Conspirituality

206: Surviving Modern Yoga (w/ Matthew Remski)

May 16, 2024

Author Matthew Remski discusses survivor stories of abuse in the yoga community and ways to create safer spaces through critical thinking and empowerment. The podcast explores the dark realities of the yoga world, including abuse, manipulation, and hidden agendas within spiritual figures.

01:02:50

Episode guests

Matthew Remski

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Matthew Remski's book reveals abuse in Ashtanga yoga, suggesting safer community practices.

Childhood upbringing may influence compliance with societal norms in later life.

Ashtanga yoga community lacks reflection on abusive leader behaviors, requiring nuanced accountability efforts.

Deep dives

Comparison of Yoga Philosophies: Ayengar vs. Joyce

Ayengar focuses on sculpting the body into hypergeometrical perfection to become a lightning rod for spiritual enlightenment, while Joyce emphasizes stretching the body until feeling boneless to allow God's flow. Both teachers physically manipulate students into postures, resulting in pain-induced ecstasy.

Introduction

2min

Surviving Modern Yoga: Unveiling Abuse and Cult Dynamics in the Yoga Community

4min

The Dark Realities of the Yoga World

18min

Exploring the Engaging and Diverse Jordan Harbinger Show Podcast

4min

Navigating Uncomfortable Truths in the Yoga Community

18min

Navigating Accountability in Yoga Community Amid Misconduct Allegations

5min

Navigating Controversy in the Yoga Community

17min

Matthew is in the guest seat today! Why? Because in 2019—just months before the pandemic and this podcast kicked off—he published a book titled Practice and All is Coming: Abuse, Cult Dynamics and Healing in Yoga and Beyond. It focused on survivor stories of assault and abuse within the cultic mechanisms of Pattabhi Jois' Ashtanga Yoga community. The book also proposed a path into co-creating safer yoga communities via enhanced critical thinking, self-and-other-care, student empowerment, and community resilience.

In many ways, this book holds the keys to how one-third of the team has tackled the conspirituality era. Derek and Julian interview their colleague about it all on the occasion of the release of a second edition, now titled: Surviving Modern Yoga: Cult Dynamics, Charismatic Leaders, and What Survivors Can Teach Us (North Atlantic Books).

Show Notes

Surviving Modern Yoga by Matthew Remski | PenguinRandomHouse.com

Yoga’s Culture of Sexual Abuse: Nine Women Tell Their Stories | The Walrus

Survivors of an International Buddhist Cult Share Their Stories | The Walrus

How a #MeToo Facebook Post Toppled a Yoga Icon | by Matthew Remski | GEN

Shielded for Decades, A Yoga Leader's Alleged Sexual Abuse Finally Comes Under Fire

How to Respond to Sexual Abuse Within a Yoga or Spiritual Community—Jubilee Cooke, Karen Rain

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