On Abuse, Power and the Guru Myth with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli

Most of us have felt it and shrugged it off. Uma Dinsmore-Tuli has spent years mapping exactly where those small moments can lead, and what to do before they get there.

Uma (she/her) is one of the world’s leading voices on cyclical wisdom, yoga nidrā and the rematriation of feminine power, and the author of six books including, Yoni Shakti: A Woman’s Guide to Power and Freedom through Yoga and Tantra. 

In this episode, we unpack thirteen warning signs of abuse in yoga communities. Things like disrespect for other approaches, contingent flattery, secret teachings and the spiritual bypassing of sexual harm.

Uma is clear that these aren’t only present in the most extreme cases. The same small seeds show up in ordinary classes and trainings too.

We also explore Uma’s nine calls to action, practical, doable things any of us can do when we notice harm. I was surprised to hear from Uma that I was the first person to ask her to speak about these nine calls to action. To me, these are so important.

This is a difficult listen in places. It’s also an important one.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Uma added a new preface to the second edition of Yoni Shakti, and what it cost her
• The thirteen warning signs of abuse in yoga spaces, including disrespect for other approaches, contingent flattery, secret teachings, isolation of dissidents, inner circles, discipline and punishment, unsustainable imbalances, ridicule and silencing, boundary and consent violations, prejudice and hypocrisy, claims of omniscience, abdication of personal responsibility, and spiritual bypassing of sexual harm
• Why the need to belong can make people vulnerable to coercive communities
• The link between institutional abuse patterns and colonisation, hierarchy, and control
• Why testimony is evidence, and what it means to believe survivors
• Uma’s nine calls to action, including withdrawing financial support, asking questions, listening to survivors, refusing to keep secrets, naming names, and working to decolonise yoga
• How to hold heart open, eyes open, even in spiritual and community spaces

Connect with Dr Uma Dinsmore-Tuli

Join the Australian 2026 hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training in September

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