Instagram story viewer> @ashishyoga> Posts

A S H I S H A R O R A

@ashishyoga

5.5K

followers

1012

following

Yoga teacher
E-RYT500
Electrical/Software Engineer in a past life
Food, ice-cream lover
Grew up in Delhi. Living in Seattle. Traveling the world

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

questions about cultural appropriation in yoga come up frequently. should we be saying namaste? are we respecting the culture, or packaging it as our own just for personal gain?

today on the leadership and yoga podcast, @ashishyoga talks to us about teaching yoga in the west, growing up in India, and true connection.

i met Ashish Arora several years ago in Seattle and was instantly captivated by the energy of his classes. this is his second appearance on the podcast, and for my fellow yoga teachers…. this one is full of wisdom for all of us!

comment listen and we will send you the episode.🎧🎬 by @ashishyoga

6k

247

6 months ago

I worked in tech for 16 years and had no intention to quit. A few months after I started practice, I signed up to a 200hr YTT to learn more.
A day before my last YTT weekend in Dec 2015, I got laid off from Nintendo, where I had worked almost 8 years. I took the news smiling. My manager was fighting back tears. I was trying to convince the HR person escorting me to start taking yoga classes in the company gym. I called my wife and she didn't believe the news as she thought I was too jovial.

Next day it started to hit me - why me. I had great reviews, my manager thought highly of me, I was working on an important project - the Switch. I started dissecting the why and who, and my head was tearing apart. I walked into training and it started with a class. I was really struggling. Then the teacher talked about letting go. And I burst into tears. Like bawling. Actually bawling. I did let go of the why/who, and the "why me".

I still only intended to take a break. Take classes to "catch up" since I only started practicing at 38. I took more trainings. Traveled solo for the first time in my life. I started asking myself why. I learnt growing up to work hard and make money. There was no why. After a tough childhood, it had served me well too. Maybe it was a mid life crisis. It didn't feel like a crisis. I felt like I finally loved myself for who I was. I had finally left my past behind. I had let go of "why me".

Here I am 10 years later. Still teaching 15+ classes a week. No days off. But hardly working a day. Practicing almost every day. Leading trainings and retreats. Sharing what I love. The only time I considered going back to tech was when my manager approached me to start a company together. He tried repeatedly. Till he took my yoga class. And then he understood what I felt.

I feel if I was made to do anything, it was this. 🙏🏽
#optiontosmile #mayurasana
📷 @munozmotions taken in Seattle, Washington by @ashishyoga

267

21

10 months ago

Grateful for where I am! I know its much easier to be there where I am currently in life. But what's changed is how easy it is to access this feeling. I had a horrible car accident a couple of years back with my car crushed between a semi truck and an SUV and the first feeling that came to me was gratefulness. For a long time that first feeling would have been anger or frustration, and I would have been lost in the "what ifs" and the "why me's".
This is where the practice of yoga has come in. Yes handstands are a part of yoga. But it is accessing that feeling of gratefulness no matter where you land up in your practice/life that makes it yoga. Not the "perfect" alignment or the hold. And that's true for any of the shapes/asanas. 😊

#whatisyoga #yogaisnotjustasana #brooklynbridge #handstand #grateful

.
.
.
.
#handstands #handstandpractice #nyc #nycyoga #yogateacher #indianyogateacher #brooklynyoga #newyorkyoga #brooklynbridgeyoga #gratefulness #yogaphotography #yogaphilosophy #travelingyogi #handstandeverywhere #yogafun #yogachallenge #yogadaily #yogaeverydamnday #menofyoga #santosha #handbalance #yogainstructor #yogajourney #yogamedicine #yogaindia by @ashishyoga

292

19

5 years ago

Life is Ahhhhmazing!!
So grateful to be where I am today! 🥹

Just a day and a half spent with family on a road trip, that I randomly chose to share. Lol. But it is very representative of what life has looked like recently ❤️ taken in Cannon Beach, Oregon by @ashishyoga

195

14

2 months ago

Together through yoga 🙏🌿

Last Sunday was something special. Celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga with the General consulate of India, surrounded by this community at Gas Works — it felt like it became bigger than just another movement on a mat.

@ashishyoga guided us through a practice rooted in philosophy and presence, the kind that reminds you why yoga was created in the first place. And to have that happen in partnership with @indianconsulateseattle was an honor.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and held space with us. Whether you've been with us since Session 1 or this was your first time, we thank you for keeping this community alive.

