Why I gave up Facebook

I quit Facebook earlier this week, cold turkey. I was waiting for my 8:00 am class to start, doing my usual scrolling and I realized, I really do not care if a person I went to high school with and talked to maybe twice is feeling sick or what my former coworker is up to. I do not give a damn where a person I was close to thirteen years ago went on vacation. Most certainly, I do not care how "cute" these people's babies are and how much they love them. They only post about it multiple times a day, I get it. 

Call me apathetic, or whatever you like, but I realized how much I really don't need Facebook. If I want to hear gossip and complaints, I'll just go to my hen-house of a workplace. At least there I get paid to listen to these people instead of using up my data. If I care about you, I'll keep in touch with you. I've even called my younger brother these past few days. On the landline. (whaaaat???)

I accrued this habit of scrolling the app morning, noon, and night, which is not uncommon for my generation, or even my parents' generation now. It was unhealthy, I gained nothing from it but frustration and occasional jealousy, some people went to some really nice resorts.In order to kick the habit, I replaced the Facebook app on my phone with the iPhone news app that I customized so that I would actually want to read the stuff. I have learned more about the world this week with that app than I have in years on Facebook. (No dad, I still won't read the paper. I can get an electronic version of the news stories for free on the phone that I have on hand anyway.)

Shane jokes at me to "get off my high horse". It's not a horse of any height, it's a relief. A detox of my brain that was built up for seven years. That habit took me through high school and half of college. I still have my Instagram account, I love looking at my friends' pictures (my best friend is a really good photographer). And puppies, who doesn't love puppies?

"So what does this have to do with yoga?" Inner peace, man. I have gained so much inner peace from kicking this habit. Even giving up social media for a short period of time can bring so much inner peace. We spend a disgusting amount of time comparing our social media personas to the social media personas of others, it's exhausting. Living to post instead of living to live. Few things are more draining than that. Call me crazy, but I care more about memories in my brain than memories on a website.

So how will I share this article if I don't share it through Facebook. It'll get around. If it doesn't, I write for myself anyway.

(Inner) peace out,
Dylan

Yoga Music

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "yoga music"?

For me, at first, it meant the standard relaxing instrumental music used in many yoga classes. Then, my very first yoga instructor, Michelle, put on some foreign pop music that was really catchy. A subsequent teacher at that same studio put on pop music as well, which I quite enjoyed.

The teachers after that, especially the ones who taught in the gym I attended, used the standard "yoga music".

You can practice yoga to whatever music you want! Relaxation music doesn't relax the people who don't enjoy it! Michelle used to practice to rock music, which, back in the '80s, was frowned upon in the yoga community. Why? I don't know. I love rock.

I love putting myself into my yoga classes, mainly through music. I love John Mayer and City and Colour, so I use them. I've got Etta James for my bit of Blues, Norah Jones's voice that makes me melt, and Adele's that makes me want to just sing at the top of my lungs. (fortunately for my students, I refrain) I've got pop, rock, blues, hip hop, alternative, instrumental, all kinds! People usually either love my choice of music and come up to compliment me, or remain in the blasphemy that not all of it is instrumental "yoga music". I, however, think it adds to my vinyasa classes. If you don't like it, ya don't have to come.

What music do you love to practice to?

Peace out,
Dylan