Guru and His Followers: Risks of Power Abuse in the Yoga (and Wellness) World — Miniseries part 2
by Šárka Soudková — Certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, Trauma-Informed Somatic Coach for Women & Yoga Teacher
Six years ago, when I was immersed in yoga teaching and facilitating trauma-sensitive yoga, I wrote the original version of this article. Diving deeply into the topic of power misuse in spiritual and wellness settings changed my relationship with yoga. I felt disillusioned — at times even repelled by the world I used to feel at home in. It took quite a time of integration to make peace with my identity as a yoga teacher again, to return to the core of the practice — without bypassing its shadows.
Now, as my work has expanded to trauma-informed somatic coaching, somatic experiencing and mindful embodiment, I return to this piece with new eyes. The risks of power abuse don’t live only in the yoga world — we can see them mirrored in therapeutic and coaching spaces too. I believe this conversation is not just necessary — it is urgent.
Power, Transmission, and Ethics: A Look Back at Yoga’s Roots
Yoga is a powerful and transformative discipline. At its core are values like non-harming (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), and self-restraint (brahmacharya). Yet history shows us that the guru-disciple model, while sometimes nurturing, can also be deeply problematic. Power is easily concentrated and rarely questioned.
Teachers are often seen as enlightened beings whose word should not be challenged. And when these relationships are formed in an environment where boundaries, trauma, and psychological safety are not well understood, harm can occur — even unintentionally.
From Moksha to Marketing: How Modern Yoga Got Messy
Today, yoga is often far removed from its philosophical roots. It’s marketed as a lifestyle, branded with Instagram-perfect aesthetics, and driven by profit. Yoga teacher trainings are sometimes condensed into mere weeks, and the pressure to "succeed" as a teacher can lead to posturing, performance, and a lack of ethical depth.
This fast-track approach can leave new teachers ill-equipped to understand trauma, power, and relational dynamics. In such spaces, students often place their trust and vulnerability in teachers without knowing how to discern between healthy guidance and subtle manipulation.
Power Over vs. Power With: The Invisible Currents in Teaching Spaces
Power is not inherently bad. But when held unconsciously, it becomes dangerous. Many trauma survivors find their way to yoga and somatic practices. In these spaces, old relational wounds can be re-enacted, especially if the teacher assumes a dominant role.
Examples of power misuse include coercive spiritual advice, inappropriate touch, silencing discomfort, and overstepping boundaries — all while cloaked in the language of healing or "holding space."
Spiritual bypassing is another layer of harm, where teachers dismiss trauma responses with phrases like "just let it go," or "it’s your karma," rather than honoring the complexity of human experience.
Parallel Patterns in Somatic, Coaching, and Healing Spaces
As someone now working in the field of somatics and trauma-informed coaching, I see how similar dynamics can arise outside of yoga. Coaches, facilitators and therapists may unconsciously replicate the same patterns — putting themselves on a pedestal, offering one-size-fits-all methods, or cultivating dependence in clients.
The wellness industry is largely unregulated. This means that people with limited training or unexamined wounds can end up in positions of authority. Without supervision, peer feedback, or ongoing education, the potential for power misuse grows.
From Silence to Accountability: What’s Changing
In recent years, more people are speaking up. Movements like "From Darkness to Light" and teachers committed to decolonizing yoga are exposing unethical behavior and calling for reform. More spaces now include consent-based teaching, trauma-informed language, and invitations instead of instructions.
But this change is slow and incomplete. There's still a long way to go in terms of intersectionality, inclusivity, and genuine power-sharing.
A Personal Reflection: Reclaiming Yoga Beyond the Pedestal
For some time, I internally distanced myself from yoga traditions because I couldn’t find a way to teach without participating in the dynamics I had grown disillusioned with. I needed time to listen, to study, and to reorient my work.
Today, I continue to integrate the principles of yoga in my life and work — but I hold them with more humility. I don’t see myself as a guru. I see myself as a companion, a space-holder, a guide who is also learning.
True ethical holding begins with acknowledging our own humanity. It requires curiosity, reflection, and the courage to admit when we don’t know. It also asks us to stay accountable, especially when we are entrusted with someone else’s vulnerability.
About the Author:
Šárka is the heart behind Wildflower Somatics — a space holder for women on the journey back to their bodies, their rhythm, and their truth. As a trauma-informed somatic coach for women, trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator, and certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, she supports nervous system healing, embodied resilience, and soulful self-discovery. Her work is rooted in the wisdom of the body, the power of presence, and the courage it takes to feel — weaving somatics, mindfulness, and deep listening in service of inner change. With tenderness and clarity, she holds space for women to root, rise, and bloom — in their own wild, gentle way.