Unmasking Yourself: Finding Authenticity Beyond the Scroll
The Fear of Being Truly Visible in a Filtered World
Today I want to talk about something that’s been close to my heart and on my mind a lot lately. Ever since starting my online business and having to “put myself out there”, there’s been this lingering fear of being visible. I don’t just mean showing up. I mean being truly visible. Not hiding behind the filters, perfectly curated content or the unspoken rules about how we “should” present ourselves to the world. If you’re also feeling pulled into a world of fakeness and scared of expressing the real you, then read on. I want to share how yoga can support you on this unmasking journey.
Social media definitely has its uses, but let’s be honest, it constantly feeds us an “idealised” version of who we should be, how we should be living our lives, what we’re missing out on and maybe even how we must look. This constant stream of curated perfection plants a quiet but powerful message: we’re not good enough as we are.
Sthira Sukham: Finding Steadiness and Comfort in Who You Are
I’ve felt this pressure deeply and sometimes still do. Especially as a yoga teacher, I have such a love/hate relationship with that space. Social media is full of the “perfect” yoga body, the “perfect” poses, extreme flexibility and exotic backdrops. But at its core, this is so far removed from what yoga truly is. In yoga, we seek sthira sukha - a posture that is both steady and comfortable. And isn’t that what we’re all really searching for in life?
To feel grounded in who we are, yet soft and accepting of our imperfections. Yoga means union - the union of mind, body, and soul, yes, but also the union between all of us. We are all connected. So why do we feel the need to compare and compete, to conform, or to hold fear of being judged just for being ourselves?
Yoga: A Path to Union and Connection, Not Comparison
I am not your “perfect” yoga body, yoga pose type teacher. I am me, a mum and expat slightly softer around the edges from the daily stresses of life but living with intention and presence every day. I’ve battled depression and an eating disorder from feeling so disconnected and unhappy with who I was.
Yoga has helped me to reconnect with myself, reveal what I have to offer and realise that the curated version of social media doesn’t support me. Just like our breath anchors us in the present moment, our authentic self lives there too. Unburdened by past expectations or future anxieties.
Simple practices have grounded me: breathwork (try inhale 4 and exhale 6 as a starter), standing tall and strong in my beautiful body with Mountain Pose, and when I need to turn inward, finding solace in Child's Pose. Or simply sitting in the stillness. These are my go-tos when I need to retreat into that inner sanctuary of stillness - the place where I can just be, not do. In the stillness lies your power, truly.
The Power of Stillness: Listening to Your Inner Voice
Try it now, close your eyes (if you can, or just soften your gaze), sit and notice your breath, feel your heart, tune into the sensations on your skin. Don’t worry if thoughts enter your mind; let them flow. Pay attention to the space you create in your body with each inhale and how much you relax and soften on the exhale. Listen to your inner voice, embrace your weird, and turn down the external noise.
Yoga teaches us to listen. It teaches us to listen to the subtle cues of our body. Tension, ease, discomfort. These sensations are signposts, guiding us back to alignment with our true selves and highlighting where we are pushing ourselves to conform to external expectations.
Embracing Your Shadows: The Truth of the Human Experience
Know that these feelings of fear, shame and sadness are all normal. They are part of the human experience. Even your shadowy self needs a hug. Without the dark, we cannot live in the light. Yoga helps us to accept who we are, what we need and how to just be. This aligns beautifully with the yogic principle of Satya, or truthfulness, asking us to be honest not just with others but more importantly, with ourselves. Even when that truth doesn’t match the shiny version of life online.
On the mat, this might look like noticing how a pose feels instead of how it looks. Through paying close attention to the sensations in our bodies during a pose, we let go of the mental chatter and tap into a deeper, more intuitive understanding of ourselves. That’s where alignment and authenticity live.
Stepping into Your True Identity: Let's Be Brave Together
I’ve learned through the wisdom of teachers like Brené Brown that vulnerability is your strength. It’s where the magic happens, where real connections begin and how we learn to treasure the most important relationship of all, the one with ourselves.
Putting myself out there, making myself visible, has freed me. Yes, it’s scary, but it has also shown me I can be safe. It’s shown me I can accept myself, and I must stay authentic. My job is to guide you through a transformative journey, but I cannot do that unless I am showing up as me. I owe it to you to express myself fully and wholeheartedly, and I hope that in doing so, I give you the courage to do the same.
Ready to Unplug and Reconnect?
Let’s be brave together. Let’s step into our true identities. Let’s use the tools of yoga to reconnect with who we truly are. If you’ve felt something by reading this, I’d love for you to take your journey further. I have a 5-Day Digital Detox designed to help you break away from the noise of social media and step into a daily life of presence and calm.
It includes simple yoga and mindfulness practices to help you tune inward and rediscover your authentic self, away from the noise of social media. If you need to unplug but don’t know how to then sign up here. It’s completely free.