Social Media Ins and Outs for Yoga Teachers

We all know social media has been in its flop era for a while. Meta-owned platforms like Instagram have slowly morphed into Facebook in terms of ambiance. Instagram used to feel fun where we would share our creative hobbies, but it hasn’t been like that for a while. I remember the innocent novelty of sharing asana progress that has now become a cheap shot for people to hate on asana and yoga influencers. I also remember when minimizing asana was not a cheap shot, but a genuine critique of the commodification of yoga.

As I divested from online yoga spaces, I learned a few things about my mental health as a yoga teacher. So, here are some of my ins and outs for social media as a yoga teacher that I am carrying in the new year.

1. Gatekeeping myself from monitoring spirits.

We are told to speak about something to bring it into existence, and sometimes talking about it is how you make it happen. However, privacy is a luxury and not having to share everything you are doing is not only one of the best flexes in life, but also a way to maintain your peace.

There are folks who are unhappy with their lives, and use that unhappiness to hate from afar. Anyone who is in competition with me has already lost, because I was not about that in the first place. Anyone who hate follows me is only delaying their own healing process. These monitoring spirits have negative intent, whether they are aware of it or not.

I have learned this lesson a few times now that staying private until the time is right (which may be never for some folks) is a protective measure. Here is one small example. One time, I shared a yoga engagement that I would be teaching at, and it was one that I had been invited back to teach. After I posted, I was let go because my ethnic identity was not a good look for the organization that folded under some behind-the-scenes pressure.

2. Muting or removing accounts.

No explanation needed.

3. The content that I like to engage in is the content that I want to post.

In 2023, I vividly remember how shaming was weaponized in online circles. I can’t point to any one example, but there were many times I would scroll the feed or through stories and feel shame. Shame for not caring enough. Shame for not caring about this issue over this issue. Shame for not caring in a specific way that people perceived to be the correct and only one.

My social media habits of consumption have changed, and I’ve become less interested in sharing my yogic views the way that I was 2, 3, 4 years ago.

My practice of yoga remains serious and sacred, but I am interested to express that practice in ways that are inspiring, emotionally soothing and spiritually uplifting. I am on social media to relax, to learn, and to grow. I want my community to feel that way too.

What are your social media ins and outs for 2025?

Written By: Irene Lo