Send us a text

The sacred practice of yoga holds tremendous power for healing, integration, and transformation—but with that power comes the responsibility to navigate the yoga world with awareness and discernment. Drawing from personal experience and years of professional observation, I pull back the curtain on the sometimes uncomfortable reality of yoga cults and high-control groups that have caused harm to vulnerable practitioners.

From fallen leaders like John Friend of Anusara Yoga to the well-documented abuses within Bikram Yoga and Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, we explore why these dynamics develop and how to protect yourself. The vulnerability inherent in deep yoga practice creates openings that require careful boundaries around who we allow to guide us through these tender spaces.

Your yoga journey should always strengthen your connection to your own inner wisdom rather than create dependency on a teacher. I share three crucial elements to look for in yoga spaces: teachers who actively engage in their own mental health work, who continuously invite you to listen to your inner knowing rather than positioning themselves as having all the answers, and who respond to feedback with openness and validation rather than defensiveness or gaslighting.

These insights aren't just for yoga—they apply to any healing or personal growth environment. The ultimate message isn't to fear yoga but to approach it with eyes wide open, choosing trauma-informed practitioners who honor your agency while providing supportive community. For those who have experienced harm yet still yearn for yoga's benefits, know that healing is possible and that rediscovering yoga on your own terms can be part of your recovery journey.

Whether you're a yoga practitioner, teacher, or someone curious about the practice, this conversation offers essential guidance for navigating the sometimes murky waters of modern yoga while preserving access to its profound gifts. Choose wisely, trust your instincts, and remember that true yoga always returns you to your own wholeness and power.

If you enjoyed this episode, I love hearing from you let me know on Instagram @the_nourished_woman and if you're curious about ways I can support you or my work, visit my website: www.KeriMarino.com

For Resources on Yoga and Other Cult Documentaries, Cults and Cult Recovery:

Yoga Documentaries:

Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator (Bikram Yoga), Breath of Fire TV Series and True Believers (Kundalini Yoga), Wild, Wild Country (Osho)

Other Cult Documentaries:

Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, Holy Hell, Source Family, One Taste, Escaping Twin Flames and so many more.

Organizations that Can Help: People Leave Cults and International Association of Cultic Studies both have great resources on their blog.

If you're curious about what somatic yoga therapy could to improve your mental health, reduce anxiety, help you recover from trauma or simply feel deeply at home & at peace within yourself. Join us inside The Nourished Woman Sanctuary for just $47/month.

Join by the end of October for access to our 5 day Meditation Challenge, get started today.