Instagram · May 7, 2015
Do you like my charts? These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s). I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Practice
Instagram · Aug 1, 2013
Do you like my charts? These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s). I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Instagram · Nov 7, 2015
Do you like my charts? These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s). I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Instagram · Jan 12, 2015
Do you like my charts? These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s). I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Instagram · Apr 5, 2016
Do you like my charts? These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s). I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Instagram · May 10, 2016
Do you like my charts? These are from my videos about balancing subjectivity and objectivity as practitioners/teachers of Ashtanga Yoga to grow in your practice(s). I’ll include a download in my newsletter on Friday.
Instagram · Aug 15, 2025
Yoga is a straightforward path towards liberation from narrowmindedness and the suffering it brings. Some teachers miss the mark— oops— by confusing success in shapes vs an expanded consciousness capable of holding boundless compassion. A good teacher combats cognitive dissonance and spiritual bypassing by openly discussing advantages AND lamenting the disadvantages inherent in each of…
I admire my friends art. Bless her—I have been sharing my videos with her lik…
I admire my friends art. Bless her—I have been sharing my videos with her like *that* little boy dying to tell you all about dinosaurs
Dismantling Authoritarianism with Ashtanga Yoga: Power, Practice, Justice
In this video, we unbox the concept of decolonizing your yoga practice by removing authoritarianism and emphasizing self-study. This episode covers the cultural context of Ashtanga Yoga, the impact of colonialism and capitalism in shaping Western yoga practices, and the need for open-source teaching. Michael discusses historical gender biases, the guru-student power dynamic, and the issues of gatekeeping and groupthink in yoga communities. Learn about the importance of making yoga accessible and fostering community-centered approaches while balancing tradition with the evolution of Ashtanga Yoga. Discover how decommodification and recognizing inner intelligence can lead to true liberation in your practice.
00:00 Dismantling Authoritarianism with Ashtanga Yoga: Power, Practice, Justice
00:01 Introduction to Decolonizing Yoga
00:15 Historical Context and Cultural Impact
01:12 Examining Patriarchal Elements
02:14 Power Dynamics and Gatekeeping
03:37 Cultural Imperialism in Teaching
04:50 Appropriation vs. Appreciation
06:43 Open Source Teaching as Solution
08:12 Making Yoga Accessible
10:12 Balancing Tradition with Evolution
11:49 Self-Education and Awareness
14:05 Conclusion: Path to Liberation