Why yoga studios and smartwatches don’t mix

Anika Schulz

5/5/2026

Translation: Katherine Martin

Yes, it’s tempting to occasionally check your pulse and breathing rate during a yoga session. But believe me, it’s counterproductive. Rant incoming.

Finally. Ninety minutes of peace and quiet, just for me. I’m lying on my mat, listening to the yoga instructor guide us through progressive muscle relaxation to get us into the groove. Then, just as my mind’s about to block out the outside world, I hear «peep-peep!». Then another «peep-peep!».

I open one eye, spying someone glancing at their smartwatch as I do so. Yes, you read that right. Their. Effing. Smartwatch! At yoga.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally understandable if someone’s expecting a really important call. A kid-related emergency, for instance. But given how often you see smartwatches in yoga studios these days, I can’t help wondering: is it really necessary?

In a word, no. Here’s why.

If, after all that, you hear the «peep-peep!» or «ping!» of an incoming WhatsApp message emanating from the corner of the room, it’s highly counterproductive. Not to mention ignorant.

«Yoga’s all about getting to know your own body and developing body awareness. It involves noticing changes and limits,» my yoga teacher, Iris, explains. «You shouldn’t let a smartwatch take that away from you. Getting to know your own body provides loads of benefits in life and helps you manage stress.»

Sure, lots of smartwatches now have their own yoga programs. They track the asanas you’ve completed, the number of calories you’re burning and how many of those elusive 10,000 steps you still have left to do on a given day. But what’s the use of a watch telling you that you’ve had an amazing workout when, in reality, you feel like a sack of potatoes? Or the reverse, for that matter. Maybe your watch will give you a metaphorical slap on the wrist, although you feel like you had a great session.

When that happens, you’re left in the quandary of learning nothing about your body.

You don’t feel present

«If you wear your smartwatch to yoga class, you’ll bring the outside world into the studio. Even if it’s just in your mind,» says yoga instructor Iris. She’s taken the words right out of my mouth. In every yoga class, we practise letting go of our thoughts and simply being in the moment. I love it. After all, the world won’t go up in flames if I’m unavailable for 90 minutes.

In any case, what are you actually going to do if an e-mail flashes up on your watch? You can’t write a proper response using the screen anyway. Especially not if you’re in Downward-Facing Dog or Sleeping Pigeon. Besides making you think, «Dammit, I’ll have to take care of that later,» what good does it do you?

My yoga instructor still hasn’t found a satisfactory way around the smartwatch issue in her classes. She points out that many people feel vulnerable when their digital «gismos» are turned off. «All I can do is keep reminding my students about what the focus of the class is – and what it isn’t. What they do with that is up to them.»

If you’re still convinced you need a smartwatch for yoga, go ahead and treat yourself to one. We sell 3,499 of them. But I wouldn’t recommend it.

What’s your take? Are you Team Smartwatch or Team Switch-Off? Let me know in the comments!

Anika Schulz

Teamleader Editorial

Anika.Schulz@galaxus.de

As a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.

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