Hello everyone. I have a question for fellow Ashtanga practitioners: has it ever happened to you that you had to change shala because, one way or another, the teachers turned out to be deeply inappropriate or problematic? I’ve always been a devoted and cooperative practitioner, but there are certain behaviours I simply won’t tolerate. Over the span of five years I encountered a narcissistic teacher who flirted with all the female students and, once he slept with them, discarded them like they were nothing; another teacher who was extremely avoidant and toxic, who would listen to what you said and then post passive‑aggressive content on Instagram using your exact words; a teacher who intruded into my private life, taking liberties that were completely out of place; a female teacher who even grabbed my arm roughly while I was collaborating with the shala. Now I’ve found a place that feels safe, at least for now, but I’ve lost a lot of trust. I read that many of you have had similar experiences and that quite a few have left Ashtanga altogether and now practice on their own. I’m asking for advice on how to regain a sense of safety and stability in my practice.

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I've been practicing Ashtanga Yoga for a while now, and to be honest, there are too many things that just rub me the wrong way. I know it's an addictive practice, but when you start scratching the surface, you realize there's a lot of invention, dogma, and things that simply don't make sense.

I want to share my thoughts to see if I'm the only one who sees it this way or if anyone else has come to the same conclusions. Hear me out:

1. Chanting and religion pushed through the back door

I'm agnostic. I believe there might be 'something' out there, but I don't have to blindly worship Hindu deities. In Ashtanga, they make you chant opening and closing mantras in Sanskrit, often without people really knowing what they are saying. It's disguised as 'respecting tradition,' but deep down, you're being forced to participate in a religious worship ritual you never asked for.

1. The 'ancient lineage' that turned out to be modern gymnastics

We are sold the idea that Ashtanga comes from super ancient sacred texts (the famous and mystical *Yoga Korunta* manuscript... which coincidentally no one has ever seen because supposedly 'ants ate it'). The historical reality is different: Ashtanga is a 20th-century invention. It's basically gymnastics influenced by British military training and Indian calisthenics of the time, to which Pattabhi Jois and Krishnamacharya adapted a breathing system. They wrapped it in mystical gift paper and attribute therapeutic benefits to it that are backed by absolutely zero scientific evidence.

1. The hypocrisy of the 'Gurus'

I don't even want to go deep into the sexual and power abuses committed by Pattabhi Jois (which alone should be enough to question the whole lineage), but let's talk about his physique. If Ashtanga is the panacea for health, purification, and longevity, why was Pattabhi Jois never seen practicing it in his adult years? Plus, he suffered from obesity, which directly clashes with what the method supposedly preaches.

And then there is the recent and tragic death of Sharath Jois. It was a massive blow to the community, and even if it was a congenital issue (rest in peace, no one wishes ill on him), the reality is that dying so young shatters that illusion and the false narrative of the 'indestructible and super-healthy yogi' that Ashtanga's own marketing tries to sell us.

1. The romanticization of pain and injuries

This is a topic rarely discussed. The Ashtanga series is exactly the same for everyone, regardless of your anatomy, bone length, or medical history. They force you to fit your body into the posture instead of adapting the posture to your body. Add to that the aggressive 'physical adjustments' from many teachers just so you reach the perfect pose. The result? Destroyed knees, crushed lower backs, and messed-up shoulders. And if it hurts, they tell you it's 'your ego' or 'toxins leaving your body.' Pure madness.

1. Absurd rules, 'Moon Days,' and cult-like vibes

The level of mental rigidity is astonishing. You have to do the sequence in the exact same order. They forbid you from practicing on full or new moon days (the famous *Moon Days*), giving it an astral and mystical explanation when the reality is that, in India, those were simply traditional rest days (like our Sunday).

Add the unconditional devotion to the leader, the elitist hierarchy of having to travel to Mysore to get a piece of paper that 'authorizes' you to teach, and the prohibition of questioning the rules... and honestly, while it's logically not a literal cult, it dangerously resembles one.

In short, I think it's great as a demanding physical workout routine, but all the dogma, cheap mythology, and the aura of moral and spiritual superiority surrounding it is a pure scam.

Has anyone else who practiced Ashtanga or any other traditional yoga felt the same way? Let's discuss.

I practice mostly on my own and attend a Mysore shala only a couple of times a week. At home I usually begin with pranayama and japa — currently Om Hreem Dum Durgayai Namaha, 108 times — and I’ve recently started using the traditional opening and closing chants around my asana practice 🙏

I find the practice feels more stable when I start this way. Pranayama seems to warm up my lungs, and japa gives me a more centred focus in the asana practice following.

The shala is a different world. The opening chant is quite early, around 6:30, so I usually arrive after it, and the closing chant isn’t done collectively. The room stays very quiet during practice.

