Yoga, Disability, and Animism, with Theo Wildcroft

Today, I sit down with Theodora Wildcroft, a researcher, anthropologist, and long-time teacher of what she calls “post-lineage yoga.” We discuss Theo's ethnographic research on yoga in the UK, focusing on its connections with animism, paganism, and other somatic practices. We also dive into Theo’s personal approach to yoga as a liberatory practice that allows diverse bodies and minds to thrive. Along the way, we touch on disability, neuro-divergence, cultural appropriation, and the inescapable influence of colonialism for contemporary yogis. 

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Theodora Wildcroft, Post Lineage Yoga: From Guru to #MeToo (2020)
• Theo Wildcroft & Harriet Mcatee, The Yoga Teacher's Survival Guide: Social Justice, Science, Politics, and Power (2024)
• Barbora Sojkova & Theodora Wildcroft, Yoga Studies in 5 Minutes (2025)
• Theo’s website: https://theowildcroft.com