Reasons why people want to try yoga (and one reason they stick with it)

There are many possible reasons why people get interested in yoga. They heard it’s good for weight loss, or to get flexible, or they see amazing postures on Instagram and they want to do that too. Many of the reasons why people come to yoga are superficial, but the reason why people keep coming back is not… My place here is not to judge why people choose to try yoga.

After all I was one of those who wanted to get challenged, get fit, and get flexible… But I got so much more. When I stumbled into that ashtanga class in my gym in 2007 I never would have thought I would become a yoga teacher. That I would (occasionally) find peace of mind. And that this would become my life. But my story is not unique. It could be yours too.

Here are 50 reasons why people want to try yoga:

1. To get flexible
2. To gain arm strength
3. To relax
4. To get into a handstand (or another inversion)
5. To lose weight
6. To get a good workout
7. To recover quicker from other workouts
8. To gain peace of mind
9. To increase lung capacity
10. To learn to love your body
11. To learn how to manage pain
12. To increase mobility in the joints
13. To have better focus
14. To feel less stressed
15. To get a stronger body
16. To post great pictures on Instagram
17. To strengthen the core
18. To have a better posture
19. To work out different muscles
20. To get a ‘yoga body’
21. To get a ‘yoga butt’
22. To release emotions
23. To energise oneself
24. To travel and host retreats ;-)
25. To clear your mind
26. To sweat
27. To detox
28. To cry
29. To lower blood pressure
30. To get together to practise
31. To be part of a community
32. To prevent headaches and migraine
33. To heal from an injury
34. To heal from other trauma
35. To become more aware
36. To improve balance
37. To boost digestion
38. To dance better
39. To run better
40. To… [add any sport] better
41. To increase circulation
42. To become more present
43. To sleep better
44. To become more resilient
45. To look and feel younger
46. To challenge oneself
47. To increase intuition
48. To find bliss
49. To find love
50. To savasana

And the one reason why people keep practicing? Because it works…