I wish it weren’t true, but it’s 2025. The last episode was posted in 2020. 😭 You guys are valid in your perspectives. I feel so badly about what happened to you. America is competitive. That’s the foundation of capitalism - competition. But, part of America’s foundation is, also, grounded in domestic tranquility to form a perfect union. In other words, friendly, healthy competition - sportsmanlike conduct is key. I do somewhat identify with this podcast - I’m mixed culturally (I’m literally a little bit of everything). These episodes cover a lot of difficult topics, but I feel that it was done pretty eloquently. 🥳👏🏼

Back when our problems were much simpler people certainly still found ways to complain. Negativity killed yoga, for these people. Gross.

Here from 2024 to say that I wish this podcast was still active! Insightful, informative episodes. If you’re triggered by what they share, let down your defenses and take a look within. Or better yet: stick to your white washed yoga! This podcast is exactly the dialogue the yoga community needs.

I couldn’t even make it through a full podcast. As a RYT500 I can’t imagine believing in the beautiful qualities, benefits and peace that yoga has to offer and some how wake up every day singling out white women. I’m a second generation Mexican American and this irritates me to no degree! Shame on the shaming! Yes, yoga has roots. But so does everything that’s forged in this country. Should Mexicans be the only ones allowed to eat their appropriately cultured foods because there’s no way a white woman could understand what my grandmother endured crossing the Rio at the age of 9?? Wake up! Woke ain’t the answer. Embracing our differences and loving them is what makes this world go round!

Thank you for sharing your experience and honesty! This podcast provides a much-needed, honest conversation about yoga in the U.S.

This is a show filled with leadership and compassion while addressing important issues. Don’t miss it!

as a grandchild of the desi diaspora i am trying to find my way with yoga. i rejected the capitalist and whitified yoga white people presented to me, and missed out on all of yoga until recently. Tejal and Jesal's podcast is helping heal that yuck so i can access yoga on my own and my ancestors terms.

Great podcast about so many important issues that everyone in the yoga community should be aware of.

If you are the type of person who wakes up every morning thinking, “who can I take a poo on today,” then this podcast is for you! It’s a podcast buying girls for mean girls.

Hi, white woman in YTT over here. Thank you for this podcast. Reading these comments, it’s really upsetting to see yoga practitioners who are unable to acknowledge the impact of white privilege. I can’t put into words what a healing impact yoga has had on my life, and I want to do everything I can to respect and honor the cultural roots of yogic philosophy and asana practice. White people seriously need to stop being so fragile about this topic. Making conversations about oppression and cultural appropriation all about white people’s feelings IS white privilege in action. Sit down and listen with openness.

Thank you for these episodes! They have been so helpful for me on my journey to decolonize my yoga practice. Funny, eye-opening, and full of references for further reading and listening. Thank you Jesal and Tejal!!

Only people of color can really understand how much this all makes sense. If you are a fragile yt person who came here for a shoulder rub… move on! But if you came here to actually listen and learn… enjoy it!! This podcast is not “racist” this podcast is REAL!!

So over the attack on white people! As someone who used to consider themself “woke”, I am absolutely disgusted to see all the people I’ve always supported turn on and target my race now. I’m almost to the point where I don’t want to teach yoga anymore because woke people have made me feel like I’m now allowed to because I’m the wrong color. For me, woke people have killed yoga.

WE NEED MORE OF THIS AMAZING CONTENT. please please please come back 😩

If I could give negative stars, I would.

Thank you Tejal, Jesal, & team for all the efforts of processing, creating, and sharing this podcast. There is so much here I needed to sit with and reflect on as a white woman practicing / teaching yoga in the West. Hearing your perspectives has been invaluable. Hearing the perspectives of South Asian practitioners and teachers is so important! This podcast has birthed me into a major wake up to the inequity, racism, misalignment, and appropriation in western yoga + my involvement. And your perspectives are still helping me wake up! Thank you so much for your brave educating, vulnerable sharing, and expertise. I’m so grateful.

This podcast articulates so many things I have found troubling about how yoga is practiced and taught in the US. The hosts are knowledgeable, funny, and unflinching in their analysis of what American yoga gets wrong. If you find yourself reacting negatively to the episodes, ask yourself what you’re so attached to about your own beliefs or feelings that is setting you off.

Greaaat, racist yoga teachers who hate everyone. I remember when yoga was about accepting everyone no matter who they are or where they are in their practice. NO JUDGEMENT.

Generalizations, painting “white woman” with an insensitively broad brush.

Looks like this podcast is long dead as well 🤷🏼‍♀️

And petty

listen to 'let's talk yoga' for a much more authentic and genuine perspective on these topics!

I have been practicing for three years, and I’m trying to learn and educate myself better. Thank you for the essential and precious information and stories. It’s beautiful not to be scared to speak up and educate others. I just finished reading all attachments and all interviews that you listed.

Some questionable statements “white women ruining yoga”

As a white American person who practices yoga for over a decade, none of the topics they covered are new to me. So I was reluctant to listen thinking it would just be more stories about what’s wrong with yoga in America. But every episode is extremely poignant and provides perspectives that are new to me, but also well thought out. At the end of each episodes they have action steps, and they elaborate on WHY particular things are wrong and give valid arguments for each viewpoint they have. They voiced things I have witnessed but didn’t know quite what to think about. For instance the episode on gurus actually tackles the problem of this ancient idea that gurus should be infallible. They really grapple with the issues at hand in every episode and in listening I have come to a better understanding of what is going on culturally with yoga. I now have a much better grasp on what I can do as a white person to make my community more diverse and accessible, and new ways to hold and contemplate certain yogic philosophies. Bravo!