Huge gratitude to @indianconsulateseattle for bringing this celebration to life with us, and to @ashishyoga for sharing such grounded, joyful teaching.

Shout out to our season sponsors and all the studios holding it down for this community:
🏆 Title: @todossantosescapes
🥇 Gold: @avpaintingseattle @woollyclothing
🥈 Silver: @jetsetpilatessouthlakeunion @redwoodoutdoorsco @madhippiebeauty @thenowmassage @thesourceseattle @_pachacollective @floatseattle @seattleboulderingproject @macadons @neurovedahealth

Studios:
@ahimsayogaandpilates @yogarama_studio @seattleboulderingproject @dragonfly.yoga.pilates.dance @bodyreflectsyoga @indianconsulateseattle @praxisballard @sweatboxyoga @blissology @haleayoga @trufusionwashington @shefayogaroosevelt

and ofc, thank you so much to @nadiaosocialvideo and @jesse_sieden for capturing pure magic behind that lens! 📸

#YogaInThePark #SeattleEvents #OutdoorYoga #SoberMovement #SeattleWellness by @ashishyoga

82

4

3 months ago

International Day of Yoga, Gas Works Park style 🧘‍♂️💛 This is why we show up every week!

Thank you to everyone who showed up last Sunday to honor this moment with us. Celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga at Gas Works with @indianconsulateseattle totally felt like stepping into a Sunday you don't forget! 🙌

If you haven't joined us yet, drop by and yoga with us this Thursday, June 25, for Session 7!

🗓️ Thursday, June 25, 6–8 PM
📍 Gas Works Park
💚 FREE & open to all (donate what you can)
👆 Link in bio to register!

Huge thank you to @ashishyoga for bringing such grounded, joyful teaching to the mat, and to @indianconsulateseattle for making this celebration happen with us!

Shout out to our season sponsors and session studios for holding it down:

🏆 Title: @todossantosescapes
🥇 Gold: @avpaintingseattle @woollyclothing
🥈 Silver: @jetsetpilatessouthlakeunion @redwoodoutdoorsco @madhippiebeauty @thenowmassage @thesourceseattle @_pachacollective @floatseattle @seattleboulderingproject @macadons @neurovedahealth

Studios:
@ahimsayogaandpilates @yogarama_studio @seattleboulderingproject @dragonfly.yoga.pilates.dance @bodyreflectsyoga @indianconsulateseattle @praxisballard @sweatboxyoga @blissology @haleayoga @trufusionwashington @shefayogaroosevelt

and ofc, thank you so much to @nadiaosocialvideo @jesse_sieden for always capturing magic behind that lens! 📸

#YogaInThePark #SeattleEvents #OutdoorYoga #FreeYoga #SeattleWellness taken in Gas Works Park by @ashishyoga

165

7

3 months ago

Surya namaskar on the beach ☀️ taken in Kelingking Beach by @ashishyoga

126

12

5 months ago

Teacher Spotlight: Celebrating 50 years of @ashishyoga! 🥳 HBD!

Thank you for bringing your playful energy, creating flows that are intensely challenging and deeply grounding, and always offering the reminder that smiling is optional 😄 taken in The Grinning Yogi by @ashishyoga

161

10

5 months ago

62

2

6 months ago

Never did a cartwheel. Scared my whole life of trying new things. And here I am able to press up into a handstand 😁

The key - keep playing.There doesn't have to be an absolute place to get to. Just keep playing.

I lifted before this class so arms were a little tired and I didn't think I could do it today. Then the energy from the 40 people in the room on a 9:30am on a Thursday lifted my energy a few more levels too. So decided to play some after class.
Love doing what I do! So much gratitude taken in 425 Fitness Redmond by @ashishyoga

133

16

6 months ago

Sometimes you gotta just have a little fun braving the elements. Lol.
Rest of my body had no issues but my hands and feet were freezing! Haha

What a beautiful planet!❄️🌎

#optiontosmile #snowyoga #yogainthesnow #pnwlife #pnwisbeautiful taken in Seattle, Washington by @ashishyoga

303

26

7 months ago

Good to seek an appreciation of the small things! What better than what this planet is constantly offering us. 🌸

Haha no the #uwcherryblossoms might not be out yet. Haven't checked myself. But loving all the blooms around us. Had to pull one out of the archives!
Love the seasons we get to see in the #pnw
#optiontosmile #cherryblossom🌸 taken in University of Washington by @ashishyoga

60

4

7 months ago