We know, we know; it’s super hard to tear yourself away from your phone these days. The social media algorithms have us in a chokehold, making us want to check out what’s going on in the world or in your favorite influencers and celebrities lives every few minutes. Even when you’re having lunch with a friend, you most likely take out your phone from time to time to maybe show them the latest update from a mutual friend, or to look up information on what you two are talking about. This kind of behavior is something we really need to wean ourselves off of, and it’s not easy, even if you have apps to help you stay off your phone like Focus Friend. (Check it out; it’s super cute, and you’ll really want to stay away from your phone a lot longer so your bean friend can finish working on his socks. Explaining it like this, we get that it sounds strange, but give it a try so you can see what we’re talking about!)
That’s why every chance we get to really stay away from our phones for a while feels like such a rare gift, and yoga and Pilates classes give you the opportunity to do exactly that. Both types of classes require you to be fully present as you go through each move, and they provide you with the space to focus, concentrate on your breath, and work on moving mindfully. Having your phone out is not exactly conducive to your practice, and having it within easy reach chips away a little at your attention, because you’re hyperaware that it’s just there waiting for you to take a break and scroll. And then you also have to think about your classmates. You’re all there for different reasons, but one reason you have in common is that you’re looking for a break from your busy day and cultivate a peaceful space for yourselves even for just a couple of hours. If you somehow unfortunately forget to turn off your phone or put it on silent and it goes off during class, that would be very distracting and will take everyone out of the moment.
That’s why people are generally discouraged from bringing their phones with them to the mat. Stow them away in your bag and in your locker—that’s absolutely fine. Yoga and Pilates teachers are generally pretty chill, but you don’t want to push your luck and take out your phone during class. You’re all adults in the room, and presumably, you’re all able to comprehend why mobile phones shouldn’t be used during class and follow such a simple rule. You wouldn’t want the rules to suddenly change and for the studio to treat you like misbehaving kids, requiring you all to, say, leave your phones at the front desk and pick them up only after class.
What if you need to have your phone out because you’re recording yourself during class? That’s a whole different topic altogether, but to put it simply, it’s best to ask your teacher first if it’s all right for you to record during class, and make sure that you’re only getting yourself in the frame, keeping other people out of it for the sake of privacy. If you’re thinking of doing this, however, you might want to think long and hard about why you want to record yourself. Is it for you to revisit a pose and figure out how to improve your form? Is it to document your workout outfit for the day? Is it for your socials? Figuring out the answer here will help you figure out in turn whether it’s right to record yourself during class.
The key word always is RESPECT—for your teacher, your classmates, the atmosphere of the place, the concentration, effort, and mindfulness required by the practice. An hour or so without your phone won’t hurt you; in fact, it might even teach you how to focus and let you rediscover how much peaceful your mind can be without the constant notifications and social media slop.
Photo by cottonbro: https://www.pexels.com/@cottonbro