Why People Love Ashtanga Yoga



When picking a yoga practice what are people usually looking for? The short answer is to feel better. Practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. When I do yoga, I’m not just looking for an outlet that helps me tune in and chill out, I’m also trying to get a solid workout in too. Ashtanga yoga gives me just that! Ashtanga yoga is challenging and quick-paced - I leave feeling centered and exhausted. Here are a few reasons why people LOVE ashtanga yoga.

It’s Physically Challenging

Ashtanga is physically challenging. Ashtanga requires enormous strength, flexibility and endurance. Ashtanga classes typically start out with 10 Sun Salutations as a warm up and then graduates to seated mini Sun Salutations between postures. This keeps your body warm and your heart rate up allowing you to get deeper in the poses. Ashtanga yoga will keep you on the ball and give you an incredible total body workout. Ashtanga is a great practice if you are looking to tone up.


It’s no-nonsense

Ashtanga yoga takes commitment. Many ashtanga yoga teachers say that you don’t dabble in ashtanga - you are either in or you’re out. This may discourage some but in order to fully feel the benefits you need to make it stick. Ashtanga is usually practiced six times a week and classes last for at least 1.5 hours. Six days a week may seem excessive, but this format will help to you see results faster. You’ll begin to see changes in your strength, stamina and flexibility a lot quicker than practicing once or twice a week.


It’s Empowering

You can practice at home! After practicing 6 days a week you are able to memorize the sequence and can practice from memory. Instead of relying on your teacher you can use your breath to cue you when to move on to the next posture. You become your own instructor!

These are just a few reasons why people love ashtanga yoga. If you’re looking for a practice that’s demanding, repetitive, hard core and an overall amazing workout then I think you’ll love ashtanga yoga too.


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