Difficult news regarding allegations against Yogi Bhajan

First sent out via email on Friday, March 6. 

Dear UYC Community,
 
There was a book that was published by a former assistant to Yogi Bhajan that alleges abuse of power, including sexual abuse. Since then, other women have come out. 
 
Needless to say, there have been a range of responses and reactions to these allegations from book burning to heart-break and investigation on different levels to denial; this is extremely triggering to some and completely irrelevant to others. Questions are coming up, and those that have known about this for several weeks now have gone through their own processing evolution. 
 
Rather than having you guess or make assumptions about this, we are writing to let you know that:

• we know about these allegations, though we don't have details and are just now reading the book ourselves,
• we are in close contact with our lead teacher trainer who travels and trains globally and has a unique global pulse on this,
• we are paying attention to what is going on at the institutional levels and tuning into the thoughts of other teachers in this global community via direct correspondence as well as social media, 

• and most importantly, we are paying attention to our own community to make sure that you are all okay. 
• This is disappointing and heartbreaking, and we share in this pain. ​

 
We want you to know that our doors are open. 
 
One of the questions we hold as our litmus test to how our decisions are serving you is to ask ourselves, are we creating a safe space to voice, to be authentic, and to heal? To this end, we have been coming in at the end of classes this week to share this difficult news with you, and to make sure that you know we have your concerns in mind first and foremost. 
 
If you have any questions, please know that we are here to listen and discuss.  
 
As it relates to the White Tantric Yoga all-day meditation event coming to Chicago at the end of April, it has been our tradition to go to the event together as a group followed by going out for a vegan dinner. This year, we, the co-founders of UYC, have decided not to attend. This is not so much a statement against YB or its establishment as it is a decision to extend support to those who are needing or preferring a safer, more neutral space - considering the circumstances - to do the clearing and healing work without the presence of YB in video. In lieu of going to the event, we will be opening up the studio that day to do healing practice together followed by a vegan dinner out. 
 
If you have interest in attending WTY, it is indeed a powerful course, and we are not discouraging you from going by any means. We are just letting you know our intentions in case this factors into your plan. If you are considering going and would like to talk with one of us about the experience, please reach out. If you have already registered and have since decided you prefer not to go, please let us know. Please note that this is not necessarily a forever statement. We will be reviewing our decision to attend in the subsequent years as more unfolds.
 
This is not easy news to share, but we feel it is important that we share this with you to create transparency, encourage open dialogue, and offer proper support to our community in a moment in time where we need to make sure women are heard, taken seriously, and supported. 
 
With immense love and gratitude, 
 
Savitree & Jodh,
Co-Founders of UYC
with the UYC Team

p.s.: many of you have emailed us your thoughts and responses to this, and we are deeply inspired and encouraged by the strength, love and courage that is clearly present in our community. Please keep your thoughts flowing- either here (under comments) or via email - it is so much healthier to share and communicate than it is to have anything like this swirling around in one's own head.