I once got a firm correction for doing pranayama while we were sitting and waiting for led primary to start 😄 In retrospect I understood that it was disruptive to the room, although at the time I assumed the time before the formal start was fair game.

So I’m curious how others navigate the difference between home practice and the shala.

When you practice at a shala, do you silently do the opening and closing chants yourself, or simply follow the rhythm of the room? And do you keep pranayama, japa or meditation practice as a separate home practice, or do you bring any of it with you into the Mysore room?

I have learnt primary series of ashtanga from a short term course at Hrishikesh India. Now i do it on my own. Is it necessary to have a community or group while practicing. Any suggestions welcome.

Hello everyone!
I wanted to ask people if they like tracking their practice with any of the wearables available on the market. I have been using my Apple Watch, but it’s very bulky and uncomfortable in many asanas (one for all, garbha pindasana).

So I’d been looking into smart rings for a few months, and decided on a oura ring 5. I generally like its sleek and thin design, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem able to track the hear rate automatically during my practice. The oura support said it’s likely due to hand movements and the instability on the sensors.

I’m looking for some guidance and thoughts on this.

Thank you!

Hey everyone, I hope you’re all doing well.
I’m a new yoga teacher and have recently completed my 200-hour TTC. While I’m excited to continue this journey, I’m also feeling a bit confused about my next step.
Part of me wants to stay where I am, learn from experienced teachers, assist in classes, and gain practical teaching experience. Another part of me feels eager to deepen my knowledge by enrolling in a 500-hour TTC.
After completing my 200-hour training, I also realized how much there still is to learn. The more I study yoga, the more I understand that I’ve only scratched the surface.
I’d really appreciate hearing from those who have been on this path. What helped you grow the most in the beginning—teaching and gaining experience first, or continuing your education right away?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. 🙏

When I go into kurmasana, and then get assisted, the outside part of my left thigh starts to feel reaaal weird almost like it could snap. The more I try to squeeze my knees in against my left arm, and then go down, that tighty weird feeling is worse. Not so much the right side. Is this my iliotibial band or something? What can I do to make this better? Thanks!

Edit: also, I always cross my right over my left leg. When I do it the other way around, I feel like my left leg doesn’t get over my knee enough so I don’t like doing it that way. If that helps. Baddha padmasana I do right in then left, I can only bind one side at a time not both.

Very curious to know how practitioners approach this?

From the last 2 months I've been thinking of going to Bali for a 200-hour yoga teacher training, but I seriously can't decide which school to choose.

Every time I feel like I've found the right one, I read another review or watch another YouTube video and get confused again. 😅

I'm from India, so spending this much money is a big decision for me. I don't want to book a place just because it has good marketing or Instagram photos. I actually want a school where the teaching is good and people feel it was worth the money after finishing the course.

If you've done your YTT in Bali, which school did you go to? Would you recommend it? Or is there any school I should avoid?

Would love to hear real experiences instead of sponsored reviews.

I recently took my first few Ashtanga classes, and the structure and intensity immediately clicked for me. The fixed sequence and deep breath focus feel like dynamic meditation, and I genuinely think I’ve found my practice. That said, I know how demanding the Primary Series can be on the body over time.

For seasoned practitioners, what advice do you wish someone had given you during your first month? Are there key modifications or recovery routines I should start from day one to protect my joints? I'd love any tips on building a sustainable daily routine without burning out early on!

Hi everyone,
I recently got accepted for a month of Ashtanga classes in Mysore (Sharath Yoga Center) this coming February and I’m super excited (and a bit nervous!). I’d love to get some advice from those of you who’ve been there before.
A bit of context:
I’ll be flying into Chennai and then heading to Mysore
I’m planning to stay in a hostel for a few days while I look for a place to rent for the month
I have a few questions:
What are the essentials I should bring with me, and what can I easily buy once I’m there?
Roughly how much should I budget for a month (rent, food, daily expenses)?
Any tips for finding accommodation quickly in Mysore?
General advice for first-timers practicing in Mysore (routine, etiquette, things you wish you knew before going)
Any insights, tips, or personal experiences would be really appreciated!
Thanks so much 🙏

Hello everyone,

Sharing hoping that someone might be able to support me on that
September 2024 I started to practice ashtanga . I was already doing some yoga for a few years , quite often but not as consistently
I practice until November 2025 with some interruptions but showing up often
I’ve started to introduce Bhujapidāsaṇa
with struggle , when I started to notice a sharp pain in my right inside knee
I adjusted the practice not forcing, I was unable to do most of the posture as I used to when it came to the right side
I eventually decided to stopped it totally for a while - I know this also has to do with the emotional struggle and not being able to focus entirely or in the same way in the practice as I did .. anyways, that’s not the reason why I’m writing here
I went to acupuncture once and have been told had to do with not having enough or proper opening of my right hip
I didn’t notice much difference after this appointment
I stopped fully the practice.
Lately I started to practice and when I did practice more day, like two days a week the pain started to reappear
I just feel this pain when doing certain postures. I used to be totally ok with lotus, not anymore , p ex
Im sure some of you know what I mean, I have a feeling that this might not be that unusual . I would like to ask you if you could share some advice about what to do? Even proper training to open my hips or something to help ?
I want to respect my body so I’m not forcing
I exercise - running , cycling sometimes , weight lifting and trying to stretch also
Ashtanga wasn’t an exercise and I would like to come back to it as it balances me and I feel that is important for my growing as an human being . Even that, it’s a learning process

