Picture Perfect Moments.

I went to a yoga class at the top of the One World Observatory. I think I’ve said this before, but I just love New York. I do. I’ve traveled around the world (lucky, privileged me) and I’ve seen so many incredible places, but the Big Apple has never lost its luster where I’m concerned.

My fair city is struggling right now for many reasons, several of which are shared by other major metropolis’ and still- she’s a beaut.

It was hazy and fairly humid around the time the class was going to start, and despite all that, we had a perfect view of nearly the entire city from way up in the clouds. Tall skyscrapers and fluffy white clouds for as far as the eye could see. It took my breath away.

We had ample time before the class to take photos of the majestic vista that was literally 360 degrees around us, and we certainly took advantage of this time; pressing our noses against the glass and marveling at the world below.

And then, I looked around and noticed something strange happening in the class.

I want to preface this by sharing a few facts. One- I’m a yoga teacher on the side, and have been for well over a decade. I love yoga. What I love most about yoga, which I may have shared previously, is that it’s a movement (and spiritual) practice that is accessible to all- no matter your physical, emotional, or mental limitations. There is a yoga for everyone. Every body. Every mind.

Outside of teaching, I practice yoga or meditation nearly every single day of my life, whether it be ten quick minutes of focused breath or a full, hour-long practice. They all feed me in the way that I need in that moment.

Another fact: I have a social media presence. It’s not significant and I certainly don’t have scads of followers. But I do post about my life. I do this mostly to record events and places and people, like an album of sorts. I also do it so I can share my joy or sentiments with others. And sure, there is an egoic side to it. Anyone who tells you that their social media life is as pure as the driven snow without any thought or agenda is likely fibbing. Not 100%, but probably close to 90%.

I post, I follow, I comment, I unfollow, I share, I rage, I laugh. I’ve learned about restaurants and yoga poses and recipes and beautiful dresses. I’ve learned about the best hiking trails and the most remote Air BnBs and the best peanut butter brands. Social media has made me excited, jealous, sad, happy, inspired, and exhausted. Overall, I find my use to be healthy. I approach it like I do many other things in my life- with moderation. And when I find that I’ve had enough, I take a break. No sweat.

Okay, now onto the main attraction- my story.

There were four or five young women in the class, all clad in Alo Yoga wear (brand reps? Influencers?) who spent the entirety of the pre-class time putting themselves into yoga-like and other faux dreamy/sexy/strange poses and taking photos and videos of themselves and one another. Actually, they spent a good deal of time after class doing the same.

When I observed this phenomenon, and then shared my observations with a friend who accompanied me to the class, she told me that I was being mean. Or rather, she told me not to be mean.

Was I being mean?

Yeah, maybe. Maybe not mean, but perhaps judgmental. I harkened back to my experience in Peru when I was absolutely bewitched by a young woman who spend the better part of twenty minutes with her back to the absolutely stunning landscape surrounding Machu Picchu in favor of a bizarre meditation inspired photoshoot in a giant, wooly sweater. I remember being driven to distraction. I wanted to yell at her to turn the fuck around- to see the glory that was all around her.

Alas, I am not the arbiter of humans and their experiences and that would have been entirely out of bounds. I found it a little sad, and also, accepted that was the experience that she wanted in that space. I did not want that experience, and that is the beautiful thing about humans. We get to each pave of our path, mostly.

So yes, perhaps I was judging these women for not taking in the sanctity of the space, the beauty of our unified movement, and the specialness of the many, unique bodies breathing together, as one.

Their vibe was, well, somewhat artificial. I couldn’t help but wonder if they actually received the mind-body connection that is the yoga practice, or everything was just a ‘Gram/Tik Tok opportunity.

And then, I thought about my own behavior and the way in which I share, and the things I keep sacred and off media, entirely.

Is that because of who I am or because of the generation in which I was raised? Would I act the same exact way if I were in my twenties or even early thirties? As a woman of nearly forty-four, is it possible that I just wasn’t conditioned to have the same kind of experience?

Then, the yoga teacher came over to my friend and me to have a brief chat. I had thanked her after the class and she was coming over to follow up for a moment. She mentioned that she had taken a time lapse video of part of the class and asked if we wanted to follow her on Instagram so that we could be tagged in it. Of course, yes. Yes? Yes.

So, am I the same? Is it just that my thirst for this attention, this experience in engaging with the world, comes in a slightly different form? Is it just that my appetite is a little small, but still ever-present?

I don’t want to judge. I want to be that person that allows each person to occupy the corner of the universe they feel most comfortable in. Am I jealous? No. I’m truly not. I think it’s that I worry.

What do I worry about?  

The human connection. That pure human experience of looking around and making eye contact and seeing each other and feeling each other out in a way that only happens when we really see. Not through a phone camera lens, not in a video or a Reel, but in real life. Real, real life, not IRL.

If we lose that, do you think we can ever get it back? Will we return to the realness of taking something in fully without a device much like we’ve returned to skorts and crop tops? Or, are we destined to move away from that forever into a new kind of experience? Is that new experience something that will eventually better serve this version of humanity?

I don’t know the answers, but I know a few things, as follows: For every five photos the world sees, there are one thousand more in my head. Whatever I have stored in my brain is one million times more beautiful than anything I could capture with my iPhone. A hug is not a weird emoji with short arms sticking out of a smiley face, but rather, two human bodies pressing together, flesh, muscle, fat, sweat, and love.

Tomorrow is not promised. Today is a gift. Take pictures, capture videos, but for the love of all things sacred- take a minute, eyes open or closed, and breathe it all in.

All of it. Good, bad, and everything in between, because man, oh man, is it worth it.

Xo

L.