Modern Yogi’s Toolkit: Using Technology with Intention

The definition of modern yoga is constantly evolving. Are we modern yogis because we have more inclusive interpretations of traditional texts? Because we have the ability to step outside parampara, travel more, and hold more expansive views of tradition and what ‘the practice’ means to us? Or are we modern yogis because we can use our discrimination like never before — to decide, in an increasingly crowded and confusing space, what works for us and what doesn’t? Because we no longer feel apologetic about rejecting archaic practices, and choose instead to keep only those that serve us — so that the yoga tradition can evolve, as it has for centuries, rather than stagnate in the corridors of outdated rituals, norms, and beliefs?

What is helping modern day yogis, whether academics, practitioners, bloggers or social media influencers is tech. Today our phones, more than any other piece of technology, have the power to effect real change in our lives.

Technology has significantly transformed yoga practice, making it more personalized, interactive, and accessible. While I love the potential for fancy (and expensive) tech to revolutionise the way we practice, I feel real change lies in tech that is available and accessible for  the masses.  

These are the ways in which I have personally incorporated tech into my practice, and found that it enhanced the experience. I believe these are the best ways that the average Joe can incorporate tech into their yoga practice.

1. Enhance Your Practice - Smart Yoga Mats

   • A few months ago I received the YogiFi Smart Yoga Mat. This mat uses sensors and software to analyze your posture, alignment, and weight distribution in real time. The practitioners get immediate feedback and can modify their asanas based upon this feedback. What I really like is that you can actually see the asana on your TV and perform it. In this way practitioners can also learn the names of the asanas, which is an added advantage for those looking to deepen their practice. 

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For me this mat comes in handy when I'm looking for a change. Think Sunday mornings when the house is still asleep and I want a yoga routine to wake me up. I also like the quality of this yoga mat. The downside is that the mat is just a little too heavy for travel.

2. Build a Habit - Video Platforms

   • There are numerous video libraries dedicated to yoga routines. These platforms go beyond the virtual Zoom classes to provide students with an experience that’s almost game-fied. You can keep track of how many and which classes you’ve completed and get an idea of how many more are left. This feeds into people’s desire to feel accomplished and like they’ve ‘done something’. It also helps you keep track of your workouts/yoga practices so that you feel encouraged to continue practicing. As a practitioner, I love the fact that I can practice any time and get high-quality videos that can not only build or support a habit.

3. Take a Pause - Virtual Reality (VR) Yoga Retreats & Workshops

   • A friend of mine once asked me if I’d like to join her and another friend for a retreat. We would do kirtan, restorative yoga and satsang, right from the comfort of our homes. I prepared for the event by making sure my yoga space was clean and uncluttered. I burnt my favorite incense and wore light, comfortable clothes. And for about two hours I slowly swayed to a beautiful kirtan, unwound a tight body and mind and nourished my spirit. Virtual Reality Yoga Retreats can give you some very real benefits. It would be ideal to be able to go away to a new location and come back rejuvenated, but not everyone has the time or resources for that. An online retreat is the perfect way to create a haven in your own home.

I firmly believe that tech can’t replace practicing in an actual studio or on retreat. But it can support it. And in many cases, it already is. Smart mats, virtual classes, AI platforms — they’re tools. Whether they deepen or dilute your yoga depends entirely on how you use them. Like any other tool in yoga — from a wooden brick to a mantra — tech has no inherent value unless wielded with discernment.

It matters how we use our tools, because tools shape our habits. They condition the body, the breath, and the mind in subtle ways. If we don’t know how to use a prop, we don’t blame the prop — we seek guidance. The same logic must apply to technology. Dismissing tech as a threat to ‘real’ yoga ignores a fundamental truth: we live in a digital world, and it’s a fallacy to think we can remain untouched by it. Tech is already in our lives, our practices, our minds. The challenge is to learn to use it skilfully — with the same awareness and integrity that we bring to our yoga practice.