Yoga Union Studio and Building Clash Over Scheduled Speaker Accused of Misogyny

An upcoming lecture by Leslie Kaminoff sparked controversy at the Southeast studio.

An international yoga scandal came to a head in Portland last weekend, as the owners of the Yoga Union studio disagreed with the owner of their building over the scheduling of a controversial speaker.

Yoga Anatomy author Leslie Kaminoff is scheduled to give lectures from June 24 to 26. Earlier this month, he made misogynistic comments about assault victims in yoga communities, which drew the ire of other yogis online.

"I don't support his presence at YU," Chris Calarco, the building owner and a prominent local instructor, wrote on Facebook. "His comments display his striking white, male privilege." Todd Vogt, the co-owner of the Yoga Union studio, felt otherwise, "We do not feel there is a threat…He obviously isn't a mere stereotype of a privileged white male."

Yoga Union later apologized: "We regret our language around these matters…In truth, we feel very sensitive and confused."

There will now be a public forum to discuss student-teacher boundaries, but Yoga Union says it is still under contract to host Kaminoff.

Todd Vogt - photo from Yoga Union Facebook Todd Vogt – photo from Yoga Union Facebook

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