wife of actor Alec Baldwin) became a yoga personality with her ‘yoga posture of the day’ campaign on social media.
  • Other celebrities include Brazilian supermodel Gisele, who practices yoga every morning for an hour, and Miranda Kerr, another supermodel who is reportedly a fan of yoga and Pilates.

And then it spiraled its way into the brains of the normal public, turning into a phenomenon.

But Is It Really A Big Deal?

Depends on how you take it, if you ask me.

Most of us affected by this trend spend more time adjusting the camera angles than our body (Don’t give me that look now. I know you too are one of them).

But let’s look at the brighter side. There are people who share their yoga pictures because they are inspired by yoga and appreciate its beauty. And I think I am one of them too. (Yes. I really am. *puppy face*)

If you see the picture of someone performing a beautiful pose, chances are high that you would get motivated and do the same – which, according to me, is a healthy propagation.

Even I was so inspired once, that I ended up performing an unusual asana (Of course, it took me a while to tell my hands from my legs).

Social media sites like Instagram overflow with ‘yoga selfies’. And a handsome part of these are of yoga professionals and people who take yoga seriously. They are slim, flexible, and slender. (Like how I will be one day. Hopefully)

There is no doubt we have celebrities and other personalities who share yoga selfies only to have comments and hearts flying across their Instagram accounts. But then, there might be someone somewhere who can be motivated and get more serious about yoga, right? That, in my opinion, is the beauty of it.

It’s all in the perception, my friend.

So if you are one of those individuals who have embraced yoga for a cause, here’s a simple guide to clicking the perfect yoga selfie!

  • The Location

An exotic location, preferably. On the beach, or in the woods, or near a waterfall. If all that seems way too much, you can click one within your home or in a yoga class.

[ Recommended Read: Popular Yoga Retreats For An Entirely Different Experience ]

  • ­The Time

Sunrise or sunset is the best time to click the pic because you can get a beautiful skyline. Or else, a bright sunny day would also do the trick.

Want to try out a yoga sequence during sunrise? Sun Salutation Sequence (Surya Namaskara) is the best one to do. To learn the steps, watch this video tutorial:

  • The Pose

You got to be original. And you got to create a pose none has done before. Be as dramatic as possible, but don’t take it way too much. (One of my uncles did so. He is being displayed in the museum now)

  • The Outfit

Unless you are a yoga pro – I am telling you again – unless you are a yoga pro, keep it simple. The regular yoga attire would do (a tank top, and formfitting and stretchable pants).

[ Recommended Read: Best Clothes To Wear While Doing Yoga ]

  • ­The Social Media Platform

Instagram. Period.

  • The Hashtags

#yoga

#yogaaddict

#healthy

#loveyourlife

So coming back to the question – do yoga selfies help or hurt your practice? Well, like I said, it’s all in the perception. But one thing is true – selfie or no selfie, yoga is something you must welcome into your life right away.

Get busy living. And get busy doing yoga.

Banner Image Credit: www.istockphoto.com

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