I often come across photos of seminars, lectures, and workshops posted on social media, such as at the end of a yoga session when everyone’s lying on the floor. They are having a conversation with their own inner voice or simply spending some time on their own, looking inside themselves.  The instructor then takes a photo and whoosh—it goes online! When they are in the middle of a deep inner-work, you suddenly see their photos being shared. What is maybe a soul’s most private moment is published merely for advertising without a care.
Are the instructors who do this aware of the burden they create? Are the participants aware that they might encounter problems after having their private moments presented like this?
I am not talking about photos taken during breaks or group photos that everyone willingly participates in. I am talking about when you are beside yourself in awe and then somebody takes your photo. Sure, I like to see myself on social media, and I check it out from time to time. But why put something like this on the internet without first asking my permission? What gives you the right to do this?
I was not aware of the notion of privacy at all. I used to sit and wonder why my energy felt so drained. Other people were doing all the things I wanted to do, while my share of everything slipped through my hands. I could not find the energy to move my arms or legs, simply because I couldn’t protect my privacy, and those privacy breaches that I unconsciously caused created a burden.
Of course, protecting your privacy is a deep matter, but this is a significant part of it, a burden to the instructor and an assault on the participant…
Just to remind you…

Hasan Sonsuz