When Trust Is Broken: Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Yoga Spaces

When trust is broken in yoga spaces, the impact runs deep. I talk about sexual harassment, abuse of power, and misconduct in the yoga world—why silence protects harm, how to recognize red flags, and what we can do to rebuild safety and integrity in our communities.

Episode Highlights:

• Announcements about upcoming workshops and the 300-hour online training
• Reflection on recent misconduct cases in the yoga community and what they reveal
• Personal story of confronting harassment within Aru’s own dance studio
• Historical overview of sexual abuse and misconduct in yoga lineages
• Discussion of how reverence without accountability allowed abuse to thrive
• Breakdown of how abuse begins—through trust, power imbalance, and manipulation
• Explanation of spiritual gaslighting and why survivors often stay silent
• Common reasons victims don’t come forward: fear, loss of belonging, trauma response, and cultural conditioning
• Recognition of microaggressions and boundary violations in modern studios
• Red flags to watch for in teachers and studio environments (flirtatious behavior, vague boundaries, unwanted touch, secrecy)
• Aru’s personal story of ignoring red flags and learning to trust her instincts
• Practical suggestions for how to respond if someone confides in you about harassment
• Guidance for yoga teachers and studio owners:
  • Create written ethical policies
  • Teach ethics and boundaries in teacher trainings
  • Establish independent reporting systems
  • Model consent and clear communication
• Call to believe women first, foster open conversations, and stop idealizing teachers
• Reminder that ethics isn’t cultural; it’s universal and foundational to yoga
• Final reflections on accountability, community healing, and how true yoga shows up in how we treat one another

Waitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Sequence Smarter – The Living Body of Asana
For teachers living in India, reach out to Janessa at [e-mail] for special local pricing
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