This page includes the official documents that have been shared most recently with the Integral Yoga sangha regarding the sexual abuse.
Statement of Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville and Integral Yoga® as to
Facts and Allegations Concerning the Late Sri Swami Satchidananda
October 2022
Swami Satchidananda and Integral Yoga®
Swami Satchidananda was one of the first Yoga masters to bring the classical Yoga tradition to the West. In 1966, he was invited to New York for an intended two-day visit. This was extended to five months due to the requests of increasing numbers of people who came to hear him teach. During this period, the Integral Yoga® Institutes were born. For the next thirty-six years, invitations came from all over the globe for him to travel, sharing the teachings of Integral Yoga, along with his pioneering work in promoting interfaith harmony. His vision and teachings continue to transform the lives of thousands of people, providing a pathway to greater health, happiness and peace.
The Integral Yoga organization adheres to the classical Yoga tradition of transmission of spiritual teachings through a direct lineage. This lineage is expressed through the teacher, the teachings, and the community of students and aspirants who follow the teachings.
Accepting Swami Satchidananda as one’s spiritual guide is not required of students or teachers of Integral Yoga. Selecting one’s spiritual teacher is always a matter of personal choice. All are welcome, whether they wish to connect with the teachings, with the Integral Yoga community, or with Swami Satchidananda as their spiritual teacher.
The Facts as We Know Them
In the early 1970s, a woman reported that Swami Satchidananda had extended a sexual proposition to her.
In 1991, allegations of inappropriate sexual words or actions on the part of Swami Satchidananda were made by several women. The allegations were widely discussed at Satchidananda Ashram and at our Integral Yoga Institutes. Concerns and doubts were expressed. Many questions were asked of Swami Satchidananda at meetings and at public gatherings at the Ashram. Swami Satchidananda, as well as senior members, responded to questions by the media. This process was very difficult for everyone involved—for those making the claims, for those learning of them, and for the entire Integral Yoga community.
From time to time, allegations and questions have arisen by word of mouth, social media, rumors, in training sessions and in dialog within the organization. We have acted in good faith to attempt to determine the facts surrounding these matters. To the best of our knowledge, several women have alleged either having experienced unwelcome sexual comments or advances by Swami Satchidananda or having had consensual sexual relations with him.
All of these situations and allegations are alleged to have occurred thirty to fifty years ago. We recognize and respect that individuals, then and now, have decided what they wish to believe or disbelieve based on the information and opinions that have been shared, their own experience of Swami Satchidananda and the teachings of Integral Yoga, and their personal inner reflection.
Integral Yoga Today
It has been twenty years since Swami Satchidananda passed away. He is no longer here to respond to any accusations, past or present: to admit, deny, or explain them. It is not possible for the organization to make a statement on his behalf or to definitively comment about consensual relationships, or allegations of comments of a sexual nature or sexual advances that are alleged to have occurred thirty to fifty years ago.
At the same time, we feel great compassion for all who have been impacted by this issue. We pray that we can all move forward together with kindness and confidence, so we can best meet the many challenges that are facing us today—at the Ashram, at our Integral Yoga Institutes and Centers, and throughout the world.
Moving Forward
As one of the longest serving Yoga organizations in the western world, Integral Yoga has always aimed to provide top quality workshops, teacher trainings, retreats and residential programs for students who wish to further their knowledge, deepen their practice, and pursue their spiritual goals. Looking to the future, we are committed to doing our best to ensure that generations yet to come will be able to experience the benefits that Integral Yoga has to offer. We will be exploring how the organization can best serve that purpose.
Our policies and procedures ensure an environment that supports the health, safety and wellbeing of all who come to study, serve, work, live and visit here. We are committed to adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards, beginning with yama and niyama, the ethical foundation of classical Yoga, and to be in compliance with all federal, state and local laws. Integral Yoga teachers everywhere must abide by the Integral Yoga Teachers’ Code of Conduct, as well as the Yoga Alliance Code of Conduct. This ensures that the highest integrity is maintained at all times in the teacher-student relationship. This is posted on the Integral Yoga (integralyoga.org) and Integral Yoga Teachers Association (iyta.org) websites.
