Surviving Satchidananda: The Dark Secrets of an International Yoga Movement

September 20, 2026 · 59m

What can Yogaville teach us about abuse in modern yoga organizations? In this episode, Matthew Remski, author of Surviving Modern Yoga , explains the dynamics that allow spiritual abuse to persist in our communities. Matthew brings his own experiences in high-demand groups to his work and offers a framework for understanding vulnerability, coercion, cult dynamics, and the complicated process of recognizing harm within the communities we belong to. Support Brianna and the show: https://ko-fi.com/briannap Matthew Remski's books, podcast, and resources: The joint statement between Shanti Norris, Susan Cohen, and Yogaville that was mentioned in the show reads as follows: The parties acknowledge that sexual activities took place between teacher and student. The parties acknowledge that those activities were inappropriate but did not involve physical force or physical coercion. The parties acknowledge the organizations did not know about plaintiffs’ sexual experiences during their time as devotees. Swami Satchidananda is a source of spiritual teaching and inspiration for many within the organizations. This joint statement shall not be presented, posted or disseminated in any way other than in its entirety.