The Yoga of How You React

Yoga isn’t just what happens on the mat. It’s not just stretching, sweating, or breathing in a studio. Yoga is also what happens when you catch yourself mid-scroll - comparing your life to someone else’s. It’s what happens when you feel triggered by someone else’s Instagram reel or Facebook post. It’s how you respond to discomfort, envy, projection, or judgment - especially when it’s not pretty.

Despite what some may think, in those moments, you are still practicing yoga. Because yoga, at its core, is self-study. And what is a better teacher than your own reactions?

When the Mind Says: “They’re So Lucky…”

Let’s be real: most people don’t post the messy stuff. They post what people what they want people to see: the good stuff. The wins. The vacations. The love stories. The filtered joy. Most people post the best, most exciting, and shareable moments of their lives, and they should. One of the beauties I find in this is that those posts come up in memories later and, at times, remind us how great life truly is. This can help in tougher times.

This truth often gets lost in the noise of judgment. Not every joyful moment is an illusion.

Not every curated post is a lie. Sometimes, it’s just someone sharing joy in their life.

And yoga asks: can we learn to celebrate others… without putting down ourselves?

The Real Practice: Owning Your Response

If someone’s vacation, engagement, or success story stirs up jealousy within you…

That’s not the post’s fault. That’s a signal - an opportunity to become curious instead of critical. If you have envious behavior, then the posts (true/not true/fabricated/filtered) that are being said to have ‘caused’ this behavior are not the BIG issue…The bigger issue is the jealousy and envious behavior YOU are choosing to engage in and create.

This is yoga. This is svadhyaya, a self-study. Noticing where your mind goes, not blaming others for your feelings, but instead asking:

What am I believing about myself right now?
Where do I feel like I lack in life?
What story is jealousy trying to tell me?

Yoga doesn’t ask us to be perfect. It just asks us to be honest.

Pause, Breathe, Choose Again

When you catch yourself judging someone else’s post - or their life - the practice becomes:

Pause.
Take a breath.
Remember.

Are you choosing to compare? Or are you willing to celebrate?

Or are you brave enough to turn inward and ask what’s happening?

One way to cultivate this awareness is through a simple practice in Moments of Gratitude on the Mat. Here, I explore how pausing to notice and appreciate the small joys that life has to offer can transform not only your yoga practice but also your interactions off the mat. Each inhale can become a recognition of what nourishes you, each exhale a release of jealousy. With time, your gratitude will strengthen your presence, self-love, and the ability to celebrate others' joy without diminishing your own.

Nonetheless, we are all navigating grief, stress, fear, and uncertainty. And if someone chooses to share that joy online, why not let that joy be shared instead of shamed?

And If It’s Not For You… Move On

There’s no spiritual rule that says you have to consume every post, profile, and person. One of the beautiful things about social media is that if something or someone doesn’t align with you, you can unfriend, unfollow, block, or quietly step away. And you can do it without criticism or commentary. Because speaking poorly about others often says more about our inner state than it does about theirs.

That’s yoga, too.

Discernment. Boundaries. Knowing when to walk away from what drains you---without needing to tear it down first.

Let that be your practice:

Scroll consciously.
Respond with grace.
Unfollow with peace.
Breathe deeply and move on.

The Mat Is Everywhere

The yoga mat is just one space where the work happens. But the real practice shows up in how you treat yourself and others off the mat:

When you pause instead of initially reacting.
When you choose celebration over comparison.
When you take full ownership of your energy and your perspective.

Let this be a reminder:

To check in. To return to presence. To reconnect with the truth of who you are. And the next time you catch yourself scrolling on social media and feeling small, remember this:

Everyone’s carrying something. And everyone deserves to celebrate their joy when it comes.

Even you.