Reimagining Ashtanga Community Leadership
Introduction For nearly two decades, I’ve witnessed the profound impact that leadership styles have on yoga communities. As both student and teacher in the Ashtanga tradition, I’ve experienced firsthand how the decisions, behaviors, and communication patterns of those in positions of authority shape not just the technical transmission of the practice, but the very culture in which we learn and grow. When I first began teaching Ashtanga yoga over 10 years ago, I consciously and unconsciously replicated the leadership models I had experienced. Some of these served our community well; others perpetuated patterns that limited growth and authentic connection. Like many teachers, I found myself caught between reverence for tradition and the practical reality that our understanding of both human movement and effective teaching continues…
