Does Yoga Support Social Justice Work? No and Yes. with Matthew Remski

Join renowned author, activist and teacher Matthew Remski for two provocative conversations about the current state, and future outlook, of our yoga practice.

Meant for teachers, studio owners, and serious students alike, these special events are offered on a sliding scale. Please register separately for each event.

Thursday, November 8
7:30 - 9:00 PM
Does Yoga Support Social Justice Work? No and Yes.
The Bhagavad Gita was the favourite book of both Gandhi and his assassin. European fascist movements of the 1930s were fascinated with yoga. And even today, practicing yoga is not a reliable predictor of one's political persuasion. The Yoga Sutras will not teach you about reproductive rights, rape culture or white privilege. The Hatha Yoga texts are in no way feminist. Therefore, is it a mistake to believe that practicing yoga makes you a better citizen, or ally? In this discussion we'll explore how social justice work really begins with education that comes from beyond the yoga mat. And, how those who are working within the social justice movement really can trust yoga practice to help build resilience.



Registration: Advanced registration for each talk is highly recommended. Sliding scale of $10-$30 per talk.


About Matthew Remski
Matthew has been practicing meditation and yoga since 1996, sitting and moving with teachers from the Tibetan Buddhist, Kripalu, Ashtanga, and Iyengar streams. Along the way he’s been certified as a yoga therapist and an Ayurvedic consultant, and has maintained a private practice in Toronto since 2008. From 2008 through 2012 he co-directed Yoga Festival Toronto and Yoga Community Toronto, non-profit activist organizations dedicated to promoting open dialogue and accessibility. He currently facilitates programming for yoga trainings internationally, focusing on yoga philosophy, meditation, Ayurveda, and is currently contributing to the Yoga Alliance Yoga Standards Project, advising on the Scope of Practice qualifications.



As a heart-centered skeptic, Matthew’s present work focuses on the philosophical and social psychological aspects of the practice. His work is controversial, yet thorough, and recent conversations and publications shine an important light on sensitive, systemic, provocative and destructive issues that underscore modern postural yoga (MPY).



He is the author of eight books of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction including the Threads of Yoga: a remix of Patanjali’s Sutras, Family Wakes Us Up, and is a contribute to Yoga PhD, a compilation of essays on the culture, politics, and practice of yoga.

More information: matthewremski.com/wordpress/