Surviving Modern Yoga

Grounded in investigative research and real survivor stories, Surviving Modern Yoga uncovers the physical and sexual abuse perpetrated by Ashtanga yoga leader Pattabhi Jois—and reckons with the culture, structures, and mythos that enabled it.

The revised edition of Practice and All is Coming from Conspirituality co-host Matthew Remski

Yoga culture sells well‐meaning westerners the full package: physical health, good vibes, and spiritual growth. Here, investigative journalist Matthew Remski explores how cultic dynamics, institutional self‐interest, and spiritualized indifference collude to obscure the truth: Harm happens in plain sight.

Through in‐depth interviews, insider analysis, and Remski’s own history with high‐demand groups, Surviving Modern Yoga brings to light how we’re each susceptible to cult abuse and exploitation. He shows how, with the right kind of situational vulnerability and the wrong kind of guru, the ideas we hold close about ourselves—like It wouldn’t happen to me or I’d speak up for victims—fail to protect us.

Remski reckons with his own complicity in spiritual power dynamics, and shares how a process of disillusionment allowed him to recognize harm. He does the same for readers, peeling back the veneer of yoga marketing to reveal the abuse, assault, and silencing perpetrated against seekers who trusted Jois as a mentor, their guruji—even a father figure. Each survivor speaks in their own words, on their own terms, reclaiming agency against an insular, in‐group culture that enabled a charismatic leader’s devastating harm—and positioned him as its only remedy.

Surviving Modern Yoga also includes practical tools to help readers: • Understand how high‐demand groups trap would‐be targets
• Evaluate their own situational vulnerabilities
• Learn to listen for loaded, red‐flag language

• Cultivate their literacy of cult tactics
FOR CULT SURVIVORS AND READERS INTERESTED IN CULTS: An insider’s look at a world those in power have tried to obscure, with new details

FOR YOGA NERDS: Deep analysis of how yoga philosophy can be distorted or weaponized by bad actors for their own gain. Explains the roots of Ashtanga and includes figures like Jois, Iyengar, and Krishnacharya, with never‐before‐published takes from their relatives, students, and acquaintances.

CONSPIRITUALITY PLATFORM: Remski is an investigative journalist, yoga teacher, cult survivor, and co‐host of the popular podcast Conspirituality. TIMELY, TRENDY TOPIC: We’ve hit peak interest in high‐demand groups, as evidenced by the explosive popularity of cult documentaries, books like

Cultish, and podcasts like A Little Bit Culty, Sounds Like a Cult, and Conspirituality.

RIVETING EXPOSÉ: Doesn’t shy away from sharing visceral details or the author’s experiences reckoning with his own complicity. A riveting, compelling read.

SURVIVOR STORIES: Remski centers the stories of survivors, giving them space to process and present their experiences on their own terms.

PRACTICAL TOOLS: Closes with a workbook‐style chapter that helps readers evaluate potential red flags; understand their own susceptibility to cultic exploitation; and learn to identify the toxic traits of a spiritual group or leader.

AUTHOR EXPERTISE: Remski is a well‐networked and trusted expert within yoga communities, and has written about practice, ethics, and yoga philoso‐ phy for two decades.