The Ashram guarantees all students, teachers, staff, guests, vendors and residents an environment that is free from harassment in any form. Our complaint and grievance process provides that all complaints must be promptly and impartially investigated. If the unwanted behavior is confirmed in the investigation, prompt and effective action will be taken to remedy the situation. The complainant will be assured that an environment free from harassment has been restored and that there will be no retaliation of any kind toward anyone who participated in the investigation. The Ashram has adopted a progressive and broad Code of Conduct that equally applies to all in our community. The Code of Conduct is posted on our website (yogaville.org/about).
After considering all this information, if a further conversation would be useful, you can contact the Executive Director at Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville or the director of one of our Integral Yoga Institutes or Centers. They will arrange for you to speak with someone who can answer your questions or address any concerns you might have.
In closing, we wish one and all, health and happiness, peace and prosperity. May peace prevail among all people everywhere.
Shanti Norris and Sharada Thompson wrote responses to the above letter in November 2022. Find the letters here: Women’s Testimony
Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville Leadership
Updated Leadership Message
June 2023
The goal of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville’s leadership is to support and move forward with the international community of Integral Yoga Institutes, Centers, and teachers in serving those who wish to study and pursue the teachings and practices that Sri Gurudev, Swami Satchidananda, imparted to us. Indeed,
what unites us all is the motivation to share the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual benefits that we have experienced first-hand through the teachings and practices of Integral Yoga.
At the same time, it’s obvious that, currently, there is disharmony and strife in our organization, especially regarding issues around sexual accusations made against Swami Satchidananda, the focus on the Guru in Integral Yoga Institutes and Centers, and the lack of open and timely communication by the organization’s
leadership. With respect to the accusations, we feel compassion for those who have felt shunned or hurt because of coming forward. Shunning, maligning, or stigmatizing anyone because of their experience, perspective, or belief is not acceptable. If a further conversation would be useful, you can contact the
Executive Director at Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville or the director of one of our Integral Yoga Institutes. They will arrange for you to speak with someone who can answer your questions or address any concerns you might have.
As you know, our Integral Yoga organization is a lineage-based organization that honors Sri Gurudev, Swami Satchidananda, its founder. The organization also draws its inspiration from Swami Satchidananda’s Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda. This tradition upholds the importance of the Guru, who is respected and honored as
the conduit through which the teachings are transmitted and through which the lineage is continued. While we don’t require teachers, students, or residents, who come to Integral Yoga Institutes and Centers or to the Ashram to embrace the Guru-disciple relationship, and while we’re committed to providing a welcoming
environment for everyone interested in the Integral Yoga teachings and lifestyle, we do require that those who come maintain a respectful attitude toward Swami Satchidananda.
Regarding communication—or the lack of it—we acknowledge that it’s been difficult for us to communicate in a timely manner. Trying to maintain and sustain the Ashram while we were closed during the pandemic, we were—and continue to be— confronted with many challenges, for example, sustaining ourselves
financially while we had just a few online programs and still had to feed and house staff and pay other bills; as well as making sure that we put into place the most effective Covid protocols in order to protect the Ashram and Yogaville community members, including those who are immune compromised or elderly. Now that we’re picking up the pace in restarting programs and welcoming back guests, program participants, and volunteers, hiring more staff, and engaging with outside consultants, we’re committed to focusing on developing better channels of communication and communicating more effectively.
Globally, Integral Yoga is a large and diverse organization. And it’s only natural that we have varied perspectives, experiences, and opinions. But as yogis, we’re all seeking to experience unity with one and all and to promote peace and harmony through the yogic lifestyle. To this end, we hope that we can come together and serve together, extending our peace and joy, love and light, to the entire universe and all its creation.
Home - Satchidananda, the Complex Truth 
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