I’ve been thinking a lot about community lately, especially after our Prana and Presence retreat in Italy reminded me just how powerful it can be to sit in a circle with other people who are practicing and learning alongside you. In this episode, I get nerdy about Sangha, what it actually means, where the concept comes from, and why it is so much more than simply having a group of people who enjoy being together. I also unpack the difference between Sangha and Satsang, how Sangha crossed over from Buddhist traditions into the modern yoga world, and the many traditional forms of community that have supported yoga through the centuries.
We look at what makes a genuine Sangha, what its goals and characteristics are, and how you can recognize whether you’re actually participating in one. I also talk about what Sangha is not, including fan clubs, audiences, forced intimacy, marketing communities, and environments where teachers become unquestionable authorities. We explore the shadow side of spiritual communities, the responsibilities of both teachers and students, and why boundaries, agency, accountability, and sustained relationships matter so much. Finally, I reflect on what has been lost as modern yoga has become increasingly fragmented and commercialized, and why community may be one of the missing pieces that can help us go deeper into the practice.