Why Nude Yoga Is Taking Over Instagram

The 27-year-old anonymous model behind the wildly popular Instagram Nude Yoga Girl has inspired a movement that’s spreading across Instagram: She’s invited anyone willing to strike a pose naked to share a picture with the hashtag #NYGyoga. As of publication, nearly 500 people have participated — and the purpose of the call doesn’t stem from a place of voyeurism.

“The message of my account is, ‘You are beautiful exactly the way you are,’” Nude Yoga Girl said, according to Cosmopolitan. “Showing nudity in a non-sexual way felt like a new way to support the message.”

Take a look at some of the most striking photos below.

In this photo I feel more naked than in many others before. That’s because I wanted to keep this photo as raw as possible. After my last color photo and your comments, I wanted to try to do photos in which you can see a more raw version of myself… even if it makes me feel vulnerable here. Before I thought I just created art. #NYGyoga

A post shared by Nude Yoga Girl (@nude_yogagirl) on Oct 9, 2017 at 11:30am PDT

Imagine a world… Where we loved first. Where we saw art and not indecency. Where we didn’t sexualize what is raw and beautiful. Where we praised differences instead of ostracizing the different. Imagine that world and become it ? _ Words by my gorgeous friend @joe_lizzzzzz_yoga _ #nygyoga #loveandalliscoming #bodypositivity

A post shared by Vanessa | Love Your Body (@gypsyyogalove) on Oct 5, 2017 at 1:21pm PDT

Sometimes life gets you twisted & bent out of shape, but it is in the trials & tribulations, the struggles & hardships & the obstacles & difficult times where your inner light matters the most. Don’t allow the darkness to take over your pure & authentic soul. It’s so easy to give into negativity because it’s contagious. It’s so simple to give up when the going gets tough. This is where I learned to take my yoga off the mat & into the world. We’ve all experienced uncomfortable situations. Think about all the uncomfortable poses you’ve taken in a yoga class, especially a class in which you hold poses longer than what you’re usually comfortable holding or poses that you quickly pass through in a vinyasa practice. To where does your focus turn? Where did your breath go? What is going on in your mind right now? I love how yoga goes down to the tiniest detail of the drishti so that your mind can’t think of anything else but the pose itself. The asana, or physical posture, is a container for an entire experience. And the pranayama, or breath, helps to add or enhance that experience. Personally, twists are where I notice I lose my breath in an asana practice. Sometimes, I forget that going deeper into the twist isn’t worth it if I can’t breathe. Other times, I lose the twist & get out of it when things become too “uncomfortable.” There’s a difference between pain & discomfort. So many of us are too easily willing to give up when things become uncomfortable. But getting through discomfort is where the real learning & growth take place. Think of life as a yoga asana class. Just because a physical posture is making you sweat more & breathe more heavily & may bring about discomfort, do you leave the class & walk out the door? Or do you stick it out & focus in on the breath, calm the mind & draw the attention inward instead of focusing on all the external factors that are distracting you? I recently started practicing breathing deeply & audibly when life gets crazy & the negative stress starts to physically, mentally & emotionally affect me. I get weird looks when I do this, but the breath is calming & centering. So breathe through the discomfort. You’ll make it out alive.

A post shared by Michael, PT, DPT | Dallas, TX (@yogi_mhc) on Oct 9, 2017 at 7:20pm PDT

#nakedvets #tallgrassprairiepreserve #nps #wanderlust #nygyoga #desertstorm #armystrong #airforce #nudeyoga #veterans #murica #usa #bareitall #datbootaydoe

A post shared by Naked vet (@nakedvets) on Oct 9, 2017 at 11:38am PDT

D A I L Y _ Y O G A & M O R E ARTIST?@nude_yogagirl ? “In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.” ❤ -Andrea Dykstra ❤️ CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FEATURE!!!!! Please visit this gallery to see more! RULES FOR FEATURE ? Always tag #yogamastersindia Follow @yogamastersindia Photo must be your’s . . . . . . . . . #yogaeverydamnday #boys #yoga #practice #lovehate #handstand #float #flying #flyinghigh #armbalance #handbalance #yogalife ##NYGyoga #yogi #lovelife #softstrength #yogalife #photoshoot #shoot #headstand #lovelife #boysyoga #yogateacher #acro #acroyoga #yogalifestyle #learnyoga #fitness #bodybuilding

