A message of support to all our sisters who experienced harm and its denial within the Integral Yoga organization. An offering of apology and acknowledgment with respect and love on the International Day of Yoga — June 21, 2026.
Dear Sisters,
We stand with you in truth, in grief, and in the call for accountability and healing.
Life is a collective undertaking, sustained by the love and care that flow from one being to another. We hear you, we believe you, and we recognize the harm that has been done.
We are sorry.
For our actions and inactions, our words and our silence that may have contributed to the hardship and suffering you have endured as a result of the harm caused by Swami Satchidananda and his followers.
We regret that we have not supported you more fully during these difficult times.
Please forgive us.
For not being able to bring forth acknowledgement from the leaders of our beloved Integral Yoga—that you were harmed; that Swami Satchidananda used his position of power to engage in sexual relationships with young female disciples; that he presented himself as celibate when he was not. Despite heartfelt written and spoken requests, silence still prevails.
Thank you.
For speaking up, for your courage, and for opening the possibility of reconciling with difficult truths about our teacher, our community, and our own lives.
For your continued endurance in the face of denial and opposition.
For providing an example for us to take risks and courageously tell the truth.
For helping to clear a path for future generations toward a way of life in which sexual harm and abuse are neither belittled nor normalized.
We love you.
We hold you in our hearts and in our prayers.
May all darkness be lifted by the light of truth.
May truth prevail, and may all beings be held in compassion and justice.
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We recognize the validity of the teachings and the power of the practices passed on to us through Integral Yoga, while also acknowledging the institution's failure to respond appropriately and its role in covering up the harm. We aim to continue advocating for the yogic principles of ahimsa, satya, and saucha.
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photo credit: _DSC4205-2 by minh ha, Public Domain Dedication (CC0)
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