"In an age of speed, nothing is more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent that finding stillness."
I read Tias Little's words in his latest book "The Practice is the Path." I read them I wondered to myself 'did I write that?!' Because I feel them so deeply, he took the words right out of my mouth.
Ironically, having called my yoga brand 'Do Your OM Thing' I was in fact doing someone else's. I was entering into the rat race, the hustle, the misnomer that busyness equates to value. I was sponsoring this obscene data collection, thinking it would help my business, when really it only helps the data collector's. To this shocking discovery we can also add the environmental impact of powering and cooling huge data centres that collect EVERYTHING you post about and use to influence your future behaviours.
If you're thinking this article has taken an interesting turn (and when is she going to sell yoga?) well yea... I agree and I'll get to the yoga! I'm all hyped up because I watched the Social Dilemma (oh don't worry, there's more irony, because the Netflix algorithm knows me better than I know myself, and recommended the film to me. Bravo for using your AI to undermine my Human Intelligence). Having educated myself, I can't remain part of a culture that erodes agency and autonomy through ruddy wonderful and convenient technology that I'm so utterly addicted to (actually checked social media twice whilst writing this to see how many people have 'liked' my posts flouncing off social media).
My New Age
I now get lost more often. I don't have location settings on my phone. How's that for taking things slowly? My journeys are less direct but far more scenic. I person more prone to memes than me would say here 'perhaps in getting lost, I have actually found myself.'
I can be still. I have fewer accounts to check, and only meaningful conversations with friends and people I genuinely know. Not the masses of people I connected with online.
My mind is calmer. My eyes take in my surroundings, widen with delight, or narrow with concentration rather than remaining glazed over and scrolling down through news feeds.
These are all benefits of a regular yoga and mediation practice. Thank goodness I had those as my anchor. I'd have been in more of a mess if I didn't. I'm excited for my new age of... I don't know what yet. I don't need to know. It's been less than a week but I already feel a lot better, I'm living proof of how enriching it is to Do Your OM Thing on and off the yoga mat, and Tias is so right; going slow is exhilarating!
If you want a piece of this, there's no rush, I'm not going anywhere : ) When you're ready click here for details of my yoga and mediation course.
Or perhaps you see the community could benefit from you becoming a teacher, help others who needed guidance just like I did. The 2021 Yoga Teacher Training course is open for enrolment.
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