A post shared by Yoga|Fitness Models|Gym| (@yogamastersindia) on Oct 6, 2017 at 7:28pm PDT

One of my favorite movies is Pulp Fiction…it’s like a cinematic jigsaw puzzle. I use to watch it over and over again trying to understand all the deep messages and meanings. For instance, did you know that Marcellus’ soul was in the suitcase. Oh yeah, and it was removed from the back of his neck. Cut out by the devil himself. Yeah, so what do I do…I put a tattoo of the Gye Nyame on the back of my neck for protection. So if evil comes for me, it will know GOD guards the entrance to my soul. ? . . . . #thepleasuredmom #nakedyogatherapy #naked #nakedyogagoddess #nudeyoga #yogi #yogini #blackyogini #blackyogi #blackyogateacher #yogaeverydamnday #yogaeverywhere #yoga #blackgirlmagic #safelovedfree #nudeart #yogagirl #afrofitgirl #bodyscape #strongwoman #divine #human #gyenyame #igyogafamily #blackwomendoyoga #nygyoga

A post shared by The Pleasured Mom (@thepleasuredmom) on Oct 1, 2017 at 4:29am PDT

Feeling artsy. I’ve been trying to get back into yoga, but am struggling to find time. I usually do yoga in the morning, but with the changing of seasons, early AM’s are getting harder and harder! How do you early birds do it? Post inspired by @nude_yogagirl. . . . #yoga #health #fitness #fitspo #yogi #wellness #yogamotivation #art #motivation #NYGyoga

A post shared by Sachiko (@esschiko) on Oct 3, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT

When you know yourself, you are empowered ? When you accept yourself, you are invincible ? – Trna Lifford – ・どんな自分（心、身体、在り方…）も全て受け入れる ?☯️ ・ ? @13mitch13 ・・ #yogaaddict#yogalove#practice#practicedaily #loveyoga#kandenbs#フィットネス#ヨガインストラクター#ヨガ講師#ヨギーニ#ヨガ#撮影#photoshooting#撮影#saho_shooting#nygyoga

A post shared by ?Saho ? Japan???? (@saho_yoga) on Sep 16, 2017 at 4:58pm PDT

I’d like to call this photo ‘blending in’ 🙂 #livenaturism #nakedyoga #nudeyoga #nudeyogaguy #naturism #naturist #nudism #nudist #bodyartist #nudeart #nakedearthtoday #NYGyoga

A post shared by Naked Yoga Lifestyle (@nakedyogalifestyle) on Jun 29, 2017 at 2:34am PDT

To all the beautiful people out there; you are valuable, powerful and deserve every chance and opportunity in the world. #love #nude #believeinyourself #befearless #bebrave #dontletothersdefineyou #powerful #youdeserveit #selflove #nakedsoul #crazysexyyoga #nudeart #inspirational #bodylove #NYGyoga

A post shared by Empower Yourself (@channingelove) on Feb 22, 2017 at 11:24am PST

Where we gonna go from here? ?@jamesellingen ?@royal_modeling #pittsburghmodel #ohiomodel #everywhere #glenecho #model #impliednude #nude #fineart #implied #agameoftones #agameof10k #AGameofPortraits #mood #linesfordays #moody #forest #legsfordays #shapes #symmetry #blocks #pittsburghyogi #yoga #yogi #balancekingdom #nudeinnature #naturalbeauty #nature #bosscodemagazine #nygyoga #dryadstyle

A post shared by Kitty Carter (@klcartermodeling) on Sep 26, 2017 at 12:03pm PDT

I wasn’t going to share this photo with you… Because I don’t like it that much. What do you think? People are the hardest on themselves, we are our biggest critic so it’s interesting to hear your opinion.❤? #NYGyoga

A post shared by Nude Yoga Girl (@nude_yogagirl) on Oct 7, 2017 at 10:22am PDT