Journey Into Yoga Cults

I just recently found this podcast. I practiced Baptiste Yoga for many years, really loved it, and really wanted to take YTT through Baptiste. I even went to the Cambridge studio! I feel like I really dodged a bullet by not going down that path. I recently started a YTT- not with Baptiste- and read Journey Into Power for the first time to compare it to what I am learning in YTT. I was struck by the complete lack of acknowledging Yoga’s ancient history, philosophy, and cultural context. Big red flag for me! Thank you to the hosts for making this podcast and sharing your healing process with others. I love that you intentionally left the podcast raw and imperfect, it makes your conversations feel so much more honest and heartfelt, like I am listening to a friend. I also listened to the 30 for 30 series on Bikram. I think the lesson here is that yoga is a wonderful practice that feels good, but the power hierarchy of the guru-student relationship is too easily abused and made harmful. These men did not invent yoga, and yoga is accessible and powerful without them.

I had to DNF after the first two episodes. They spent TWO FULL HOURS talking but not a single specific example of how they were “harmed” “coerced” “victimized” or any other number of accusations they made. They talked in circles, there were lots of random long pauses (even with me listening in 1.5 speed!), and the audio quality was poor.

This validated my 19 year old thoughts when I started level 1 and only completed level 2 to get my 200 hour. I was delighted to hear baron wouldn’t be at level 2 while many other students were upset, which made me also feel like this was very culty. With no education on anatomy and teaching actual ancient yoga principles, I continued onto another 200 hour where I felt more like my own teacher. I’m glad this is being discussed and it saddens me to see that he still has an impact, but we are all coerced in some way. I couldn’t keep the focus up because of how slow this show has taken to get into the gist of things. And, quite frankly I was disheartened to hear one of the hosts discuss their recent shot in episode 3, which is ironic because that’s another form of psychological coercion taking place. I hope she and many more wake up to the reality of that as well.

Thanks for examining and sharing your experience! I think it’s always healthy and important to think critically and ask questions about any group you’re involved with, whether it be your family, your workplace, your school, your religion, a specific yoga group or other wellness practice, etc. Often when someone tells us NOT to do that, they’re trying to exercise undue influence over us. I appreciate your analysis and journey towards figuring it all out together. You set a good example! I’m glad you got out and are willing to create a podcast chronicling one way of moving on from an abusive leader and group.