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Three Reasons Why Yogis Need to LOVE Technology

On November 6, 2012 in General by AlannaK

Three Reasons Why Yogis Need to LOVE Technology

1. Meet teachers you’ve never practiced with and try out different yoga styles.  This is probably my favorite of the list. For several years, I practiced almost exclusively to yoga podcasts and downloads back in the day. It was a fantastic way to tap into the resources of phenomenal yoga teachers from across the country (and across the globe). Yoga downloads, podcasts and streaming video give us the opportunity not only to take class with teachers that we’ve heard about, or that others have recommended, but it also gives us a chance to practice that new style of yoga we’ve been dying to try, but isn’t yet featured in our neck of the woods.  And, we can do it from our living room. Downloading great classes onto our laptop, iPad and other devices makes our yoga mobile and puts the power of our practice back into our hands. If we’re tied up at work and miss yoga class, no problem because class starts anytime in our living room. And, we can find classes that are the perfect length and level. It’s all at our fingertips.  Now there is never a reason to miss our practice. It’s virtually there, 24/7. Score one for yogis and technology.

2. Interact with yogis you’ve never met.  It’s a digital world out there, and for the digital yoga gal (or guy), there’s a plethora of places that yogis are starting to interact with each other and share some dialogue over a 160 word post. The yoga news spreads quickly via the obvious outlets of Facebook and Twitter, but there are also yogi-specific outlets for interaction like the beloved yoganonymous.com and whereismyguru.com. These are places where the yoga community comes together over their favorite teacher, causes and news, and where insight and support is shared.  If you wanna know where the best workshops are this weekend, the Yoganonymous newsletter will let you know, and the Where is My Guru weekly radio will keep you up to date on exactly what’s happening in the yoga world. You can even connect to the Bali yogi scene on YogiTimes.com. Facebook and Twitter posts keep you apprised of which of your favorite yoga teachers are going to be where and which yoga charity they’re raising money for at the moment. It’s all happening online, and when we get into it, we actually get a lot out of it.

3. Get advice on yoga you never thought to ask.  Turns out yogis are awesome writers. And the other great thing about that is they’re bound to write about our favorite topic: yoga. When they do, you can learn things about this awesome practice that you never knew. Kino MacGregor will teach you how to harness your ashtanga yoga power on Elephant Journal. Kathryn Budig will show you how to juice yourself raw on MindBodyGreen, and Elena Brower will turn your attention toward the greater good on her HuffingtonPost Blog. It’s a free world full of free information just waiting to change your consciousness. There are great teachers taking the time to post, write and educate via the net. It’s a little more accessible than trying to find the yogi in the cave. Awesome.

It is crucial to make yoga accessible. We can do this with technology. I’m giving this a go myself by putting my live classes on YogaDownload.com. You can download them with a discount code AlannaK2012. There are lots of outlets where yogis can practice, share and learn information. Take advantage of what the digital age has to offer. I’ll look forward to reading your latest Twitter post soon!

By Alanna Kaivalya

Alanna Kaivalya is an artistic and inspiring teacher of yoga. Born with a hearing impairment, Alanna learned through the power of vibration at a young age, and was then naturally drawn to the harmonic practice of yoga. Listed as Yoga Journal’s top 21 Yoga Teachers Under 40 (March, 2008), and now with more than a decade of teaching experience, she has developed a teaching style that is a unique combination of her spirit, her knowledge, and of course the teachers who have influenced her along the path. Read more about Alanna and The Kaivalya Yoga Method at alannak.com.

Download one of Alanna's classes on yogadownload.com today!

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