Can You Remember a Time Before Social Media?
I almost can. But for the last 12 years, I’ve been using social media almost daily to help promote my business. I know that many of you reading this found me through it. However, I’ve decided it’s time to quit. Here’s why.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means yoke or union. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen social media bosses and politicians act in ways that are the absolute opposite of union. Take, for example, the near-ban of TikTok in the United States. It seemed to clash with the country’s values of free speech, only to be reinstated as a political tool by the new President. It’s a stark reminder that neither you nor I control social media or what we see on it. Instead, it’s dictated by people we’ve never met, whose values might not align with ours.
We’ve also seen troubling decisions from Meta (Facebook’s parent company). Mark Zuckerberg recently rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in his organisation. This is as far from the spirit of yoga as you can get.
In my view, everyone who uses social media—especially for business—is essentially working for free for these companies. We’re not rewarded for our time and effort, which often leads to burnout and frustration. Personally, I’ve invested years into marketing on these platforms. Yet the older (and yes, fatter) I get, the less likely my content is seen. Why? Because the algorithms seem to favour younger, more conventionally attractive people or those who thrive on controversy. Some creators even resort to posting misleading or inflammatory content to go viral. Morally, I just can’t do that. And so, my time feels wasted.
My Word for 2025: "Enough"
For the past 6 to 12 months, I’ve suspected that my social media efforts were falling flat because my content—aimed at kind, truth-seeking, older women—doesn’t fit the algorithm’s preferences. Then, when I saw social media executives seated behind Trump at his inauguration, I thought, “ENOUGH!”
I don’t need to feed their companies with my time and energy, only to get so little in return. Instead, I’d rather dedicate that energy to creating new classes, writing directly to you through emails, and building something Albany has never seen before.
What Happens Next
Here’s what you can expect as I step away from social media:
More Emails
Starting this week, I’ll send out two emails each week instead of one:Sundays: A blog post with an educational slant.
Wednesdays: A more personal update.
As of Sunday, 15th February, I’ll no longer be active on social media. I’ll leave my pages live with my contact details, but that’s it.
New Classes for 2025
I’ve added three new classes to my timetable:Thursdays 7am: Vitality 30 Menopause Fitness
Thursdays 5:45pm: Yoga at King River Hall (Mondays sold out in a second!)
Fridays 9:30am: Yoga at Albany Contemporary Dance (yay for a daytime class!)
A Referral Program
Since I’ll need to adjust my marketing approach, I’ve created a referral program. This allows my wonderful students to receive discounts for referring new people to my classes. I’ll share more details during our sessions.Save the Date: Saturday, 13th September
I’m working on something truly special—an event unlike anything Albany has seen before. Mark the date in your diary, and stay tuned for more details.
Final Thoughts
While this decision wasn’t easy, I’m confident it’s the right one. Thank you for your support over the years on social media, and I can’t wait to connect with you more directly through emails, classes, and exciting new projects. Together, let’s create a more meaningful connection—one that embodies the true spirit of yoga.