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Unraveling the Myth of Ashtanga Yoga
Unraveling the Myth of Ashtanga Yoga I once believed Ashtanga yoga was an ancient tradition. It’s not. Pattabhi Jois created the system—and the same teachers who shaped modern vinyasa protected him while he abused students. Teaching Ashtanga normalizes rape culture. Here’s why I walked away.
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5 Ayurvedic Practices to Transform Your Emotional Wellness During Menopause
From an Ayurvedic perspective, menopause is a time when Vata dosha, which governs movement and change, can become aggravated. This aggravation can manifest as restlessness, anxiety, and a feeling of being ungrounded. Pitta dosha, which regulates heat and transformation, also flare up, leading to irritability, anger, and frustration. Understanding these doshic imbalances gives us a…
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Is Yoga Political? The Historical Intersection of Yoga and Politics
Is Yoga Political? How Yoga and Politics Intersect
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Sexual Abuse in Yoga Part 3 – Is Ashtanga a cult? Stumbling Forward by Embracing our Failures
As we reflect on how we, as a community, handled and mismanaged metoo it’s clear there’s still work to be done. While acknowledging our failures, it’s important to realize the real potential for growth and transformation. When we hold ourselves, and our teachers accountable, we can actively work towards a more just and equitable future.
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Sexual Abuse in Yoga Part 2 – Sacred Stories of Ashtanga’s Open Secret
The following stories are ones I rarely shared because some were not my stories to share. I studied with PJ for a short time before his death. What I witnessed and experienced as secondary trauma has stayed with me. The way the Ashtanga community handled it, denied it, and gaslit everyone has also stayed with…
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Sexual Abuse in Yoga Part 1 – “But he did so much good in the world”
Trigger Warning: The following post discusses sexual assault. The following is a personal narrative and reflection based on lived experience, shared in the interest of truth-telling an survivor solidarity “But he did so much good in the world!” This is the knee jerk response every time anyone tries to discuss sexual abuse in yoga. This…
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The Potency of Ojas in Ayurveda & Yoga
How do we explain the unexplainable? One thing that Ayurvedic practitioners are constantly trying to build in their clients is Ojas. Ojas is a sanskrit word that does not directly translate to english. We describe it and why it’s importance but many of these subtle eastern concepts are difficult to understand. Ojas is the subtle…
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Bandha and The Practice Of Self-Actualization
Sorrow carves the container for joy. Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet got me through some of the most difficult times in my life. It also gave me a deeper understanding of the practice of bandha. How is the emotional body connected to bandha practice? I discovered an intimate connection between my ability to access bandha, and…
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Ayurveda, Yoga, and Diabetes
Yoga Yoga, the ancient practice of India, is misunderstood in the west. Contemporary yoga in the Unites States consists of music to set the mood, excessive external heat, excessive aerobic movement, sometimes wine, sometimes goats, and a yoga clothing/accessory industry that will top $40 billion by 2028. Regardless of your experience, yoga is here to…
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Ayurveda and Caffeine
Is coffee good, or bad for you? You know me, if you’re here then you know I don’t shy away from unpopular opinions. So here goes… Caffeine is a socially acceptable addiction, from memes to throw pillows to yoga practices, it’s everywhere. While there are some health benefits to caffeine we mostly benefit from moderate…
Magnolia Ayurveda
Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist & Yoga Educator
