Abuse happens when someone exerts power over others to control, intimidate, manipulate or violate. It is often brought on when there is an imbalance of power in the relationship, such as the relationship between a yoga teacher and a yoga student. Abuse comes in many forms; sexual, verbal, physical and financial. It can be quite glaring, as when a prominent traveling yoga teacher verbally abused a student in a crowded workshop because she wasn’t performing shoulder stand exactly as he wanted. Abuse of power can also be subtle, as when a yoga school requires student teachers-in-training to do work for the studio for free as part of their certification. Read More