The yoga industry, once rooted in ancient traditions and spiritual philosophy, has become a breeding ground for exploitation and unethical practices, particularly in Westernised training programs. Two prominent figures I’ve encountered in my own experience of yoga teacher training, and more recently, who exemplify this issue are "Your Mate" and "Old Mate" from the "Unnamed Yoga Studios". (Names have been changed for the purpose of this article). Their yoga teacher training programs have raised serious concerns about cultural appropriation, a lack of diversity, unethical teaching methods, and an apolitical stance that goes directly against the foundational principle of yoga: ahimsa (non-violence).
Cultural Appropriation and Whitewashing of Yoga
Your Mate and Old Mate’s teacher training programs are a prime example of what happens when yoga becomes a commodity, stripped of its cultural and spiritual essence. Their version of yoga is palatable to a Western audience but utterly divorced from the roots of the practice. By removing any sense of historical, spiritual, or cultural context, they present a "whitewashed" yoga, one that ignores the ancient philosophies, traditions, and the people from whom the practice originates.
Yoga, as taught by Your Mate and Old Mate, becomes a mere fitness trend, devoid of the activism and social justice principles integral to its true form. They appropriate the language and surface-level aspects of yoga but fail to embody the depth of its philosophy, including ahimsa, which stands for non-violence, not just in action but also in thought and intention. Their refusal to take a stance on pressing social justice issues—issues directly tied to human suffering— and refusal to even consider something as simple as inclusive language and representation of diversity in their advertising, violates this principle. There is no yoga without ahimsa, and there is no ahimsa without addressing violence, oppression, and systemic inequality.
Diversity and Inclusion: A Glaring Absence
Another concerning aspect of their teacher training is the overwhelming lack of diversity. Yoga in the West is already criticised for being exclusionary, catering mainly to affluent, white practitioners, and the “Unnamed Studio” programs do little to challenge this stereotype. Their lack of inclusion and cultural appreciation perpetuates the notion that yoga is for a select demographic, excluding people of colour, marginalised groups, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Cultural appropriation without representation, diversity, or appreciation is harmful and perpetuates systemic inequities in wellness spaces. For Your Mate and Old Mate to claim they are teaching yoga while excluding voices of colour and reducing the practice to a whitewashed version is not just problematic but deeply unethical.
Pseudo-Therapy Without Qualifications
One of the most alarming aspects of their teacher training is their use of unqualified group therapy sessions. In these sessions, Your Mate and Old Mate introduce John Nutting’s theories from Landmark Forum, specifically focusing on limiting core beliefs. It is important to highlight that Landmark Forum has been criticised for operating with a multi-level marketing (MLM) structure and for being a psychologically manipulative organisation. Incorporating these problematic teachings into yoga training is not only misguided but dangerous.
Without any mental health qualifications, Your Mate and Old Mate facilitate group therapy-like sessions under the guise of yoga training. These sessions delve into deeply personal issues without offering participants adequate mental health support, mental health first aid, or aftercare. This irresponsible approach not only puts participants at risk but also opens them up to psychological harm without any recourse or safety nets. In this context, they act like megalomaniacs, positioning themselves as gurus with the power to 'heal' without having the necessary expertise or understanding.
The Lack of Regulation in Yoga Teacher Training
A significant issue with yoga teacher training, in general, is the lack of active governing bodies overseeing the ethics and codes of conduct within these programs. There are no universal standards or accountability mechanisms in place, allowing individuals like Your Mate and Old Mate to operate unchecked. This unregulated environment creates a dangerous space where harmful practices, such as unqualified therapy and cultural appropriation, thrive.
It’s crucial for aspiring yoga teachers to be discerning about where they receive their training and to be wary of red flags, including programs that focus more on financial gain and personal transformation gimmicks than on the true essence of yoga. Watch out for programs that incorporate pseudo-psychological or spiritual elements without proper training or qualifications and avoid those that claim to offer deep healing but provide no aftercare or mental health resources.
How to Avoid the Crunchy-Alt-Right Pipeline and Pseudo-Spiritual Grifters
The yoga community has seen a disturbing trend where pseudo-spiritualism often serves as a gateway to more insidious ideologies, including the alt-right pipeline. These spaces, full of pseudo-spiritual “grifters” often promote surface-level mindfulness while ignoring or dismissing social justice issues, focusing instead on individual transformation in a way that can align with extremism or far-alt-right ideologies rooted in white supremacy, misogyny, fatphobia, transphobia and other oppressive systems that halt social and political progress.
To avoid falling into these traps, it's essential to seek out yoga teacher trainings that actively promote social justice, diversity, and inclusion. Look for programs that acknowledge the cultural origins of yoga, encourage a sense of global responsibility, and align with the ethical principles of the practice. Teachers should be qualified not just in physical asanas but in the philosophy, history, and mental health aspects of yoga. The goal of yoga is not to create more 'enlightened' individuals but to work toward collective liberation and a more just society.
Conclusion
Your Mate and Old Mate’s teacher trainings and studios exemplify the ethical pitfalls of modern yoga teacher training. From their apolitical stance and cultural appropriation to their unqualified group therapy sessions, protecting abusers and upholding or entertaining bigotry, their approach to yoga is deeply problematic, at best, and dangerous at worst. There was once a time where this style of yoga peaked, and they could get away with it - but the clock is ticking and they won’t be able to continue to operate this way anymore without consequence. Aspiring yoga teachers should be cautious when choosing where to train, looking for programs that not only show credibility and qualifications, but promote inclusivity, respect for yoga’s cultural roots, and a strong commitment to social justice, diversity and inclusion.