Presence & Beauty
I’ve recently listened to a podcast that pointed out that humans are not supposed to see ourselves as much as we do. Full length mirror in your porch or bedroom? – guilty! That’s just the beginning. With everyone around us carrying a cell phone we take an enormous number of photos and since we can take an unlimited amount, we can take and retake until we are “happy”. Last week while at a restaurant I saw two young ladies in a beautiful setting. One posing perfectly while her friend directed her on how to move her head, legs, and where to place her arms for the ideal shot, the perfect angle. An amateur photoshoot right before my eyes and we know this is not a new concept.
When thinking about this week’s inspiration I searched for when the first selfie took place. Turns out it was 1939! An American photographer by the name of Robert Cornelius. However, it was the early 2000’s when smartphones began with front-facing cameras and in 2013 “selfie” was the Oxford English Dictionary’s ‘Word of the Year”.
The point of this is by 2013 the general population saw themselves more and more. While it led to capturing more moments with loved ones, it has also led to more opportunity to pick apart everything we dislike about ourselves. It is said that seeing ourselves so much has increased our anxiety and depression. We are not meant to analyze every angle of our body, every freckle, wrinkle, or grey hair. Wait! “Where did that come from?” What’s worse? It gives others the opportunity to “pinch” photos and zoom in on the very things we hope nobody will ever notice. No wonder we are willing to take 20+ photos to get the “best” one. And don’t even get me started on filters…
But let’s step away from photos and videos this week. Can you? I want you to take your yoga off your mat. When you are engaging with people this week can you do it with captive presence? Can you look at the person, or people, in front of you and see their beauty right in front of you? No stills, just how beautiful they are in the moment. Try it. It’s like a breath of fresh air right to the lungs! Also, I promise that when you see that beautiful vison of them, they will feel it and their confidence will rise. What an amazing gift you can give in just a brief, intentional, exchange.
Here’s what our yoga looks like this week:
Remember to always practice within your own limits and take care of physical and emotional well-being. Use yoga props as suits your practice.
Yoga Off the Mat: Leave the camera behind. Can you take a full week without taking any photos. Enjoy the moments through your own eyes and see the beauty of everyone and everything around you through the lenses of your eyes and not a camera. If you are within a family visit or special occasion. Can you take the photos and wait to look at them until next week as a compromise?
Journaling: Take 5-10mins each day and reflect on some of your encounters. Notice how you talk about them when you must reach back to your memory rather than to the stored photos.
Yoga on the Mat: Refrain from recording, setting up a tripod, or sharing any photos or videos of your practice. Remove the mirrors. Focus solely on the feeling of your practice. Do a practice that comes naturally to you. Lose all train of thought when you don’t have a practice to follow? Try this simple sequence: (Mountain > Upward Salute > Warrior II: R/L) >( Mountain > Upward Salute > Warrior I: R/L) > (Mountain > Tree > High Lunge > Runner’s Lunge > Extended Child’s: R/L) > Child’s > Savasana
Wishing to learn more about the practice of yoga? Reserve Your Spot for the next 200HR yoga Teacher Training beginning September 6, 2025, and become a Certified Yoga Teacher before the end of 2025. We are 1/3 full. Looking for more details? Email stephaniepower.ayc@gmail.com.
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With gratitude,
-Stephanie