Many people have complained about hight prices in Ashtanga yoga. Now ashtanga-teachers defend themselves saying that paying a lot of money proves your devotion to yoga and shows that your serious about it!

What do you think of it? Cult-like thinking and action or what?

It sounds to me like the same type of twisted reasoning behind the overpriced classes of Dahn Yoga.

[b:4f8f4a82be]Dahn Yoga is a cult.[/b:4f8f4a82be]

Do your research and find out what a normal school charges for classes. Do not be taken in by a cult. They will ruin your life.

Do not take the instructors words as anything more than a sales pitch designed to separate you from your money and your family.

The only enlightenment will be in your wallet and the quality of your life.

Do your research and be careful.

I don't see it as a cult so much as a booming business--and some terrible naivete on the part of the instructors. Yoga instructors pay a lot of money to become "certified" as such (not that there's even a governing body that regulates this sort of thing). Every time they go through a certification course with a renowned teacher they have to pay through the nose, but it pads their resumes. Thus, they pass on the high costs to their own students. Ashtanga is one of the forms of yoga that attracts hard core adherents so the instructors know they have you hooked. Besides, yoga instructors don't make that much money--unless they become successful enough to trademark their own "brand" of yoga!

Who are "many people?"

I've been practicing Ashtanga yoga for many years (about 5) and I have NEVER heard this before. I pay the same for my ashtanga classes as I would for any other type of yoga. I go to class, practice, and go home. How can this be "cult-like?"

Most new age therapists will justify charging using this tactic, particularly for courses. Some people have paid $10,000 for a reiki course!
Love
Kath

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tinyyogini
Who are "many people?"

I've been practicing Ashtanga yoga for many years (about 5) and I have NEVER heard this before. I pay the same for my ashtanga classes as I would for any other type of yoga. I go to class, practice, and go home. How can this be "cult-like?"

I totally agree. My local Ashtanga studio in Washington DC (not a cheap place to live under any circumstances) charges 15 bucks a class, 12 if you are a student, and if you get a 30 day pass, you pay 10 bucks a class. All those prices are less than the going rate at many other yoga studios ... or health clubs.

Like tinyyogini, I take my class and go home.

So Mena, who are these "many people"? Who are the Ashtanga teachers who say that paying a lot of money means one is more devoted? If you aren't willing to offer specifics, then you can't expect to be taken seriously.

I have never heard of Ashtanga yoga being associated with any particular cult. I agree with other posters here who said that it's just another sign that commercialism has taken over the yoga world. I don't see how charging money (even too much money) for a class makes one cult-like. This sounds more like a complaint for the Better Business Bureau than one for the Cult Education Forum.

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BuddyBear
[b:32e472fe21]Dahn Yoga is a cult.[/b:32e472fe21]
Do your research and be careful.

Yes, Dahn Yoga IS a cult. But Ashtanga yoga is a [b:32e472fe21]style [/b:32e472fe21]of yoga. Do [i:32e472fe21]your [/i:32e472fe21]research.