Thank you so much for this podcast. As a white woman surrendered by other lululemon clad white women, I’ve wondered about these topics, especially episode 1, and am grateful for the information, explanations, and especially the tips on how to be more aware and a better ally. Wish everyone who practices or teaches yoga would listen to this podcast!

J/k. This podcast is essential. But I do think it’s funny how the vegans got so butthurt about it. I say this as a lifelong vegetarian who doesn’t trust people who don’t like cheese.

I side with Gwynneth. You’re only (teaching) yoga because I know how to (teach) yoga. White women put yoga on the map. You’re welcome! I myself trained over 600 white women in my Yoga Alliance 200 RYS #117218 how to teach safe, effective classes as an expression of both my education and careers in both social work and fitness. From 2003 to 2020 I earned my six-figure comfortable living in total alignment with the 8 Limbs. I never lied, cheated or stole anything. My books I published on Amazon are properly cited, and attributed accurately and warmly. In 2020, I was uncomfortable spreading the Covid-19 Virus so I canceled in-person instruction. I ultimately walked away from my business, because my You Tube Channel couldn’t catch on, as I was unwilling to cede cash to Facebook and Instagram. These days, I think long and hard about social justice. I reflect on my past efforts to do good by teaching well. I never meant any harm. Same as my alumni. Please let’s not shame them. Thank you for this juicy podcast. I’m really excited to hear every word you guys say. Thank you Danielle Zissou Open Up Yoga TT

Let’s talk yoga podcast is better, it makes similar points without gaslighting women who are not of color

If you practice yoga and are white, you must listen. This is a very informative podcast that discusses various types of cultural appropriation and problems in the yoga community. The only bad episode is the vegans episode. It’s totally off the rails and just talking poorly of vegans. Very little yoga content and was a waste of time to listen to.

Fantastic podcast. Thank you. Loved all the episodes. Had to pace myself so as not to binge them but to listen to no more than one a day in order to prolong the experience.

Really made me want to dive into learning more about yoga and all its different limbs not just asana and made me think about things (regular day to day things) differently

Thank you for educating me

Thank you 💜 As a white person I appreciate you two!

I loved this podcast. I know you got a lot of hate, but you were speaking truth. I periodically check back to see if you have added anymore podcasts…alas, no. Hope you are well and healthy, and that you are still bringing the yoga to your peeps. Please consider some more podcasts!

Thank you for this wealth of information & resources.

This podcast is so informative and thoughtful. I’m so glad I found this podcast while going through the process of my first YTT. Anyone giving negative reviews most likely needs to confront their own fragility.

Got 10 min into the first episode about their hate for white women and had to shut my head in the garage door. Bashing and generalizing people and then talking about how the should be supportive is hilariously Hippocratic.

Hypocrisy…. On and on .

I highly recommend the Let’s Talk Yoga podcast with Arundhati Baitmangalkar over this one.

I really enjoy the content and have learned so much from this podcast. It’s distracting, though, that the hosts are clearly reading much of the time— the scripted delivery detracts from the experience of listening.

This is, hands down, the best yoga podcast out there. I have been learning so much and, as a Latina embarking on a personal yoga and non-dual Tantra practice, I have been understanding so much more on how yoga has been commodified, branded, repackaged and sold by white capitalist America. Every time I listen to an episode, I learn something new upon reflection. I also greatly appreciate their tips and suggestions at the end of each podcast. Absolutely fantastic podcast and a necessary voice in the current climate. Please, please, please let there be a season 2.

Absolutely obsessed with this podcast. A must listen to anyone and everyone in the yoga community. As a yoga teacher in America, I so appreciate you both for speaking on these “sensitive” topics that need to be addressed! The yoga community needs to hear what you have to say. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

But I was extremely disturbed by the hosts laughing during the “Gurus Killed Yoga” episode. They were talking about pedophilia and sexual abuse and were ... laughing. Why?

What an amazing eye opening podcast. Gives you a lot of food for thought. Patiently... ok... maybe a little impatiently waiting for a season 2! Please let there be a season 2! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

What a unique podcast.

I was really excited about this podcast when I learned about it from another podcast. It’s such a great and timely concept and both hosts are well informed and easy on the ears. BUT they are reading! It’s terrible. I wish they would simply speak about the topics instead of reading from prepared documents. It’s mind numbing. I couldn’t even get through a single episode. It’s like: utilize / explore the medium or just write a blog post already! So many podcasts are guilty of this and I will probably give this one another try when I’m in a more compassionate mood. I was just so disappointed after my initial excitement upon discovering it.

I just finished the first episode (I’m behind I know) and I listened to several parts more than once, paused it so I could take notes, and used a lot of the resources they mentioned linking (like articles to read). I’ll be sharing the entire podcast, but especially episode one with many of my friends. Thank you for this!!

This podcast is just what the yoga and fitness industry at large need! Tejal and Jesal are so informed and drop so much important knowledge and critical thought in an entertaining way! Thank you for making this podcast!

This is an incredibly important listen. I recommend the whole podcast to fellow teachers all the time. Gotta get into the uncomfortable truths about capitalism!!