Exploring the State of Yoga: Power, Wisdom, and the Business of Yoga

The world of yoga is often idealized as a space of peace, wisdom, and community. Yet, behind the scenes, many yoga teachers, studio owners, and students experience a different reality—one shaped by power dynamics, unspoken hierarchies, and even exploitation. This is precisely why The State of Yoga Podcast was created: to explore the intersection of yoga as a wisdom tradition and the business of yoga.

The Hidden Hierarchies in Yoga Communities

Yoga is built on a foundation of wisdom, self-inquiry, and ethical practice. However, like any human system, yoga communities are not immune to the power struggles found in other industries. In many teacher-student relationships, we find the Guru Syndrome and Guru Complex at play.

• Guru Syndrome occurs when students idealize a teacher, seeing them as an enlightened authority beyond reproach.
• Guru Complex is when teachers adopt an attitude of superiority, believing themselves to be the ultimate source of wisdom.

These dynamics can lead to unhealthy relationships, manipulation, and exclusionary practices within yoga studios and teacher training programs. Many yoga teachers enter the profession believing in a system of mutual respect and learning, only to find themselves in competition for teaching positions or shut out from opportunities by an inner circle of studio owners or senior teachers.

A Story That Speaks to Many

In the podcast’s opening episode, we hear the story of Jane Doe, a yoga teacher who trusted in a system that ultimately let her down. She sensed something was wrong—her once-friendly community had grown distant, her teacher’s messages turned passive-aggressive, and soon, she found herself pushed out without explanation.

She realized too late that she had ignored her intuition, placing her trust outside of herself. As Aristotle reminds us, “The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil.” Yoga teachers are taught to see yoga as a path of wisdom, but wisdom requires discernment—and sometimes, that means recognizing when a system is no longer serving its community.

The Business of Yoga: Where Ethics Meet Economics

It is often assumed that yoga, as a spiritual practice, operates outside the realm of business ethics. But the reality is that yoga studios, training programs, and retreats function as businesses—and, like all businesses, they are driven by competition, financial goals, and power structures.

Many yoga professionals experience:
✔ False promises of leadership roles that never materialize
✔ Unpaid labor or unfair compensation models
✔ Selective inclusion in studio communities, based on favoritism rather than merit
✔ Lack of accountability when harm occurs within the community

While some yoga studios and training programs are committed to ethical business practices, others thrive on exclusivity, silencing dissent, and prioritizing profit over people.

A Call for Community Accountability

The State of Yoga Podcast is not just about identifying problems—it’s about finding solutions. One potential path forward is the Process Enneagram for Strategic Inquiry, a tool that helps communities self-lead and self-manage through conflict resolution and power dynamics. Over the next several episodes, the podcast will explore this model in-depth, offering a framework for yoga communities to address challenges with integrity.

If yoga is truly a wisdom tradition, then it must also be a practice of accountability. Yoga teachers, students, and studio owners must be willing to ask hard questions about their communities:

🔹 Do we foster true inclusion, or do we create exclusive circles of power?
🔹 Are teachers compensated fairly for their work?
🔹 Do we practice discernment when power is abused, or do we stay silent?

As Jordan Peterson puts it, “When you have something to say, silence is a lie.” The health of the yoga industry depends on those willing to speak up, to share experiences—both the good and the challenging—and to push for an evolution in the way yoga businesses operate.

Join the Conversation

This podcast is an open forum for discussion. If you are a teacher, studio owner, program director, or student with a story to share—whether about unethical practices or examples of yoga businesses thriving with integrity—you are invited to join the conversation.

The future of yoga is not just in our individual practice but in the collective wisdom we create.

Until next time, remember: The state of yoga depends on us—the community.