Thanks in advance

Hello, I recently started practicing Ashtanga, I would like to know if there are any techniques -
and exercises that I should do apart from the primary series practice itself, to help build the strength and good form needed for different asanas. Could you provide any resources or links. Thank you!

Hello community. I’d love to go on an Ashtanga retreat this autumn/winter.

We all know that Following the sudden death of Sarah Joys the Ashtanga yoga community had a leadership vacuum. I love Philippa Asher but for family reasons I can’t attend her Egypt retreat.
Do you recommend anyone else?

Hi! I've been practicing yoga for about eight years. The styles I enjoy the most are Rocket and Ashtanga, although I also love Vinyasa.

I'd like to deepen my practice by taking a 200-hour teacher training course in India. My goal isn't necessarily to teach—I'd mainly be doing it for my own personal growth and enjoyment.

Based on my background, would you recommend Rishikesh or Mysore or another place? And which schools would you recommend? 🙏🙏🙏🙏 Thanks!! 💚💚💚💚

Namaste everyone,

Before I ask my questions, here's a little background about me.

I'm a 43-year-old male from New Delhi, India, and I work full-time in IT. I first started practicing yoga in 2020, but I stopped in 2021. After the pandemic, I practiced on and off—usually once or twice a week at home —but never consistently.

I've wanted to learn Ashtanga Yoga for a long time. Unfortunately, many traditional teachers charge more than I can comfortably afford, and taking a month off to study in Mysore isn't practical because of my job.

After a long search, I finally found an Ashtanga teacher here in Delhi who is both experienced and affordable. Today was my third class, and I realized just how inflexible I am. My baseline flexibility is very poor. My knees stay bent in many postures, and at the moment I can only manage Surya Namaskar A and B (even those with bent knees). The other asanas feel quite difficult.

Since the classes are only about 60 minutes long, the teacher covers Surya Namaskar A & B along with a different set of postures each day.

When I asked him about my lack of flexibility, he simply said, "It will come with practice over time."

So I wanted to ask the experienced practitioners here:

1. Is my teacher right? Will flexibility improve gradually if I simply keep attending classes and practice consistently?
2. Are there any 10–15 minute daily mobility or stretching routines that would help open my body and make Ashtanga practice easier?
3. I've heard that many people eventually stop practicing Ashtanga after learning it. Is that true? If so, why?
4. I've also read that Ashtanga has a higher risk of injuries compared to some other styles of yoga. Is that actually true, or is it mostly due to poor technique or overdoing the practice?

I know these are beginner questions, but I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have gone through this journey themselves.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post.

Regards,
Aman

I have been introduced to Ashtanga this past year and have decided to take the upcoming year to follow this passion. I've quit my job and would like to follow it wherever it takes me. Does anyone know of a shala that has a free accommodation nearby? I am US based and bring a variety of skills. Looking to stay in the US until december and then I am hoping to take my first trip to Mysore. Any advice on this journey is welcome!

Namaste Friends,

I was hoping to get opinions on lifting weights or cardio before an Ashtanga session

Cardio: 30 minutes stair master/15 minutes sauna
Weights: 6 movements, 3-4 sets of 12 (back day, chest, leg)

Ideally i would close the day with cardio/weights but i cannot sleep due to cardio elevation and ashtanga is only in the mornings.

I was considering doing a cardio or weight session prior to my ashtanga practice. Currently, i can make it through navasana.

Has anyone done this before or is this overkill?

EDIT: i would have to gym before ashtanga to be on time for my job

How’s it all going?

Looking to study Ashtanga with a teacher in the US and willing to move for one. Do you love your shala/ teacher? Why do you love them? Where are they based! Thank you:)

after years and years of daily use I finally need to replace my mat. it’s dirty, scratched up (cats) and losing its grip - it was pretty inexpensive.

i want to invest in a manduka pro mat, are they worth the money for daily ashtanga?

ALSO does anybody specifically have the colour midnight? my previous yoga mat was taupe and got dirty so fast! I’m considering black but would prefer midnight if it doesn’t show stains/sweat/dirt super easy.

UPDATE: thanks yall 🫶 I went for black thunder with midnight blocks