Yoga’s #MeToo Moment: Confronting Abuse, Reclaiming Trust, and the Rise of Post-Lineage Yoga
- Rebecca James
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
For centuries, yoga has been revered as a path of inner peace, discipline, and enlightenment. It has been synonymous with integrity, self-awareness, and liberation. But in recent years, the yoga community has been forced to reckon with a darker reality—one where power, abuse, and unchecked authority have existed alongside these sacred teachings.
As the global #MeToo movement exposed abuses across industries, yoga too faced its moment of truth. Long-revered figures were implicated in misconduct, and survivors of abuse within yoga communities began to break their silence. The guru-disciple tradition—once seen as an unshakable pillar of yogic learning—was now being questioned. And out of this reckoning, a new movement has emerged: Post-Lineage Yoga, where practitioners seek to honor yoga’s wisdom without the hierarchical structures that allowed abuse to go unchecked.
This chapter explores the fall of controversial figures, the way the yoga world is responding, and how a more inclusive, ethical, and accountable future is being built.
The Fall of the Guru: Unveiling Abuse in the Yoga World
Bikram Choudhury: From Hot Yoga to Scandal
Few names in modern yoga are as infamous as Bikram Choudhury, the founder of Bikram Yoga. Once celebrated for popularizing hot yoga, Choudhury faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault from his students and employees.
• In 2013, women began coming forward with accusations of sexual misconduct, manipulation, and rape.
• In 2016, a U.S. court ruled against him in a lawsuit filed by his former legal advisor, Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, awarding her over $7 million in damages.
• Instead of facing justice, Choudhury fled the United States and continued to teach yoga internationally—a move that underscored the lack of accountability within the yoga industry.
K. Pattabhi Jois and the Ashtanga Yoga Scandal
For decades, K. Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, was revered as a master of his craft. However, inappropriate physical adjustments he made to students were later recognized as patterns of sexual abuse and boundary violations.
• Many former students, including senior Ashtanga teachers, have since spoken out about the harm they endured in Jois’s presence.
• The case sparked a broader discussion about the normalization of touch in yoga and the importance of explicit consent in teacher-student relationships.
Yogi Bhajan: Kundalini Yoga Under Scrutiny
Yogi Bhajan, the man responsible for bringing Kundalini Yoga to the West, was accused of widespread sexual and psychological abuse by former students.
• These allegations led to an internal investigation by the Kundalini Research Institute, which found credible evidence of misconduct.
• The case rocked the Kundalini Yoga community, forcing practitioners to reconsider the teachings, legacy, and structure of the movement.
Swami Vishnudevananda and Other Cases
The allegations are not limited to a few high-profile names. Swami Vishnudevananda (founder of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers) and Gregorian Bivolaru (a leader in the European yoga movement) have also been accused of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and cult-like behavior.
Each case has highlighted the risks of blind faith in charismatic leaders and the dangers of unchecked power in spiritual communities.
Reckoning and Reform: How the Yoga World is Responding
The exposure of misconduct within the yoga world has forced a long-overdue conversation about ethics, power, and accountability. Across the global yoga community, steps are being taken to create a safer and more inclusive practice.
1. Ethical Guidelines and Teacher Training Overhaul
• More organizations are implementing codes of conduct that explicitly define teacher-student boundaries.
• Yoga teacher training programs now emphasize trauma awareness, consent-based adjustments, and ethical leadership.
• Some studios have banned physical adjustments altogether unless a student gives explicit permission.
2. Creating Safe Spaces for Survivors
• Survivor-led advocacy groups like Project SATYA have emerged, offering spaces for victims to share their stories, seek support, and demand justice.
• Social media and online communities have played a crucial role in exposing abusers and empowering survivors to reclaim their voices.
3. Rethinking the Guru-Disciple Model
• Many practitioners are moving away from hierarchical traditions and embracing Post-Lineage Yoga, a model that prioritizes:
• Decentralized learning (where knowledge is shared among peers, rather than dictated by a singular authority).
• Critical thinking and questioning of teachings, rather than passive acceptance.
• Collective wisdom over blind devotion.
Post-Lineage Yoga: A New Way Forward
Post-Lineage Yoga is not about abandoning tradition—it’s about making yoga more ethical, adaptable, and accessible.
• It encourages teachers and students to take responsibility for their own learning rather than relying on an unquestioned authority figure.
• It fosters inclusive spaces where everyone, regardless of background, feels empowered to practice.
• It allows yoga to evolve organically, without being tied to outdated power structures.
This shift signals a hopeful future for yoga—one that honors its sacred roots while ensuring it remains a practice of empowerment, not control.
Moving Forward: Honouring Yoga’s True Essence
The past few years have been painful but necessary for the yoga community. While the exposure of abuse has been deeply unsettling, it has also led to greater awareness, necessary reforms, and an opportunity to rebuild yoga on a foundation of integrity.
At Sarvanga Yoga, we believe that yoga should never be about power, control, or exploitation. It is a path to self-discovery, healing, and transformation—one that belongs to everyone, not just those in positions of authority.
As we move forward, our mission is clear:
• To ensure yoga remains a safe, inclusive, and ethical practice for all.
• To support survivors and advocate for accountability.
• To empower practitioners to take ownership of their yoga journey, free from manipulation and fear.
Because at its heart, yoga is not about who you follow—it’s about the truth you find within yourself.
Further Reading & Resources
For those who want to dive deeper into these issues and solutions, we recommend:
1. The New Yorker: Yoga Reconsiders the Role of the Guru in the Age of #MeToo
2. Yoga Journal: #TimesUp - Ending Sexual Abuse in the Yoga Community
3. Theodora Wildcroft, Post-Lineage Yoga
Yoga is evolving, and this is our moment to shape it into something better.
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