Digital Detox/Camp Grounded
By Kelly Finnegan
I woke up at 5:14 am, one minute prior to my alarm going off. I immediately grabbed my phone and started what felt like a digital binge; I went on almost every social media site and read the news while I ate breakfast. This was all while I was preparing to head to Daybreaker and their Digital Detox event hosted by Camp Grounded. I didn’t think I needed to detox—after all, I meditate daily. What I failed to realize is what an unconscious habit using my phone has become. I use it not because I necessarily want or need to but simply because it’s there.
I arrived at the event and it was a feast for my eyes: so many colorful yogis wore their party yoga pants, which included some patriotic and mermaid-like patterns. I put my phone on airplane mode and although I felt like I was being grounded, it was a choice I had made and I was pleased with it.
Yoga was led by the lovely McKinley Tennant. Her goal was to get us warm and ready for the dance party and she truly succeeded—I definitely saw some extra limber people on the dance floor. As a teacher, it must have been so wonderful knowing that final relaxation would not be interrupted by someone’s phone ringing. As a student, knowing that you were truly disconnected allowed you to further melt into each and every pose. Every yoga class should require a phones-off rule, and students and teachers alike should pledge to adhere to it. The collective consciousness in the room was palpable. Knowing that we were all there with the very same intention truly unified the practice.
After yoga, DJ Ozgood got the party started. No one needed a drink to get going, everyone used their yoga vibes to break the ice. If you sank too deep into svasansa and needed extra reinforcement, Califia Farms supplied cold brew.
The dance party was magnetic—you would have thought it was 11 pm on a Friday, but instead it was barely 9 am on a Thursday. A woman tore up the dance floor on stilts and many people busted a move in costumes. As if the yoga and dancing weren’t enough, a game of limbo tested back bending skills. The best part of the event is that people weren’t focused on capturing photos of themselves there. Instead, they were focused on being present.
When it was time to head out, I grabbed some Kind bars and indulged in some REBBL Mocha flavored Elixir. By 9 am, I had gained major endorphins and fuel for my day from yoga, a dance party and some snacks. Best of all, I felt a stronger mind- body connection because I had let that be the primary focus of my morning. I bet that everyone else who attended had a super productive and positive day after this event.
Click here to follow Daybreaker on Facebook, so you can find out about future events. And for more information on Camp Grounded and their Digital Detox vacations, you can visit their site here.
