Top 5 Reasons You Love Ashtanga!!!!

A little over a week ago, I asked APP readers, “Why do you love Ashtanga?” One of the misconceptions, about Ashtanga Yoga, is that it is just physical and that Ashtangi’s are pose chasing ego maniacs. Maybe in your neck of the woods, but not mine and definitely not in the Ashtanga Picture Project community. Out of 50 responses, only one person mentioned anything about a workout. While some found the poses challenging, poses were not done only for physical benefit. 99% of the people who mentioned poses, used them to grow as human beings and/or connect to the Self.

These are the top 5 reasons, in order, that Ashtanga Picture Project readers love Ashtanga. You may be surprised but I was not.

1. Tool For Inner Seeing (Overwhelming Winner By A Landslide)

I love this practice because it makes me stronger and flexible on all levels. It teaches me so much about myself, helps me to realize my thought patterns and makes me more patient-Magotka

I love Ashtanga because it is a really challenging practice, both physically and emotionaly, as it makes you face the best and worst version of yourself everyday. Honestly, the world, my reality and myself make much more sense to me since i started a dedicated ashtanga practice-Kat

2. Makes You a Better Person

It humbles me, breaks me down, and rebuilds me into a better person and who I’ve always wanted to become-Adam

3. Discipline

I love Ashtanga because it’s the only discipline I have in my life. It does not come naturally to me yet I find myself craving the structure more and more-AAM_mommy

4. Meditation in Motion

Peaceful and powerful. Because after 2.5 hours, I leave the Mysore hall and I realize I’ve not thought of anything that wasn’t something I was immediately experiencing. That I’ve been awake for 3 hours; get dressed, make chai, drive to the hall, practice…and still the mind is silent. Just inhabiting the body, experiencing the breath. Cultivating a stillness within-Claire

5. Saved Your Life

Ashtanga is the only thing that has kept me alive, happy and excited about tomorrow every day-Erica

I love Ashtanga yoga because Ashtanga yoga saved my life. Mentally it taught me about discipline, love, and contentment. It’s very well changed my life and I am so very grateful to this-Jessica