119: Decreasing Yoga in Yoga | Navigating the Politics of the Yoga Industry (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our Navigating the Politics of the Yoga Industry series, Sunny and I continue our candid conversation by exploring what happens when yoga becomes a business.We talk about studio culture, teacher autonomy, non-compete agreements, restrictive contracts, social media expectations, teacher pay, retreats, and the often complicated power dynamics between studio owners and yoga teachers.This episode isn't about criticizing individual studios or claiming there is one "right" way to run a yoga business. We recognize that owning a studio is incredibly challenging, especially while trying to balance financial sustainability with yogic ethics. Instead, we're asking questions that we believe deserve more open discussion within our industry.Some of the questions we explore include:• What happens when business decisions conflict with yogic values?• Why do some studios limit what teachers can say, teach, or even do outside the studio?• How do power dynamics influence the choices yoga teachers make?• Why is it often so difficult for teachers to advocate for themselves?• What might it look like to create healthier, more ethical studio cultures?Most importantly, we invite you to reflect on your own experiences. Whether you're a yoga teacher, studio owner, or longtime practitioner, we hope this conversation encourages thoughtful dialogue rather than easy answers.As always, we'd love to hear your perspective. If you've experienced a studio that truly supports teachers, or if you're a studio owner navigating these same challenges, we'd love to continue the conversation.Connect with Sunny:YouTube: ⁠⁠ @sunnysideyogalates ⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://www.healingwithsunny.org/⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@sunnysideyogalates⁠Connect with Reika: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reikayoga.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reikayoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ethical Yoga Retreat in Nicaragua⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Use code: ALIGN300 for $300 off)