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

This was not an easy episode to record. It’s heavy, uncomfortable, and deeply necessary. For too long, yoga spaces have been romanticized as places of healing and awakening—but many have also been sites of abuse, manipulation, and harm. In this conversation, I open up about sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse of power in yoga—both historically and in the modern yoga world. I share my own experiences, the red flags I’ve ignored, and the hard lessons I’ve learned as a teacher and studio owner.

I talk about why silence protects the wrong people, why accountability is essential, and how we can collectively rebuild trust in our yoga communities. This isn’t about vilifying anyone—it’s about reclaiming yoga’s true foundation of ahimsa (non-harm) and satya (truth). If you’ve ever experienced or witnessed misconduct in your yoga space, I hope this episode helps you feel seen, validated, and empowered to take meaningful action.

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

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Waitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)
• Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)
• In-Studio 200-Hour Yoga Study Program (Redmond/Seattle)
• Join our mailing list
• Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube
• Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube
• Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!